Andrew Sasson
Encyclopedia
Andrew Sasson is a nightlife entrepreneur and real estate developer.
Sasson is the founder and principal owner of Light Group, a Las Vegas
-based hospitality development and management company, whose portfolio includes numerous food and beverage properties at AAA Five Diamond Bellagio Resort and Casino, The Mirage
, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
, and MGM Mirage
's CityCenter. Sasson helped pioneer the Las Vegas high-rise market in 2004 with the development of Panorama Towers
, a group of luxury high-rise condominiums. Sasson is the creative visionary for The Harmon Hotel and Spa, a non-gaming luxury boutique hotel at CityCenter, slated to open in 2010.
, England, Sasson made his first foray into the hospitality industry at the age of fifteen when he began working at his family’s restaurant business in Palma de Mallorca
, Spain. There he learned about the hospitality industry, from food service to day-to-day operations.
Two years later, Sasson left Europe to study at Florida International University
. During his last semester, he worked part-time as a doorman at the Miami nightclub, Velvet. Miami became Sasson’s training ground in the nightlife industry, and after several years, he emerged as an architect in Miami’s party scene.
debut with the opening of Jet Lounge, a plush nightclub and lounge in the chic neighborhood of SoHo
. In the summer of 1997 he unveiled Jet East in New York’s summertime playground, Southampton, New York
. Jet East’s opening introduced a setting unique from the traditional Hampton's nightlife scene, and became a popular club on the East End.
In September 2000, Sasson opened Light, a restaurant-lounge in midtown Manhattan
, which quickly became New York City’s premiere after-work and late-night destination.
In 2004, the Light Group opened its first restaurant venture, FIX Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio. With food and beverage sales at more than $12.3 million, FIX has been included on the annual Restaurants & Institutions magazine’s Top 100 Independent Restaurants list.
In December 2005, The Light Group continued to expand with the debut of JET Nightclub and STACK Restaurant & Bar at The Mirage.
In March 2007, The Light Group opened Bare, an exclusive European-style poolside lounge at The Mirage. Later that fall, Brand Steakhouse and Diablo’s Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort opened. In 2008, Sasson opened Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio.
In 2008, Sasson sold a 50% stake in The Light Group to the Dubai firm Zabeel Investments
.
Sasson's three most recent venues, all located within Aria Resort & Casino
at CityCenter, debuted on December 16, 2009: Union Restaurant & Lounge, The Deuce Lounge, and GOLD Lounge (in partnership with Cirque du Soleil
).
Sasson is now in development of The Light Group’s first luxury boutique hotel venture, The Harmon Hotel and Spa at CityCenter.
.
In June 2004 Sasson along with partner Laurence Hallier broke ground on Panorama Towers, a 300-unit luxury high rise condominium tower in Las Vegas. The condos, priced from $350,000 to $3 million, sold out in eight weeks.
Sasson is the founder and principal owner of Light Group, a Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
-based hospitality development and management company, whose portfolio includes numerous food and beverage properties at AAA Five Diamond Bellagio Resort and Casino, The Mirage
The Mirage
The Mirage is a 3,044 room hotel and casino resort located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States.The Mirage is connected by a free tram to Treasure Island. The marquee in front of the Mirage is the largest free standing marquee in the world.-History:The Mirage was built by...
, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
Monte Carlo Resort and Casino
The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino is a megaresort hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA. The hotel is 32 stories, featuring a casino floor with over 2,200 slot and video poker machines and 95 table games. It is operated by MGM Resorts International...
, Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
Treasure Island Hotel and Casino
Treasure Island Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, USA with 2,664 rooms and 220 suites, and is connected by tram to The Mirage as well as pedestrian bridge to the Fashion Show Mall shopping center...
, and MGM Mirage
MGM Mirage
Not to be confused with the Las Vegas, Nevada based casino/resort operator Resorts International Holdings.MGM Resorts International is a Paradise, Nevada based corporation that brands itself as a global hospitality company. It is the second largest gaming company in the world by revenue - about...
's CityCenter. Sasson helped pioneer the Las Vegas high-rise market in 2004 with the development of Panorama Towers
Panorama Towers
Panorama Towers is a group of luxury high-rise condominiums towers in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nevada on Dean Martin Drive.Panorama Tower I was completed in 2006. It has 33 floors and is tall. Panorama Tower II was completed in 2007. It has 33 floors and is tall. Panorama Tower North was completed in...
, a group of luxury high-rise condominiums. Sasson is the creative visionary for The Harmon Hotel and Spa, a non-gaming luxury boutique hotel at CityCenter, slated to open in 2010.
