Exclusive Calvin Harris Partnership Crowns Hakkasan Group Global Investment Strategy

LONDON, January 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Global hospitality company Hakkasan Group, today announced a three-year partnership with award winning international DJ and recording artist Calvin Harris. The innovative partnership is the latest phase of an ambitious global investment strategy by Hakkasan Group to drive rapid growth while maintaining world-class experiences for its guests.

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150127/726820-a )

     (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150127/726820-b )

The collaboration will involve Harris working across Hakkasan Group's wide portfolio of brands, drawing on his talents as a DJ, writer and producer. In particular, Harris has agreed to play exclusively at Hakkasan Group venues in Las Vegas for the next three years as well as to work collaboratively with Hakkasan Group to create unique experiences for its guests. In addition to his residency deals, Harris will act as a music consultant for the group's renowned Hakkasan brand, refining and curating its global sound as it moves from restaurants and nightclubs into the hotel space. He will also be working closely with the senior team at Hakkasan Group to develop entirely new experiences and event concepts to bring to the ideas to life for guests and fans to experience.

The deal is a part of the Group's 'brand-first' philosophy centred on creating consistent, world-class experiences that push the boundaries of hospitality. Commitment to brand and talent development is at the heart of the Hakkasan Group business strategy.

Hakkasan Group has enjoyed explosive growth with revenues increasing from $100 milllion to $500 million in less than two years. Key to this has been its ambitious expansion plans with a steady stream of new venues opening in the U.S., Middle East and Asia including a project to renovate PURE Nightclub at Caesars in Las Vegas, to reopen as Omnia. These exciting plans will continue in 2015 with 15 new venues slated to open in the coming year.

Recent investments also include the formation of a new hotel management company, MGM Hakkasan Hospitality, with MGM Resorts International. As part of this joint venture Hakkasan is building a 200 room boutique hotel on the Palm in Dubai. The hotel, due to open in 2017 will be truly world class, offering an unrivalled mix of luxury hospitality, food and nightlife.

Neil Moffitt, CEO of Hakkasan Group, commented: "Calvin Harris' dedication, passion and creativity echo Hakkasan Group's approach to business so it's the perfect partnership for us. I have been involved in electronic music for many years now, so on a personal level it is hugely exciting to work with the leading international DJ talents. On a professional level, today's announcement is important in what it says about our Group: that we are committed to creating unbeatable experiences for our guests."

Calvin Harris commented: "Hakkasan Group's heritage in part goes right back to the '90s golden era of dance music and I am excited to be able to play a part in this next chapter of its story. Its venues are some of the best in the world for dance music and the opportunity to be part of the wider group as it develops into other markets and sectors is a really exciting prospect for me as an artist. We have some great ideas up our sleeves."

Calvin Harris sits alongside Hakkasan Group's stable of internationally recognised entertainment and hospitality professionals including: Executive Head Chef Tong Chee Hwee, who has led the Hakkasan kitchen since its inception and has achieved Michelin stars across multiple restaurants in the Group, and International Executive Chef Ho Chee Boon, a renowned Michelin-starred chef with 24 years' experience.

ABOUT HAKKASAN GROUP 

Hakkasan Group is a worldwide entertainment, dining, nightlife, and hospitality company with establishments currently located across the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.  Its namesake is taken from its Michelin-star restaurant that set the high-level standard for the group's collection of diverse brands.  Its 'brand-first' philosophy builds dining, nightlife, day life, and soon-to-be hotel concepts into world-class lifestyle hospitality brands, all with a focus on service, design, innovation, and experience.

Its restaurant portfolio includes the flagship Hakkasan Restaurant with 12 locations worldwide, as well as Yauatcha, HKK, Sake no Hana, Herringbone, Searsucker, and Social House.  Under the nightlife/daylife umbrella of brands are Hakkasan Nightclub, Wet Republic, HQ Nightclub, HQ Beach Club, Bootsy Bellows, Hooray Henry's, THE NICE GUY, SHOREbar and Omnia (opening in Las Vegas and in San Diego, Spring 2015). In 2014, Hakkasan Group and MGM Resorts International announced the formation of a joint venture hotel management company named MGM Hakkasan Hospitality with a series of hotel and resort projects already under development including MGM projects in the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia along with Hakkasan projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Hakkasan Group is owned by Tasameem Real Estate LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company. For more information, visit http://www.hakkasangroup.com.

ABOUT CALVIN HARRIS  

Scottish producer, DJ and song-writer Calvin Harris stands as the figurehead for modern dance music, having broken world records and dominated global music charts with his hits. As one of the most successful artists of all time, Calvin Harris has collaborated with global stars including Rihanna, Florence and The Machine, Gwen Stefani, Ellie Goulding, HAIM and Big Sean, and his fourth studio album 'Motion' is out now.

Contact:

Jackie Oribello
Global Director of Public Relations, Hakkasan Group
T +44(0)20-7297-8965
[email protected]

SOURCE Hakkasan Group