John Washko has been appointed the new vice president of exhibitions and conventions sales at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. Previously vice president of group marketing and sales at the Bahamas' Atlantis, Paradise Island, and The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO, Washko will be heavily involved with the sales and direction of the forthcoming Mohegan Sun Expo Center, which is slated to open in the summer of 2018.
"My background has been independent properties," says Washko. "I was proud to represent The Broadmoor, Atlantis, and now have the opportunity to introduce a new idea, a new concept to the expo and tradeshow market with the expansion that is underway at Mohegan Sun."
The $80 million Mohegan Sun Expo Center will include a 131,000-square-foot exposition center; a 21,412-square-foot ballroom, divisible into two and featuring over 3,000 square feet of pre-function space; eighteen meeting rooms in total, ranging from 360 square feet to 675 square feet; a 1,263-square-foot boardroom with 230 square feet of pre-function space and its own outdoor terrace; 3,600 square feet of outdoor space, which includes a large wrap-around terrace for the full center; and a 5,361-square-foot kitchen. The new center will bring the Mohegan Sun's total meeting and event space to more than 275,000 square feet.
The Mohegan Sun Expo Center will be column free with clerestory windows and will offer flexible programming within a naturally lit space. The main walkway that connects the exposition hall to the pre-function area will provide access to the overall facility, including the ballroom and meeting rooms. Along this path, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors lead to an outdoor patio that adds gathering space in warm weather and buffers the building from Cove Road that loops around the entire site. Interior finishes will recall the Mohegan Tribe's cultural history, with custom carpeting and light fixtures that reflect Native American motifs.
Once completed, Mohegan Sun says it will offer one of the largest meetings and convention spaces between Boston, MA, and New York City.
Owned by the Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, Mohegan Sun is one of the largest entertainment, gaming, dining, and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River, Mohegan Sun is home to three casinos, 1,600 hotel rooms, two spas, a golf course, over 90 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat arena.
"The future holds a myriad of opportunities to look at events and customers we have not worked with in the past," says Washko. "We didn't have 125,000 square feet. We have done our due diligence and know there is a lot of demand for a center like this. We offer unparalleled entertainment offerings coupled with a brand new, user friendly, state-of-the-art but reasonably priced expo hall experience."