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John Washko, a 32-year luxury hospitality leader, has been named food and beverage director for Southern California’s traveler destination Fashion Island Hotel.
As food and beverage director, Washko oversees all food and beverage operations for Fashion Island Hotel, including Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge, in-room and poolside dining, the hotel’s grab and go Market Place, banquets, weddings and Coastal Catering, the hotel’s catering division for offsite events.
Most recently, Washko served as executive director, food and beverage for Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and area director, food and beverage, luxury division, Americas of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, International. Prior to that position, he was vice president of hotel operations for six years for Auberge Resorts collection, maintaining award-winning brand standards within North America, the Caribbean and Mexico. He also held various executive level management, corporate assistance and brand concept development jobs focusing on food and beverage for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the U.S. and at numerous properties throughout the world.
Washko has served as a trustee for the James Beard Foundation, where he was chairman of the awards committee among other contributions, and received the James Beard Foundation “Angel Award” in 2007 and another prestigious James Beard Award in 2018. He is a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary society and assisted in facilitating the Conclave of the Masters at Cornell University.
