Light Group Who We Are

Based in Las Vegas, The Light Group is one of the United States’ leading hospitality development and management companies. Founded by Andrew Sasson and his partner, Andy Masi, the company manages and operates several food and beverage properties at AAA Five Diamond Bellagio Resort & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Monte Carlo Resort & Casino and Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.

The Light Group’s portfolio will also include venues at MGM Mirage’s CityCenter main casino hotel, a 4,000 room luxury hotel designed by Cesar Pelli.

What We Do at The Light Group

As one of America’s premier hospitality companies, The Light Group continues to be an innovator for their industry by capitalizing on ventures that raise the bar for service and customer expectations.

Andrew Sasson and partner Andy Masi have built upon their success by assembling a diverse management team featuring the best in their respective fields. Through their vast experience and leadership, these industry veterans continue to dominate the Las Vegas market with their award winning restaurants.

LG venues have also garnered the respect and patronage of the celebrity A-list, due to their continuing commitment to providing guests with cutting edge establishments on the forefront of style and trends. Offering something for everyone, The Light Group’s vast array of properties accommodate a wide spectrum of personalities and lifestyles, providing the ideal environment for any demographic.

The Light Group eagerly anticipates its future, as 2010 begins a new chapter for this world class organization. Continuing to expand upon their commitment of providing guests with quality cutting edge ventures, this year will see the amazing evolution of this hospitality powerhouse.

The Light Group’s Commitment to the Environment

At The Light Group we have realized that to make a change in our world, impact our society, and sustain our environment- it is crucial that we act today, and not wait for tomorrow. Therefore, we are the first lifestyle company in Las Vegas to fully embrace environmentally green practices in all our operations, venues and developments.

Our mission is simple: creating an eco-friendly, socially responsible, cleaner and healthier experience for our guests. From training and education, concept and design, to day-to-day operations – we are driven to make the difference in our future. To ensure this success, we choose to work with partners, suppliers and advisors who share our values and concerns about the environment and the challenges that lie ahead.

The Light Group is determined to raise the bar in sustainable living, dining and entertainment paving the way for an improved tomorrow.

Dubai-based Zabeel Investments Enters Strategic Joint Venture With The Light Group

Dubai-based diversified investment group, Zabeel Investments has taken a strategic step into the hospitality sector, through the acquisition of a fifty percent stake in leading US hospitality development and management company, The Light Group.

This partnership marks the first foray into the US market by the fast-growing and dynamic investment house. The partnership unites the experience and innovation of the Las Vegas-based Light Group with the ambition and expertise of Dubai-based Zabeel Investments, delivering a distinct offering to both the US and UAE hospitality and entertainment sectors as well as markets further afield. The partnership continues the existing relationship between Dubai and CityCenter in Las Vegas where The Light Group will manage The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences, a property owned and under development by CityCenter Holdings, LLC, a joint venture of MGM MIRAGE and Dubai World. Additionally, Dubai World holds a significant stake in MGM MIRAGE.

According to a report published by Global Futures and Foresight in May 2007, during the next 20 years, more than US$ 3 trillion will be invested in the leisure and tourism industry in the Arab world, thus allowing airport capacity for an additional 300 million passengers, more than 200 new hotels, and growing regional visitor numbers to 150 million people, all of which are conservative estimates.

Commenting on the acquisition, Zabeel Investments’ Executive Chairman, HE Mohammed Ali Al Hashimi, said: “The Light Group is internationally renowned for spearheading exclusive and innovative projects in the US such as The Harmon Hotel. Our goal is to develop the hospitality industry in the UAE and across the region — an aim which encompasses all areas of this sector from food and beverage to hotels and restaurants. In addition, The Light Group can tap our UAE hospitality expertise, and evolve that to other developments around the world.

“The Harmon Hotel will be an exclusive, private and environmentally green luxury boutique hotel — it is these concepts and values, which synergize so well with our own, that have made the group one of the most recognized and respected players in its field. The acquisition enables us to draw on the experience of The Light Group and transfer its knowledge, its brand of entertainment and innovative concepts and the highest service standards back to the UAE market, which continues to develop and evolve at a remarkable rate. In turn, we intend to support The Light Group as it continues to expand its hotel management, food and beverage, and entertainment portfolio further into key US cities.”

“More and more the developments and growth found in the UAE and wider region are leading the way internationally in terms of scope and ambition,” commented Andrew Sasson, Founder and Owner, The Light Group. “This factor, combined with the capability and vision that Zabeel Investments specifically brings to the table, marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our company that will see us escalating our portfolio throughout the US and further afield. The partnership is founded on a shared perspective of the potential that the hospitality sector holds around the world and through this common outlook we intend to embark on a number of pioneering projects.”

Since its launch in February 2006, Zabeel Investments has made significant inroads to the high-end commercial real estate development and management sector in the UAE. Its development projects include the soon to be completed Tiara Residence on Palm Jumeirah. The group also has under development, the Tiara United Towers on Sheikh Zayed Road and America Hotels & Resorts in Tatweer’s AED 200 billion Bawadi entertainment themed development, both of which mirror the creativity and high-end nature of The Light Group.

In terms of strategic investments, the company holds stakes in a number of international companies including the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) and Sony Corporation.