- In 2002, Sam Nazarian founded sbe to revolutionize the lifestyle hospitality space.
With an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct and personal style, Sam Nazarian has been a transformative force in changing what people expect from contemporary luxury hospitality. He has contributed to defining the future of global lifestyle hospitality, launching award-winning hotels, residences, restaurants and nightclubs. They represent some of the most sought-after lifestyle brands including: SLS Hotels and Residences, The Redbury Hotel, Katsuya, and Hyde Lounge, Hotels and Residences, to mention a few.
Built on around Sam's concept of the full circle guest experience incorporating world-class design and exceptional cuisine, sbe evolved into the definitive name in luxury and now has an expanding global portfolio which will see 28 hotels and over 175 global world-renowned culinary, nightlife and entertainment venues across North and South America, Europe, Japan and the Middle East. sbe's success has led to partnerships with internationally acclaimed talents such as Philippe Starck and Yabu Pushelberg and chef Katsuya Uechi.
As the founder and chief visionary, Sam leads sbe and each division in innovative and revolutionary redevelopment of real estate, asset management, partnership, entrepreneurial experience, service, standards, guest management, employee development, and superior hospitality operations, which is the embodiment of sbe. Creating a platform of unique, performance-driven models, he has adeptly positioned sbe hospitality and its diversified business as the leader in the industry. Nazarian also led the acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group, the pioneer of boutique lifestyle hotels, in December 2016, and was the driving force behind sbe and AccorHotels' strategic partnership announced in June 2018 which saw Accor agree to acquire a 50% joint venture stake in sbe.
Sam's career began when he co-founded a wireless company, which he later sold after leading its rapid growth and record sales. He studied at New York University and the University of Southern California.
Over the course of his career, Sam has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including 2014 Fortune's 40 under 40 list, 2014 Make-A-Wish Foundation Man of the Year and Los Angeles Magazine's 2006 Influentials List.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Geri Gordon Miller
- Owns the popular nightclubs Area, Hyde and Privilege on the Sunset Strip.
- Of Persian descent.
- Graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1993.
- Nazarian is married to Emina Cunmulaj, an Albanian-American fashion model.
- In Las Vegas, Nazarian owns a 14,000 sq. ft. mansion in the hills away from the famous strip. He also owns a mansion in Montana that has a private ski slope and a beach-front villa in Los Cabos, Mexico.
- When I was growing up, there was a definite sense that Persians were just invading L.A. And the truth is, we were just not cool. We didn't know how to dress. We didn't know the culture. Every time we'd go to a club, they'd make us wait for two hours and then announce it was a private party. It was kind of sadistic. I ended up hiring some of those doormen. Now they always let me in!
- Yes, she's (Emina Cunmulaj) a model. But she's incredibly smart. She's a self-made person, she supports her family, she speaks six languages. I met her on a trip in the Caribbean for an hour and didn't see her again for the next two months. We spoke every night on the phone....We fell in love on the phone. She's a big part of why I was successful in the last four or five years.
- Everyone does dumb things in their twenties. I just had the resources to do dumber things than everyone else. But I was never the party boy they made me out to be.
- The first time I went to Vegas, I was just dazzled! Everything was bigger, brighter, flashier! It was where I wanted to be!
- You know, I'm not a scholar. I'm not this brilliant guy. I didn't go to school for technology or design or any of that. I didn't even finish college. I can't build you a wall. I can't even make you an egg. But if you put yourself around enough people that trust you and you give them a shot, then great things happen. I want to be a nice man, which is not too common in my industry. Nice is free! All I want is to make people happy!
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