this dining destination features a thoughtfully curated menu inspired by Stewart ’ s personal favorites , including her Kurobuta Pork Chop , Niçoise Salad , and her family recipe for pierogies , as well as some unique cocktails .
Guyot says that negotiations with Stewart ’ s company , Marquee Brands , took a couple of years .
“ As we continued to consider the evolution of the property , we ’ ve done a lot of research and looking at brands and concepts ,” he explains . “ I felt very strongly about speaking to Martha about a potential interest and about different opportunities , most specifically with The Bedford . Martha only has one restaurant , and so she has been very picky on where she wants to be , and rightfully so .
“ I think we were able to convince her that she is really an icon across the world , but with her roots here in Connecticut and New York , it was really a perfect fit . So it didn ’ t take very long for both teams to figure that out and find a way to get a deal done .” Stewart agrees that it ’ s a perfect match . “ The Bedford at Foxwoods Resort Casino will provide diners with a glimpse into the way I entertain and host at my farmhouse in Bedford , New York ,” said Stewart . “ We have worked so hard to perfect this beautiful and inviting space , as well as curate a delicious variety of my most favored food and beverage recipes , which we are excited for guests to enjoy later this year .”
Following the successful 2022 debut of The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Paris Hotel in Las Vegas , the Foxwoods location also promises a refined , welcoming atmosphere paired with the culinary creativity that has made Martha Stewart a household name . With hand-selected interiors and a thoughtfully crafted menu , The Bedford is designed to blend elegance and charm , exemplary of the Foxwoods experience .
The Lodge Pole
One of the casualties of the financial crisis in 2007 was a deal to launch a Great Wolf Lodge at Foxwoods . Guyot explains how it was revived .
“ Back when Foxwoods opened in 1992 , the tribe had always wanted to do an indoor water park ,” he elaborates . “ And there were a lot of conversations over the years . There was even one called Pequot Island , where it was going to be an indoor water park run by the tribe . Unfortunately , that never came to fruition , but the tribe consistently had been in conversations with operators who were looking to do it themselves . We got very close in 2007 with Great Wolf Lodge , but then the recession hit .
“ We were , however , focused on getting it done . We did an RFP , we spoke to all the best operators in the industry , narrowed it down , had our selection , and then went back out and started to have some really great conversations with Great Wolf . They were in the midst of a major expansion plan .”
Guyot says they identified 14 acres of land across from the casino , and worked with Great Wolf to design a great property .
“ When you look at what the addition does for us ,” he says , “ it ’ s another 549 hotel rooms , with a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park and a 60,000- square-foot family entertainment center , right across the internal roadway from the resort . We ’ re already driving 8.5 million to 9 million visitors a year , and Great Wolf will drive about another million . And then when you think about the wealth of amenities we have , it ’ s really unmatched that someone
could go to a Great Wolf Lodge and also enjoy all the amenities that Foxwoods has to offer . So it ’ s going to be exciting . And we ’ re going to open this great new attraction ahead of schedule in May .”
When it first opened and for many years thereafter , gaming was the principal revenue driver for Foxwoods , and that continues to this day . Guyot notes that in Las Vegas , non-gaming revenue has surpassed gaming on the Strip .
“ Gaming will always remain a No . 1 priority for us ,” he says , “ but there is so much opportunity on the non-gaming side . While non-gaming revenue has overtaken gaming revenue in Vegas , I don ’ t ever know if we ’ ll get there , but I think there ’ s still a huge opportunity to be this destination resort , with the Great Wolf Lodge , indoor cart racing , two theaters , two spas , 36 holes of championship golf and all the others . You start to add all those things together , you start to extend length of stay .”
Native In Charge
With Guyot ’ s history at Foxwoods , working his way up the ladder , he points to the tribal leadership as important to his development , particularly Rodney Butler , the tribal chairman .
“ Rodney is truly world-class ,” says Guyot . “ He ’ s been leading the tribe for over 10 years and was on council for many years before that . We work very well together . We ’ ve known each other for years . We ’ re both tribal members , so this has been interesting for both of us . We ’ re both very passionate about what we do . We make a great team . I look up to him and see how involved he is , not only with the operations here at Foxwoods , but in the local community , and even legislatively up on the hill in Hartford .
“ He ’ s a relationship builder , and he ’ s been amazing for the tribe . I also think the rest of the council too looks to him for guidance and leadership , and as a result gets really involved in the community . And I think that ’ s a testament to Rodney ’ s hard work .”
Guyot believes his status as the first Mashantucket Pequot tribal member to lead Foxwoods makes his commitment to the property strong .
“ For me personally , it does add an extra element of thought and pressure ,” he says , “ so I really try to focus on the future . We ’ ve had a lot of great CEOs come through before me , and most of them have moved here from other areas . But this is my home and I want to be here . I feel honored to be in this role , which is rare in our industry .
“ So , I don ’ t take that for granted at all . But I inherited a great team that were my peers , and they really continue to lead this organization . So there ’ s a history here and a passion . People have grown up in this area . They ’ ve raised their families here .
“ We have about 4,000 team members here now , and I think about them every day . And it really drives our strategy and , because this is our home , we ’ re laser-focused on the future .”
24 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT GAMING 2025