From Left to Right: Ronn Nicolli, Nick Martini, Michael Waltman, Jared Garcia, Andrew Pacheco, Brent Freed, Arman Semerciyan
Las Vegas has long had a lock on offering partiers the best nightclub experiences in the world. A year ago, Zouk Group joined the ranks with the opening of Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub at Resorts World. We take readers beyond the ropes for a peek inside the inner workings of Zouk and meet the team behind the name and some of the best experiences to date. Together, these men are cementing Zouk’s place in the pantheon of Vegas parties, and they’re sharing their stories with us.
Meet the Team
Ronn Nicolli, CMO, Resorts World and VP of nightlife marketing, Zouk Group. “I have a very exciting and interesting dual role at the property. I am the CMO of Resorts World Las Vegas and the vice president of nightlife for Zouk Group Las Vegas. My responsibilities lie mainly in overseeing marketing and brand initiatives for Resorts World Las Vegas and overseeing strategy marketing for artist and entertainment opportunities.”
Brent Freed, programming director, Resorts World. “As director of programming, I book the entertainment for Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub, The Resorts World Event Center and other property-wide venues. My main role is curating a lineup for our venues that stands out from the rest of the city.”
Nick Martini, VP of marketing, Resorts World. “I have a dual role at the property, where I aid in leading marketing initiatives between both Resorts World and Zouk Las Vegas.”
Andrew Pacheco, executive director of customer development, Zouk Group. “In my position, I lead the team of 19 VIP hosts in driving revenue for Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub. We work to develop future VIP customers and create a team of brand ambassadors for the Resorts World Las Vegas brand overall.”
Arman Semerciyan, director of VIP services, Zouk Group. “I lead the team of 19 VIP hosts with Andrew Pacheco. I also oversee all promotion and the ticketing program for Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub.”
Jared Garcia, director of social experiences, Zouk Group. “This role entails acting as the head of the talent department and pursuing artists that are hot and up and coming for residencies at Zouk and Ayu. From the moment an artist lands in Las Vegas to the second they leave, I work to ensure that they have an amazing experience. I also oversee celebrity and influencer events, and any out-of-market events we host like Coachella, Super Bowl, F1 and more.”
Michael Waltman, executive director of operations, Zouk Group. “I am fortunate enough to oversee operations at Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub, FUHU, RedTail and Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den. We have a great portfolio of outlets (at Resorts World) that each have their own identity.”
What special things does Zouk provide that sets it apart from other nightclubs?
Nicolli: I think the production element is very unique. Not that other Vegas venues don’t have great production, but I truly believe our immersive visuals and state-of-the-art sound system create a custom journey for our guests. All of it collectively makes the room special.
Freed: Our venue has no obstructions for the guests or talent performing, which is super unique in Vegas. Whether the guest is a table customer or ticket buyer, the experience is really enjoyable for all.
Martini: The technology is the first thing that comes to mind; the team that worked on the tech in the venue did an incredible job. The experience, the visuals and production provided to our guests truly does raise the bar in Las Vegas’ ultra-competitive nightlife market.
Pacheco: Our team is always thinking of ways to make each experience over the top to create a lasting impression with our guests. For example, being able to put a guest’s picture up on the giant LED screen on our West Tower for special occasions always helps create a unique, memorable experience.
Semerciyan: From the massive LED screen on our West Tower, to the several inside Zouk, we have the ability to customize unique presentations for each guest. Our team is always looking for ways to give guests memorable experiences. No idea seems too crazy or unachievable with the team we have here.
Garcia: One of the first things artists and their teams mention when speaking about Zouk is the sound quality in the venue. We offer a state-of-the-art L-Acoustics sound system inside of Zouk, providing some of the best sounds of any nightclub in the world. Additionally, the production featured throughout the venue is unparalleled, with LED screens and lights that can be personalized for any special occasion.
Most memorable party at Zouk Nightclub?
Freed: Some of the most memorable nights so far for me were Zouk’s grand opening with Tiësto, New Year’s Eve with Zedd, GRAMMY Weekend with Jack Harlow, and most recently our Travis Scott debut show.
Martini: Travis Scott’s surprise set. We already had an amazing night underway when Travis Scott arrived at our venue, and then surprised our guests by performing some of his best songs. The energy in the room was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. That was one of those moments where not just me, but every other guest in the room will be talking about years from now. A truly unique experience that only Las Vegas can provide.
Garcia: The most memorable for me was the grand opening of Ayu Dayclub with a performance from Miley Cyrus. The excitement of being a part of opening a new venue on the Las Vegas Strip is unparalleled.
Celebrities that have celebrated at Zouk?
Nicolli: We have had some great athletes come through the venue in a very short period of time. From Sugar Sean, Canelo (Álvarez), Ryan Garcia, to the Golden State Warriors. One of the most memorable was in the middle of Zedd’s set, Canelo went up and spent about 15 minutes serenading his wife. This was a passionate, raw and organic moment that really stood out to me. The way the crowd sang along and interacted with Canelo was a human connection we seldom see take place in a nightclub.
