With an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct and personal style, sbe Founder, Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian has been a transformative force in revolutionizing contemporary hospitality. In only a decade, Nazarian has defined “the scene” in Los Angeles and beyond, driving sbe to become the creative wellspring for some of the world’s most sought-after luxury lifestyle brands in North America, including SLS Hotels and Casinos, The Bazaar by José Andrés and Hyde Lounge.

Nazarian’s career began in the tech industry with a wireless company he co-founded and later sold after leading it to rapid growth and record sales. In 2001, Nazarian began to hone his expertise in development and hospitality by successfully diversifying his family’s assets into real estate holdings across virtually all sectors of the market. It was during this phase of his career that Nazarian began to see a demand for a different approach to hospitality – one that would fundamentally change the industry moving forward.

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As one of only four Master Sushi Chefs in Los Angeles, Chef Katsuya Uechi brings over three decades of culinary artistry and restaurant operation experience to sbe. Born in Japan, Uechi operates numerous restaurants including sbe’s highly successful Katsuya brand. Katsuya is widely considered a piece of pop culture in North America and sbe has announced the highly anticipated international expansion of three Katsuya by S+ARCK locations in the Middle East by the end of 2013.

Known for his distinctive style and first-rate execution of high quality traditional sushi, Uechi is recognized as one of the major style setters in the world of Japanese cuisine and was recently named “Chef of the Year” by Angeleno magazine. Selected by Travel + Leisure as one of the Best New Restaurants of 2007, Chef Uechi’s Brentwood location has been deemed “one of the most exciting restaurants to open in Los Angeles in years” by Food & Wine magazine and is a favorite among Hollywood Elite. In addition to his partnership with sbe, Chef Uechi owns and operates three sushi bars, including Sushi Katsu-Ya in Studio City and Encino and Izakaya in Los Angeles, which are often ranked top favorites among Angelenos.

Philippe Starck is widely recognized as the world’s leading designer of luxury restaurant, hotel and real estate properties. His work with Le Meurice and Le Royal Monceau in Paris, The Delano in Miami, Felix restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, the Teatron in Mexico, the Hudson in New York, the Faena hotel in Buenos Aires, Bon restaurant in Moscow, and Volar nightclub in Shanghai, has forever changed the hospitality experience.

In 2005, he signed an exclusive agreement with sbe for the design of its restaurants and lounges in North America and the agreement expanded in 2006 to include hotel properties. His designs for sbe’s first SLS hotel in Beverly Hills in 2008 shaped an entirely new paradigm of luxury hotels. As sbe rapidly expands into various markets, so too does its partnership with Starck. SLS Hotel South Beach heralded Starck’s long-awaited return to Miami and the next stop for the rapidly growing hotel brand is Park Ave with the opening of SLS New York slated 2014.

To learn more about Philippe Starck, please visit starck.com.