Choctaw Casinos & Resorts’ hospitality is deeply connected to the Choctaw Nation’s rich cultural heritage. The story of the Choctaw is rooted in ancestral lands across present-day Mississippi and Alabama, and shaped by the forced relocations of the 1830s known as the Trail of Tears. Today, the Choctaw Nation honors that legacy through successful enterprises, including hospitality and gaming, that support both tribal prosperity and regional tourism.
The tribe’s hospitality journey began in the 1990s with bingo halls across Oklahoma. What started as modest gaming spots eventually grew into full-scale resorts, especially after table games were introduced in the early 2000s. As interest increased, the tribe saw the need to offer overnight stays and higher-quality guest experiences, which led to the launch of Choctaw’s hotel properties.
Now, Choctaw operates four resorts across Oklahoma, including the flagship Durant resort near the Texas border, the Grant property, Choctaw Landing, and Pocola near Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Choctaw’s core gaming guests are typically travelers aged 55+ with higher disposable incomes, including many retirees. Families visit during peak seasons like spring break, while concertgoers and outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to live entertainment and the scenic experiences at Choctaw Landing.
We spoke with Edmund Wong, Corporate Director of Revenue Optimization for Choctaw Nation on how SiteMinder has transformed their revenue strategy and streamlined operations across their properties.
Narrow distribution lens was limiting potential
Prior to adopting SiteMinder’s technology, the Choctaw team did not prioritize, or even consider, opening their properties to wider distribution channels. Their strategy focused almost exclusively on casino guests. Online travel agencies (OTAs) or global distribution systems (GDS) were largely absent from their approach.
Edmund recalled that “we didn’t really have a distribution strategy pre-SiteMinder. We were happy with what we had and that limited our growth.”
Expanding the distribution network became essential for creating new revenue opportunities, even fueling considerations for property expansion due to increased visibility and demand.
“It helped us think differently about growth: more guests, more visibility, more demand… That creates momentum for expansion.”
Growth aligned with distribution restructure
The transformation began in 2015 when the tribe created a dedicated revenue management role, marking a shift away from the earlier approach where hotel operations teams handled all booking and channel management without a formal revenue strategy.
SiteMinder became the foundation for this new strategy by enabling a channel manager connection required by their booking engine provider, which instantly enhanced brand website visibility and streamlined operations. After implementation, the centralized booking and channel management system created a ripple effect that improved both performance and visibility.
The team also embraced tools like SiteMinder Insights for performance reporting and Channels Plus for expanded and streamlined distribution. Edmund admits that the team relies on Insights heavily for performance reporting and analysis and that Channels Plus has been a standout addition especially due to their unique legal and sovereignty considerations as a Native American tribe.
Each of those contracts requires time to address tribal sovereignty, so any measure that saves our legal team time is valuable.”
Better management, less work
What if you could boost your hotel’s efficiency and revenue while also reducing your workload? Our smart hotel platform helps you do exactly that.
Reliable efficiency and easy expansion
Beyond saving time, the greatest benefit has been ease of use. The team no longer needs to log into multiple extranets or manually retrieve virtual credit card information, because SiteMinder consolidates key tasks into a single platform. This operational simplicity has reduced workload and given the team freedom to focus on strategic projects and revenue-driving initiatives.
“It frees the team up to do deeper analysis and better decision-making. That’s where the real value is,” Edmund shared.
Choctaw also uses Agilysys LMS as their Property Management System, with a smooth integration to SiteMinder that dates back four years.
“We’ve had a pretty solid experience with integrations, especially with Agilysys. It’s been smooth from the start,” Edmund noted.
This reliable connection supports efficient daily operations and gives the team confidence in their technology ecosystem. Since implementing SiteMinder, Choctaw Casinos & Resorts has seen significant growth in property size and room count.
“We’ve doubled in size since I arrived. It’s not all from one tool, but the ability to be present and active across more channels definitely drives bookings,” Edmund shared.
While marketing and operations played a role, there’s no doubt that broader distribution access contributed to increased bookings and ongoing growth.
Thank you, Edmund, for your amazing feedback and we wish Choctaw Casinos and Resorts all the best in the future.
