A Newcastle casino has reaffirmed its commitment to customer care with the appointment of its seventh Customer Service Manager.

Aspers at The Gate has promoted Tony Howitt to the new role, which embraces a whole range of responsibilities connected to the smooth running and management of the gaming floor. Tony, 34, was previously a Gaming Inspector, working with new entrants to Aspers acclaimed croupier course, which has trained more than 200 recruits since its launch in 2005.

"I enjoyed my training role, but I realised a while ago that I wanted to move back into a customer-facing environment," said Tony, who lives in Cramlington. "The role of Customer Service Manager is both challenging and exciting as you're responsible for everything from managing the staff on the tables to ensuring customers are satisfied. You need to be out on the floor and accessible at all times."

The father-of-two returned to the gaming industry after a 10 year break, during which he ran his own wood flooring supply and fitting business. The main difference between his training role and the new one is a change from regular hours to rotating shifts, which are needed to covers Aspers 24 hour opening, seven days a week.

"As we only close on Christmas day, we need a large team of Customer Service Managers to fulfil this vital role at all times," said Richard Smith, General Manager at Aspers at The Gate. "Tony is a long-serving member of the workforce who will make a valuable addition to the customer service team and it's great that we've been able to promote him to this new role."

Employing more than 200 people, Aspers is open to anyone over 18 years of age and you don't have to be a member but you will require ID if you look under 21, although the Aspire Loyalty Club does offer special benefits to its 138,000 members. In addition to gaming, the venue offers bars, restaurants and even a beauty salon.

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Aspers at The Gate

by Point Pleasant Communications

For further information please contact Rob Lawson

on (0191) 519 7219 (Mobile: 07940 501 993) or email rob@point-pleasant.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Aspers is a 45,000ft2 leisure facility in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.
• The venue includes bars, restaurant, beauty spa, live entertainment and state-of-the-art gaming facilities.
• Aspers has attracted almost 138,000 members in just under four years from a catchment area covering Northumberland and County Durham, reaching across to Cumbria and down to York.
• In late 2007 Aspers became the first casino operator in the country to launch a reward club - Aspire - that allows customers to collect and redeem points throughout its operations (including gaming). Customers are now able to gain points for every purchase made on the premises and can also earn bonus points on selected promotions.
• In April 2008, Aspers became the first British casino to go 'membership free' which means that virtually all visitors can freely walk through the reception area without completing membership forms. Photo ID is required if you look under 21 and to join our Aspire Reward Club.
• Visitors to Aspers must be 18 or over
• At every Aspers location, the company has set up the Community Action for Responsible Gaming (CARG) programme. This initiative is unique to Aspers and is based on similar successful schemes in Australia and New Zealand. CARG is a voluntary, not-for-profit group that seeks to constructively address problem gambling issues in society through a working partnership between local community-based interest groups.