Stensgar new Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel leader

WORLEY — The Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, named Tribal Destination of the Year for 2019, has appointed Laura Stensgar as chief executive.

An avid golfer who has helped catapult the resort’s Circling Raven Golf Club to national distinction — and the No. 1 public course in Idaho’s ratings — Stensgar has been employed at the casino since its opening a quarter-century ago. She previously served the casino as director of marketing and acting director. As CEO, she will give up her role with cultural tourism and public relations.

“Visionary leadership is a great tradition with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe,” Stensgar said. “I’ve learned from it and hope to add to it, to continue to be a good neighbor and a contributor of goodwill to the region.”

The Tribal Council has great confidence in Stensgar’s abilities. “We know she will continue to run our resort at the top level we know she is capable of and that our guests have come to expect,” Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council Vice Chairman Chief Allan said.

Coeur d’Alene Casino, with more than 900 employees, has two hotel wings, an extensive gaming floor, event center, restaurants, and the full-service Spa Ssakwa’q’n (pronounced SOCK-wah-kin).

As cultural tourism director, Stensgar helped implement numerous Native American cultural activities at the resort that guests and visitors have embraced. These activities enable people to immerse themselves in a variety of experiences that pay homage to tribal tradition and history. Examples include, hiking through ancient ancestral homelands, eating authentic tribal foods, touring a bison ranch, and exploring Cataldo Mission, a historical building built by the Tribe in the 1700s (now repurposed as a museum).

“The Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our members through operating successful enterprises while maintaining our cultural integrity and traditions,” Stensgar said. “Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel exemplifies our commitment, and I’m honored to be selected as CEO.”