How ilani Streamlined Festival Sales and Elevated Guest Experience

ilani replaced its manual token system with FastBar’s cashless point-of-sale platform to speed up lines, boost sales, and deliver a smoother experience for thousands of guests. The result: faster service, higher revenue, and real-time insights across every vendor.

Background

ilani, located on the Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield, Washington, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading tribal casino resorts. The property spans nearly 400,000 square feet and features 3,000 slot machines, 75 gaming tables, 18 restaurants and bars, and a 2,500-seat entertainment venue. In addition to year-round casino activity, ilani produces a wide range of seasonal festivals that attract 3,000–8,000+ guests per event.

About this business

Business Type

Tribal Casino

Location

Cowlitz Reservation in Ridgefield, WA

Products Used

FastBar Point of Sale

FastBar Registration

FastBar Event Control Center

Ready ts at your tribal casino to the next level?

“We didn’t just purchase the software—we purchased the team behind it.”
— Gina St. George, CFO

“FastBar has been a game changer for us. And I think it can be for other venues too.”
— Glenn Cademartori, VP of Marketing

The Challenge

ilani’s festivals are known for diverse food, beverage, and entertainment offerings—but their manual token-based payment system created friction for guests and vendors alike. Long lines, slow service, and limited visibility into real-time performance made it hard to optimize guest experience and revenue. The ilani team needed a flexible, tech-forward solution that could match the sophistication of their broader casino operations.

The Solution: FastBar

FastBar provided a cashless, RFID-enabled point-of-sale system that allowed guests to tap and pay at any vendor station using preloaded wristbands tied to their credit cards. Guests could register in seconds, and staff gained real-time visibility into sales and inventory across the entire event. FastBar’s system eliminated the need for tokens, streamlined check-in, and significantly reduced checkout friction across all vendor points.

Key Results

• Faster Guest Throughput: Guests no longer needed to pull out their wallets or count tokens—transactions took less than a second.

• Improved Guest Experience: “It was a game changer,” said VP of Marketing Glenn Cademartori. “Guests were able to purchase things quickly and enjoy the event.”

• Higher Food & Beverage Sales: CFO Gina St. George reported a clear increase in food sales and smoother reconciliation for finance.

• Real-Time Data & Inventory Tracking: Marketing and finance teams used FastBar to track spending trends, peak purchase times, and vendor performance—helping them plan future events with confidence.

• Responsive Support: “It’s not just about the technology—it’s the team behind it,” said St. George. FastBar provided weekend and in-event support to ensure success.

Why FastBar Worked for ilani

✔️ RFID-enabled guest experience
✔️ Real-time data for operations and finance
✔️ Reduced cash handling and manual processes
✔️ Seamless check-in and tab closing
✔️ Proven support throughout live events