Mohegan Sun announced the hiring of John Washko as vice president of exhibitions & conventions sales. Washko has held previous executive level roles with Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. He will be heavily involved with the sales and direction of the Mohegan Sun Expo Center, currently being built near the Earth Tower at Mohegan Sun.
“Were very thrilled to have John Washko on board here at Mohegan Sun, especially with the property expanding,” Ray Pineault, president and general manager of Mohegan Sun said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership to our meetings and conventions team, which is already one of the best in the industry.”
Washko has also held important roles in sales, marketing, group sales and hospitality in his 20 plus-year career in the resort industry. In addition to his previous roles with Atlantis and The Broadmoor, Washko was vice president of sales and marketing for Elite Meetings International.
In his new role, Washko will oversee the meetings & conventions division at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., which will include in large part, heading the sales and direction for the new 132,000 square-foot Mohegan Sun Expo Center, slated for a Summer 2018 opening.
Washko, a James Madison University graduate, has been recognized as one of the Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales & Marketing in 2015 by HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International) and in 2010 was awarded “Marketer of the Year” from HSMAI as well. Washko is an Executive Committee Member of HSMAI’s America’s Board. He also sits on the Advisory Board for Elite Meetings International.
Mohegan Sun, situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut, is home to three casinos, 1,600 hotel rooms, two spas, a golf course, over 90 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three entertainment venues, including a 10,000-seat arena. The property currently has over 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 38,000-square-foot Uncas Ballroom, and additional square footage coming in 2018 with the new Mohegan Sun Expo Center.