Background and education
Born in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England, Sasson made his first foray into the hospitality industry at the age of fifteen when he began working at his family’s restaurant business in Palma de Mallorca
Palma de Mallorca
Palma is the major city and port on the island of Majorca and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. The names Ciutat de Mallorca and Ciutat were used before the War of the Spanish Succession and are still used by people in Majorca. However, the official name...
, Spain. There he learned about the hospitality industry, from food service to day-to-day operations.
Two years later, Sasson left Europe to study at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
. During his last semester, he worked part-time as a doorman at the Miami nightclub, Velvet. Miami became Sasson’s training ground in the nightlife industry, and after several years, he emerged as an architect in Miami’s party scene.
Early success
In 1995 Sasson moved to New York to open his own nightclub, convincing former employer and Wall Street executive Gregory Brier to invest $100,000. In June 1996, Sasson made his New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
debut with the opening of Jet Lounge, a plush nightclub and lounge in the chic neighborhood of SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
. In the summer of 1997 he unveiled Jet East in New York’s summertime playground, Southampton, New York
Southampton (town), New York
The Town of Southampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, U.S., partly on the South Fork of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town had a total population of 54,712...
. Jet East’s opening introduced a setting unique from the traditional Hampton's nightlife scene, and became a popular club on the East End.
In September 2000, Sasson opened Light, a restaurant-lounge in midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, which quickly became New York City’s premiere after-work and late-night destination.
The Light Group
In 2001, Sasson moved to Las Vegas and founded The Light Group with partner Andy Masi, aiming to set a new standard in the region’s high-end hospitality market. Committed to environmental sustainability, Sasson insisted that The Light Group be the first lifestyle development company to fully embrace green practices, setting the bar for responsible design and development in the industry. In December of that year, Sasson opened Light Nightclub at the Bellagio, a partnership with the MGM Mirage. Light was the first legitimately upscale and innovative nightclub to open within a hotel, becoming the first nightclub in Las Vegas to offer its clientele bottle service. The unprecedented success of its debut instantly redefined the landscape of Las Vegas nightlife. The Light Group continued to expand its hospitality portfolio, opening Caramel Lounge and Bar at Bellagio and Mist Lounge at Treasure Island.In 2004, the Light Group opened its first restaurant venture, FIX Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio. With food and beverage sales at more than $12.3 million, FIX has been included on the annual Restaurants & Institutions magazine’s Top 100 Independent Restaurants list.
In December 2005, The Light Group continued to expand with the debut of JET Nightclub and STACK Restaurant & Bar at The Mirage.
In March 2007, The Light Group opened Bare, an exclusive European-style poolside lounge at The Mirage. Later that fall, Brand Steakhouse and Diablo’s Cantina at the Monte Carlo Resort opened. In 2008, Sasson opened Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio.
In 2008, Sasson sold a 50% stake in The Light Group to the Dubai firm Zabeel Investments
Zabeel Investments
Zabeel Investments is private investment vehicle for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of the Dubai executive Council...
.
Sasson's three most recent venues, all located within Aria Resort & Casino
ARIA Resort & Casino
Aria Resort & Casino is a luxury resort and casino located within the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip. Aria consists of two curved glass and steel highrise towers adjoined at the center. It opened on December 16, 2009 as a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and Infinity World...
at CityCenter, debuted on December 16, 2009: Union Restaurant & Lounge, The Deuce Lounge, and GOLD Lounge (in partnership with Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil , is a Canadian entertainment company, self-described as a "dramatic mix of circus arts and street entertainment." Based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and located in the inner-city area of Saint-Michel, it was founded in Baie-Saint-Paul in 1984 by two former street performers, Guy...
).
Sasson is now in development of The Light Group’s first luxury boutique hotel venture, The Harmon Hotel and Spa at CityCenter.
Real Estate
In 2003, Sasson developed and assembled a 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) home site in Nevada, which was later sold to homebuilder D. R. HortonD. R. Horton
D.R. Horton is the largest homebuilder in the United States based on its 18,839 homes closed in the 12-month period ended March 31, 2010. Founded in 1978 by Donald R. Horton in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, D.R. Horton is ranked as the largest homebuilder by units closed in the United States...
.
In June 2004 Sasson along with partner Laurence Hallier broke ground on Panorama Towers, a 300-unit luxury high rise condominium tower in Las Vegas. The condos, priced from $350,000 to $3 million, sold out in eight weeks.
Further reading
- http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/specials/rich_list/rich_list_2009/article6147427.ece
- http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,294200,00.html
- http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/food/vegas/fix/stack.html
- http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/dining/16vegas.html?_r=1&ref=dining