If resilience were a destination
The story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is an inspiring tale of resilience. After living for thousands of years in the scenic northeast, The Fox People almost disappeared in the 17th century after Dutch and English settlers arrived. By the 1970s, two sisters remained as the last native residents on the land. Led by Tribal Chairman Richard “Skip” Hayward, the grandson of one of the sisters, the tribe reclaimed the land, gained federal recognition and built what is now Foxwoods Resort Casino, the first in Connecticut.
Today, the tribe numbers 2,000. Foxwoods integrated resort covers 9 million sq. ft. and draws 15 million people each year to one of the largest casinos in the world. The lush escape sits just two-and-a-half hours’ drive from New York City. That dramatic comeback is embodied in the 12-foot-tall crystal sculpture of a Pequot archer aiming his bow at the sky in the Town Square inside Foxwoods and could be seen as an inspiration for meeting professionals bringing events to the property’s 211,000 sq. ft. of ballroom space. With 1,948 guest rooms in two towers and Great Cedar Hotel, more than 30 restaurants, a 4,000-seat theater and a Tanger outlet, the property resembles a self-sufficient Emerald City in the woods.
At the start of 2026, the property hosted the Smart Meetings Elevate Experience, replicating a cozy winter wonderland complete with hot chocolate bombs, a dusting of snow for festive ice skaters and a television-worthy dinner on the set of Hell’s Kitchen, which was filmed in a studio on the property. The generous proportions meant that there was always something new to discover.
Good Company
Next door to Foxwoods, Great Wolf Lodge Mashantucket turns up the heat with a 91,000-square-foot indoor water park maintained at 84 degrees year-round. This is bleisuremaxxing with an interactive adventure game known as MagiQuest and outdoor-themed dining at Fireside. Meetings in the more than 7,000 sq. ft. of space are serious business with a separate entrance from the family fun.
The Pequot are not the only resourceful hoteliers in the area. The Mohegan Tribe of Uncasville opened Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in 2002 and now boasts 275,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 1,600 guest rooms in two towers. As the property prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Mohegan Sun Arena is amping the action in the 10,000-seat venue while The Cabaret Theatre (AKA The Cab) offers more intimate experiences.
Again, the people serving visiting groups made all the difference. Every need seemed to be anticipated. At Mohegan Sun, they call it the Spirit of Aquai, the native word for greeting that embodies the principles of welcoming, mutual respect, cooperation and building relationships. We call it good old-fashioned hospitality.
Fun Friends
One of the joys of travel is meeting the locals. For a fun, picture-worthy moment, Mystic Aquarium brought African penguins to the Foxwoods Celebrity Ballroom for a waddling meet and greet. The program aligns with the aquarium’s research and conservation focus on education and awareness to address population declines caused by overfishing, habitat degradation and oil spills.
This article appears in the May 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