Freed: Zouk has had a really good first year and continues to grow our celebrity/live performer roster. So far, we’ve had: Travis Scott, Jack Harlow, J Balvin, Maluma, Karol G, G Eazy all perform, and we have Post Malone’s debut show (Nov. 11) with us.
Martini: Being a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, you would think I wouldn’t be excited about the Golden State Warriors celebrating a championship with us, but it ended up being one of the most memorable moments for me at Zouk. It was one of those situations that happens very fast, and it takes all of us to make it memorable. I remember driving around town the night they were coming in looking for jerseys for the staff to wear and décor to make the night feel special for the team. The Warriors were nothing but thankful and appreciative of the custom celebration the Zouk team curated for them.
Garcia: One of my favorite celebrity events was when actress Zoey Deutch visited Zouk. While she is 27 now, we learned that she never had a proper Las Vegas 21st birthday celebration, so we threw her an amazing belated celebration. Another memorable celebrity visit was Top Gun: Maverick actor Glen Powell, who visited Zouk after appearing at CinemaCon. He came in with his friends and family and threw a great after party.
The most memorable parties you contributed to?
Nicolli: I never try to think in the essence of “I,” it really is not who I am as an individual. I think to have a successful party, contributions are really needed from a team. Not to be cliché, but it really takes a village to raise a child, and the same for what we do—it takes a great team, with endless passion.
Martini: I really enjoy the charity aspect of our work. We put on a poker tournament this year on the Thursday before EDC weekend, which was hosted by our resident artist, Tiësto. The event was a huge success and one that took effort by many of our team members. The tournament started in the poker room and the final table was moved into Zouk on the dancefloor with full production set up all around it. The event was attended by celebrities, athletes, and some of our talent. It was a memorable experience and, most importantly, gave us the opportunity to give back to our community by giving all the proceeds to Project 150—a nonprofit organization that provides free support and services to the homeless, displaced and disadvantaged teens in Southern Nevada.
Semerciyan: The Travis Scott show was one that I think the entire team had a big part in making successful. Not just in the venue at Zouk, but with the Travis Scott pop-up on property. The combination of it being on a Canelo fight night and LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) having a big activation in the venue really made for an unparalleled experience.
What has been your favorite musical act at the club?
Nicolli: G Eazy. I think he is really incredible live. His team is amazing to work with, as they always come in with such great energy and really care about producing a great performance. Something we can see when Gerald is performing live.
Martini: Live performances stand out for me. We’ve had some great acts over the past year from J Balvin, Maluma, Becky G, G-Eazy, Jack Harlow and Travis Scott. Getting that concert experience in an intimate setting always feels like an extra-special moment.
Garcia: My personal favorites have been Maluma and Travis Scott. These are artists that people typically only see in stadiums or arenas, so their performances at Zouk offer a more intimate setting that guests won’t get anywhere else.
What has been your favorite DJ performance at the club?
Nicolli: Tiësto. The music he has put out in the past decade is just phenomenal. The energy and crowd interactions are amazing, and we always know it will be a great night with him.
Garcia: One of my favorite performances was Carl Cox because we had so much industry support. Additionally, I love any of Tiësto’s shows at Zouk because he brings such massive amounts of energy and all of his hits. He is at the top of his career at this moment, and we are thrilled to have him as a resident at Zouk and Ayu.
Waltman: Tiësto is on top of his game at every show and never disappoints.
Any extra-special VIP packages available?
Nicolli: There is a secret bottle package that is not on the menu that you can order. It is called the “Singapore Secret.” This $20,000 bottle package allows guests to become a part of the DJ/artist arrival experience, where they can experience what it is like to be the star of the night. We welcome the guest to join us in the back prior to the start of the main DJ’s set, and then they walk into the DJ booth alongside the artist when he/she begins. There is also a photo/video opportunity with the DJ that is included. The experience of walking out to a packed crowd and into the booth with the DJ is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The name traces back to our roots as a Singaporean company.
How do you make sure Zouk remains one of the best clubs in Las Vegas?
Martini: Teamwork is everything, from the leadership group to our interns, we strive to make sure we are always on the same unified path and support each other along the way. We are in a unique business and get the opportunity to provide people with memories that will last a lifetime.
Pacheco: Consistency is just one step before mediocrity. We will always strive to improve as a team to create the best, most memorable parties. I cannot accept failing at anything.
Garcia: We are always reinventing experiences, staying current and up to date with talent and ensuring every guest has a great experience so they return to Zouk.
Waltman: DJs and business volumes may change, but great service is always consistent.
Nicolli: The team. I think keeping the core team together is vital. The collection of guys you see in this publication are each creative and passionate in each of their verticals. Opening a venue or property is very difficult, to do so during a pandemic with great success is a testament to how amazing this group of guys are, and I know we are just starting to uncover Zouk’s potential.
Resorts World, 702.676.7000 or zoukgrouplv.com
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