CROSS LANES, W.Va. — Tri-State Casino & Resort has been renamed Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, officials announced Friday.

 

The name change is part of an overall re-branding initiative intended to position it as a destination resort.

 

“The addition of table games and our new hotel have launched this resort to a whole new level,” Dan Adkins, vice president, Hartman & Tyner, the casino’s parent company, said in a prepared statement. “The new name helps convey our Mardi-Gras style party atmosphere and better promotes the wide variety of activities available at this entertainment complex.”

 

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort will begin 24-hour operations July 11.  The new hotel will open in late July.

Allegiant makes online changes for easier booking
Allegiant Air has made changes to ease the process of booking online at www.allegiant.com, including changes to previously booked itineraries, according to a press release from the company.

 

Modifications can be made to itineraries instantaneously, allowing customers to avoid the wait and expense associated with calling the customer reservations and information center.

 

Through the “My Allegiant” tab, customers may log in to view upcoming trips and to make modifications to flight times, seat selections, hotel packages, car rentals, priority boarding and show, tours or attraction tickets. Customers can now view and print an itinerary as well.

 

To make additional changes not available under the “My Allegiant” tab, customers should continue to call the company’s reservation line at 702-505-8888. If modifying an itinerary through the “My Allegiant” tab, customers have up to 72 hours before the scheduled departure to make changes. For modifications inside the 72-hour period, but outside of 24 hours prior to departure, customers must call the company’s reservation line.

 

Wendy’s launches new salad line
NEW YORK — Wendy’s is introducing a line of new salads such as Apple Pecan Chicken and BLT Cobb as the fast-food chain tailors its sales pitch to focus on “real” ingredients to appeal to foodies.

 

The company, a unit of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., is also testing breakfast again across the country. Chief Marketing Officer Ken Calwell said he expects to know more about moving into that growing restaurant segment as early as later this year.

 

Calwell said the company plans to use what it learns through its new line of salads and expand it into remaking other areas of the company’s business, including burgers, chicken and breakfast.

 

The line of four salads is available nationwide starting Friday. The salads retail for $5.99, about $1 more than the previous Garden Sensations line.

 

The chain introduced those in 2002 and has long been considered an innovator in salads. It was the first fast-food chain to market with a salad bar in the 1980s.

Toyota chief hopes to lead company past crisis
NAGOYA, Japan — The president of Toyota Motor Corp. said he has spent the last year apologizing for the automaker’s missteps and now hopes to lead the company past its recall crisis and restore confidence in its vehicles.

 

Akio Toyoda, speaking to U.S. reporters on Friday, also reiterated the company’s commitment to fuel-efficient vehicles and said the automaker is testing an electric car prototype with technology from Tesla Motors Inc.

 

Toyoda said he has spent much of his year-long tenure at the helm of the world’s largest automaker apologizing for its mistakes. He said he now hopes to win back the confidence of customers and move past the crisis that has battered its vaunted reputation for quality.

 

“I haven’t heard much good news since I became president,” Toyoda said, speaking through an interpreter. “For the past year, I was leading the company in apology.”

Chrysler and Ford recalling SUVs, vans
WASHINGTON — The government says Chrysler is recalling about 22,000 sport utility vehicles and trucks to fix brake tubes that could lead to the loss of brake fluid.

 

Ford Motor Co., meanwhile, is recalling more than 30,000 2010 Transit Connect vans to replace pushpins holding the liners above the driver’s head. The company says government testing found it failed to meet federal standards protecting the head.

 

Chrysler says its recall affects certain 2010 Dodge Nitro, Dodge Ram, Jeep Liberty and Jeep Wranglers that could have defective brake tubes. The problem could lead to the loss of brake fluid, making it difficult to brake and posing the threat of a crash.

 

Ford’s recall is expected to begin in July. Chrysler says owners should be notified in August.
 

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