perspectives 5 questions for andy masi CEO Light Group 1 Why head west with Yellowtail to Los Angeles? Will it be like the Las Vegas location? 2 Tell us about Hearthstone Kitchen & Cellar at Red Rock Resort-a new concept designed by longtime collaborator Munge Leung. 3 What is the key to a successful collaboration with a designer? 4 How have restaurant and nightclub guest expectations changed since you entered the Vegas market some 15 years ago? 5 Our longtime friends at LORE Group wanted to partner, and when the marquee location on Sunset opened up, everything fell into place. Ralph Gentile is working with us on the design, and like Yellowtail in Vegas, the outdoor patio is the place to be. The food concept is rustic American-approachable, simple, and fresh. The menu is seasonal, with all items prepared in the two imported wood-burning ovens or the exhibition kitchen. The design has an industrial-warehouse feel but everything has a soft, feminine polish to it. There are so many cool elements-from the beautiful outdoor dining patio to the OldWorld charcuterie bar and the intimate wine room with an expansive chef's table encased in glass and steel. It's really the debate back and forth. It's important for the owner-operator and the designer to be open-minded and appreciate each other's ideas about design and functionality. The typical guest is now much more sophisticated and educated-the Food Network and all the food reality shows have helped propel foodie culture into the mainstream. Nowhere in the world has as many $30-plus million nightclubs. Vegas is the anomaly for this type of high-level entertainment. Five years ago the extreme technology, and the crazy bells and whistles everyone expects just weren't around. The key to being able to compete is to understand who your customers are and what they are looking for. We need to stay one step ahead and always over-deliver on expectations. What's next for the Light Group? We are closing Haze nightclub over Halloween weekend and reopening early next year. Then Gold Lounge at ARIA is being completely transformed into a massive indoor-outdoor space that leads up to the main pool deck. The new concept melds the hip social club vibe from LA and New York with the sexiness only Vegas can provide.http://www.roomthreesixty.com http://www.roomthreesixty.com