aNDREW Sasson, Founder, THE LIGHT GROUP
Internationally renowned real estate developer and hotelier, Andrew Sasson, first gained notoriety as a trendsetter in the high-end nightclub, lounge and restaurant industries. Now, as the founder and principal partner of The Light Group in Las Vegas, Sasson is utilizing the expertise gained within these realms to operate and oversee the country’s leading hospitality management company.
Raised in London, England, Sasson made his first foray into the hospitality industry at the age of sixteen when he left to begin work at his family’s nightclub business in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. There, he immersed himself in the ins and outs of the industry, from door management to day-to-day operations.
Two years later, Sasson left Europe to study at Florida International University (FIU), returning to Spain every summer to manage the family business. During his last semester at FIU, he began working part-time as a doorman at the Miami nightclub, Velvet. Captivated by South Beach’s burgeoning scene, Sasson laid down roots, determined to cultivate the city’s potential for unparalleled entertainment and hospitality. Miami became Sasson’s training ground, the place where he refined his astute sense of the unpredictable. After several years, he emerged as one of the undisputed architects of Miami’s popular nightlife scene.
In June of 1996 Sasson made his New York City debut with the opening of Jet Lounge in SoHo. Following its success, he unveiled Jet’s eastern outpost in New York’s summertime playground, Southampton, NY. Jet East’s opening in the summer of 1997 shook up the traditional Hamptons nightlife scene and became the most talked-about club on the East End. The streak continued in September of 2000, when Sasson opened Light, a lounge in Midtown Manhattan, which quickly became New York City’s premiere after-work and late-night destination.
Having built a brand that was both recognizable and reputable, Sasson moved to Las Vegas and founded The Light Group, aiming to set a new standard in the region’s high-end hospitality market. In December of 2001, Sasson opened Light Nightclub at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, the first legitimately upscale and innovative nightclub to open within a hotel. The unprecedented success of its debut instantly redefined the Las Vegas nightlife market, and The Light Group quickly expanded its hospitality portfolio, opening Caramel Lounge and Bar at Bellagio and Mist Lounge at Treasure Island. In 2004, it’s umbrella widened further with the opening of its first restaurant venture, FIX Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio.
In December 2005, The Light Group established its dominance in the region with the debut of JET Nightclub and STACK Restaurant & Bar at The Mirage; two venue additions which helped the hotel recapture it’s leading position in a relentlessly competitive climate.
In March 2007, The Light Group opened Bare, an exclusive European-style sun bathing pool lounge at The Mirage. Later that fall at The Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, it debuted Brand Steakhouse and Diablo’s Cantina, providing the hotel with two fabulous and contrasting dining options for its guests. Finally, in 2008, Sasson unveiled a crowning culinary achievement with Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Bar at Bellagio. Boasting an award-winning chef and an innovative interior, Yellowtail has since been widely recognized as a premiere restaurant in the region.
In an act of unprecedented expansion, Sasson announced the opening of five more groundbreaking venues within Las Vegas’s newest $8.6 billion development, CityCenter in 2009. Four of these opened their doors in December of 2009: Haze Nightclub, Union Restaurant, The Deuce Lounge (a gaming lounge), and The Gold Lounge (a partnership with Cirque Du Soleil). The final venue within ARIA, Liquid Pool Lounge, opened in the Spring of 2010. The Light Group has also unveiled Caramel Restaurant & Lounge in Dubai in 2010, which is one of six new venues that The Light Group plans to open before 2011.
With eighteen existing venues, The Light Group continues to expand and conquer new terrain, and Sasson continues to demonstrate a uniquely thoughtful approach. Sasson has 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. Sasson’s unwavering concern for his employees, guests and environment has made him a permanent fixture at the industry’s forefront. `
PARTNERS
Andrew Sasson
Founder & Owner
Andy Masi
Partner & CEO
EXECUTIVES
Michael Rea
COO
Russell Jones
VP Operations
Brian Massie
Executive Chef
