Hard Rock International has named Mark Birtha to be president of the company’s newest property in Northern California. Birtha comes to the job from Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park, the top producing casino in Ohio, where he was president.
MGM Resorts International recently acquired the Hard Rock Rocksino.
In his new job Birtha will oversee the construction of $440 million Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain, where work began about a year ago, and which is looking at an October 2019 opening.
Hard Rock is building and will operate the casino for the Enterprise Rancheria. Birtha will be liaison between the tribe and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which owns Hard Rock International.
Enterprise Rancheria Chairman Glenda Nelson praised Birtha as “an industry leader” and added, “Mark is the perfect candidate to bridge the exciting collaboration between the two tribes. We are pleased to unite with one of the most exciting and authentic gaming, hospitality and entertainment leaders in the world and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
With a quarter century in the gaming and hospitality industry, besides Hard Rock, Birtha has worked for Mirage Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Station Casinos Marriott International and Starwood. He also managed Indian gaming enterprises and operations in destination, regional and local markets. He oversaw construction of the Casino Del Sol’s $180 million hotel resort expansion.
Hard Rock COO Jon Lucas added “Mark’s experience and passion for the brand make him the ideal leader for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain. While working with Mark over the past few years, I have witnessed firsthand the talent and devotion that make him an industry leader, and I am confident he will continue that track record of success in this new endeavor.”
