A team of Hosts awaits you, ready to assist with every detail. Whether you are coming for dinner and a show or are planning a vacation, you can count on our team to make your stay an unforgettable experience. To contact a host, please call VIP Services at 1.877.Go.ilani. Thank you for choosing ilani.

Holly Hammond

Player Development Executive

With 18 years’ experience in the gaming and hospitality industries, Holly has a passion for making people smile. With much of her career spent in Las Vegas, her career started with the ownership of small restaurants and gourmet food trucks in California. Her goal at ilani is to inspire an environment rich in good will and luck, while making each experience a wonderful memory. When she is not entertaining at work, she enjoys visiting family and traveling both near and far as much as she can. She believes that winning is something we all possess.

“So have a winning day and Let’s ilani!”

Paul Hoang

Player Development Executive

Paul has been in the Pacific Northwest since 1975. Born and raised in Vietnam, he is fluent in the Vietnamese language and culture. Over the last two decades he has worked his way around the ranks of the retail Industry. Along with managing sales and marketing teams, Paul was also a fashion buyer for large retail companies such as Nordstrom.  So, don’t forget to ask Paul if he has any fashion tips on your next visit! As a proud business owner in Vietnam since 2005, Paul’s professionalism and passion to help others is second to none and a great addition to the ilani team.  He believes in taking ownership of the task at hand and delivering a successful outcome each and every time. When Paul is not at ilani providing extraordinary Guest Service, he has a passion for traveling and enjoys staying active by playing golf, tennis and basketball.

"Enjoy life to the fullest today but always plan for tomorrow."

Linda Steward

Executive Casino Host

With deep roots firmly anchored in the Pacific Northwest and a 20-year career in customer satisfaction and guest experience, Linda joined ilani in the pre-opening phases determined to assure your trip is like no other. Linda’s commitment to the comfort of ilani's top guests is prominent in her intuitive ability to anticipate customer needs and deliver the best service. Linda loves to travel to luxury resorts and understands the importance of unmatched customer satisfaction. When not at ilani Linda enjoys entertaining, dining at unique restaurants with friends and being near water.

"When it comes to luck, you make your own." - Bruce Springsteen

Cody Jones

Executive Casino Host

Born and raised in Eastern Washington, Cody worked at various restaurants and retail stores while attending community college. Cody then moved to Vancouver in 2016 and started at the front desk at a local independent hotel before making his way up to account management. He attended WSU Vancouver and studied Hospitality Business Management and has decided to take his experience and transition that into the Casino world. Outside of work, he loves to spend time with his girlfriend and dogs, finding new hiking trails around the area, and playing sports like basketball and golf. He believes that the best way to create an everlasting experience is to greet every guest with a warm smile every time!

“Dedication makes dreams come true” – Kobe Bryant

Hong Lung Yeung

Executive Casino Host

Starting as a bartender in 2008, Brian has been in the guest service industry for 15 years and had managed multiple renowned establishments domestic and overseas. Originally from Hong Kong, Brian built his life in Oregon and has been very involved with the Asian community and its culture in Portland. Recently moved to Washington, Brian is thrilled to be part of the team and guide ilani to further recognize the Asian culture of Pacific Northwest.

“The Chinese culture belongs not only to the Chinese but also to the whole world.” ― Hu Jintao

Brigitte Christianson

Executive Casino Host

Originally from San Jose, Costa Rica, Brigitte moved to Vancouver 22 years ago and has worked in the casino and hospitality industry for more than 20 years. Brigitte has worked at ilani for over 5 years, nearly as long as ilani has been open, and is excited to grow the relationships she built as a dealer into her new role as a Casino Host. In her free time, Brigitte likes to travel, dance, cook and spend her time with her two dogs, Amelia and Samantha.

“Always find opportunities to make someone’s smile, and to offer random acts of kindness every day, and practice gratitude and love the life that you live”

Justin Freeman

Casino Host

Hailing from the sunny shores of San Diego, Justin brings a wealth of experience in both gaming and hospitality to ilani. His philosophy is that you need to have fun to be fun, and that providing genuine service with excellent results is the key to elevating guest experiences. Say hello to him on the casino floor, where you'll find Justin going above and beyond for his guests, or as he likes to say, "putting smiles on faces." 

“Play is not a luxury... play is a necessity.” - Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison 

Erika Durand

Casino Host

Erika is no stranger to the Pacific Northwest. Her husband helped open ilani back in 2017 before returning home in 2018 to care for family. Erika graduated from the University of Rhode Island majoring in French and English and, after graduating, she moved to Denmark where she taught English, followed by a four-year teaching stint in Cannes, France. She then returned stateside where she taught middle school French and English for the past 16 years and during the summers, Erika worked on the banquet team for Castle Hill Inn where she honed her VIP customer service skills.

As fortune would have it, Erika and her husband headed West again. Her experience delivering VIP customer service, her attention to detail as well as her organizational skills, serve her well in her new role as Casino Host. She shares her home with her husband and two cats, Orion and Mr. Mewogi. When she is not working you will find her walking the trails near her home, gardening or reading. She also loves all kinds of music – anything from rap to opera can be found on her playlists.

“A smile costs less than electricity, but it gives just as much light.”

Danny Yan

Casino Host

Originally from Hong Kong. Danny has spent over 30 years in Sales and Marketing. His career began with Nestle in 1987 after graduating from the University of Windsor in Canada. Danny later went on to work for multiple Fortune 500 companies, developing both successful channels and teams in China. In his spare time, Danny enjoys spending time with his family and attending his son's basketball practices and games

"Taking the time to build an Asian community within ilani is my passion, at the same time capturing long-lasting relationships within that community along the way."

Larry Llorente

Casino Host

Larry is a first generation Filipino-American originally from Philadelphia and is fluent in the most prominent Philippine dialect, tagalog. Larry has spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Vancouver Washington and graduating from Mountain View HS. He attended Clark College and then Washington State University in Pullman where he studied architecture and business. His diverse background has spanned several decades in a wide variety of industries including business, marketing, advertising, customer service and sales with companies such as Entercom Radio and The Portland Trailblazers and, most recently, nearly 10 years with the Dick Hannah Dealership Group. In his spare time away from ilani you can find him spending it with family and friends enjoying food and spirits, playing pool, golf, bowling, softball and watching his favorite sports teams the Red Sox, Steelers, Celtics and Blazers. His greatest life achievements are his two daughters. Any beach is his happy place and no matter where he is, he'll try to make it THE place to be.

“If we all tried to make tomorrow better than today, imagine where we all will be”

Anakin Velasquez

Casino Host

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Anakin brings a deep appreciation for genuine connections and exceptional service to his guests. With three years of experience in the hospitality industry, he is committed to creating personalized and memorable experiences for every guest. When he’s not working, Anakin enjoys spending his free time with his girlfriend and his dog, Zuko. He also commits to a healthy lifestyle by staying active by running or training for his Jiu Jitsu competitions. Anakin looks forward to connecting with you and making your time at ilani unforgettable.