Marklen Kennedy

Marklen Kennedy has over 10 years of respected professional hospitality and service industry experience both in the US and abroad. During his career, he has held senior management positions in a variety of nightlife venues, restaurants and hotels both in front and back of the house. Marklen was educated at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with minors in both Journalism and Advertising. As a Division I collegiate football player at Southern Methodist University he was named to an 'All-Southwest Conference Football Team' as well as Texas' 'Rookie of the Year' in Rugby (SMU.) Marklen and his wife reside in Las Vegas, Nevada with their two-year-old daughter Alexa. He is now the Director for the Tao Group's TAO Beach at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He has recently chartered the "Lift the Rope for a Cure" charity in Las Vegas together with the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Prior to TAO Group, Marklen served as Vice President of Customer Development for the Light Group, a leading nightlife, restaurant and lifestyle development organizations based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Light Group's diverse portfolio of concepts includes cutting edge Night Clubs, Restaurants and Ultra Lounges. In his role at Tao Group, among other things he facilitates all reservations, marketing requests and inquiries for TAO Beach as well as the full spectrum of the Tao Group Properties. In Las Vegas, Tao Group operates the world famous Tao Asian Bistro and Tao Nightclub as well as Tao Groups newest creation Lavo Restaurant and Nightclub inside the Palazzo Resort and Hotel Casino. In New York, we operate Tao Asian Bistro, the Stanton Social, Avra, Rue 57, Marquee Nightclub and Dune in South Hampton with many more exciting properties opening in 2010. TAO Nightclub at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has been named "Nightclub of the Year" by the 2010 Nightclub and Bar Awards.

Marklen has been a dominant force in the west and east coast hospitality industries for the past decade. Starting in Los Angeles, Marklen began working the door at the famed Bar Marmont on Sunset Blvd which caught the eye of owner Andre Balazs who quickly offered him a position to assist in managing his acclaimed Sunset Beach on Shelter Island in New York. In 2001 word spread and soon nightclub owner Andrew Sasson, owner of Light Group, came calling for his skills to help manage the infamous Conscious Point Nightclub in South Hampton, New York. After honing his craft and his people skills an opportunity came about to go to Las Vegas with Sasson and open the world famous Light Nightclub at Bellagio. As one of five original executive team members that opened the venue from the ground up and ran the marketing department and hosts, Light quickly became the # 1 hot spot in the world. Volume $140K+/night. Marklen helped to construct and implement the infrastructure and integrity that is the foundation for the company's success and growth. Holding the positions: Director of Marketing, Manager and Senior VIP Host, Marklen as well traversed back and forth to the Hampton's to head up Jet East Nightclub, FOH, another Light Group Property, during the summer socialite healed season. Developing an elite database of the coast to coasts biggest movers and shakers.

Marklen returned to Vegas to open Caramel Bar and Lounge inside the Bellagio in 2003 managing the venues high-end spenders. The Venue achieved over 5 million in revenue in it's first year. From there Marklen was called in to head up the marketing duties at Fix Restaurant which was recently named as one of 'Restaurant & Institutions Magazine's' top 100 Independent Grossing Restaurants in America. Volume: $30,000k -50,000/night. Responsible for developing and maintaining business at one of the hippest restaurant bar/lounges in town. Oversaw marketing for property and supervised 25 employees. He Created "Poker Fix" - a personalized service catering to the hi-limit poker room players at Bellagio which drove $300,000 to topline. In 2005 Marklen began working on the opening details of Light Groups newest venue Jet Nightclub in the Mirage Casino. Here he was responsible for creating the entire marketing team and training them to raise the bar for service and customer expectations. He garnered the respect and patronage of the celebrity A-list clientele, due to his continuing commitment to providing guests with cutting edge level of service and hospitality. Responsible for developing and maintaining business by increasing guest frequency and maximized the sales potential per guest through training all staff in marketing and overseeing all marketing hosts. Supervised staff of 50 employees. After opening the property he created tracking systems for incoming business while assigning measurable marketing goals. Jet Nightclub is one of the hottest nightclubs in Las Vegas. At over 15,000 square feet, occupancy 2000+. Marklen participated in all marketing aspects of the property, developed press pitches, wrote all marketing training manuals, ran the front door and was responsible for seating and running the floor. Jet Nightclub has won numerous international awards based on its level of service. Volume: $100K-$200K/night.

In 2006 Marklen moved up to the executive level in the Light Group being named Vice President of Customer Development for the Light Group. As the brand ambassador, Marklen traveled the world continuing to establish the Light Group brand. Posing a presence at The Oscars, The Emmys, The Grammy's, MTV Music & Movie Awards, VH1 Awards, Sundance, Superbowl, Nascar, NBA, NFL, PGA, MLB, movie premieres, show openings and other brand inaugurations. Marklen was responsible for bringing in new business and for the development of the company's established restaurant and nightlife customers by knowing its top tiered customers intimately -- their needs, priorities, budgets, decisions, and motivations. Marklen developed strategic database practices and worked closely with the venues casinos and feeder markets, LA, NYC, AZ, San Diego and Miami to maintain and develop personal relationships with its top gamblers, VIP's and A-List celebrities. He participated in PR, marketing events-onsite and off, developed press pitches, management, hiring-firing of staff, brand awareness, training protocols, scheduling, driving and developing new business and assignments for qualified employees. Developed and oversaw ALL hosts, junior hosts, street teams, promoters, cocktailer's, bartenders and servers in all facets of venue marketing training on strategies and standards of service. Venues responsible for included; Fix Restaurant & Bar, Caramel Bar & Lounge and Light Nightclub at Bellagio, Jet Nightclub, and Stack Restaurant & Bar at The Mirage, and Mist Bar & Lounge at Treasure Island. Marklen also created and conducted full marketing training and standards for LG venues including; Diablo's Cantina, Brand Steakhouse at Monte Carlo and Bare Pool at Mirage and The Bank Nightclub at Bellagio. Marklen continues to guest speak at conventions, universities and conferences including: Nightclub & Bar Trade show, Global Gaming Expo, University of Las Vegas, Billboard Dance Music Summit and Winter Music Conference.

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