Gaming destination expands Meeting & Entertainment Center staff ahead of spring opening
RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – (Feb. 27th, 2018) – ilani, a premier gaming and entertainment destination in Southwest Washington, has selected Rosemary Arruda Cooke as the director of sales and marketing for its Meeting & Entertainment Center. Slated to open this spring, the new multi-use, flexible 30,000-square-foot facility will be equipped with full production, lighting and sound specialists and customized catering services and is expected to host groups and conventions from around the region, as well as entertain audiences of up to 2,500 with epic concerts, headlining comedians, world-class entertainers and more. Arruda Cooke will be instrumental in growing bookings and ensuring a superior experience for all guests.
Arruda Cooke offers more than 25 years of experience in destination and hospitality sales and marketing in the Pacific Northwest. Her deep understanding of the regional market will enhance her leadership and management of the sales and marketing team as well as contribute to business development opportunities. She will work collaboratively with departments across ilani to ensure sales plans are well aligned with organizational goals and priorities.
“ilani is fortunate to have a high-caliber sales and marketing team in place, and the latest addition of Rosemary places our newest venture, the Meeting & Entertainment Center, in the most capable hands,” said Kara Fox-LaRose, general manager and president of ilani. “With her extensive experience in the region and proven track record in generating revenues, Rosemary is the ideal candidate to put our new meeting space at the top of the list with clients looking for state-of-the-art meeting space in Clark County.”
Arruda Cooke joins ilani most recently from Visit Vancouver USA, the destination marketing organization (DMO) for Vancouver, Washington where she enjoyed a nearly decade-long tenure and served as the director of business development. Working in partnership with various entities and destination stakeholders, Arruda Cooke was adept in implementing a strategic Business Development team achieving overall objectives for the DMO. Additionally, she gained considerable sales experience while working for the Residence Inn by Marriott and The Heathman Lodge, both in Vancouver. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Western Washington University.
An active member of her community and industry, Arruda Cooke is a past board member of the PNW Society of Government Meeting Professionals, Fair Site Management Group/Clark County and Camas-Washougal Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves as a board member and tournament director for the Camas Booster Club.
About ilani
Located on a 156-acre site in Clark County, Washington, ilani, developed by the Cowlitz Tribe and Salishan-Mohegan, a partnership that includes Mohegan Sun, one of the world’s foremost gaming and entertainment developers and operators, is the West Coast’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting destination. With 368,000 total square feet, ilani includes 100,000-square-feet of gaming space with 2,500 slots and 75 gaming tables; 15 restaurants, bars and retail outlets; and a 2,500-seat meeting and entertainment venue hosting nationally recognized performances. For more information, visit ilaniresort.com and follow ilani on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.