Mike PrevattMon, Feb 9, 2015 (3:19 p.m.)
For the fourth year in a row, XS has topped Nightclub & Bar magazine’s Top 100—though its chief competitor is right at its tail.
The veteran megaclub at Encore, which regularly features DJs such as Skrillex, Kaskade, Diplo and David Guetta, saw a reported $103-$105 million come in from clubbers and VIPs in 2014—roughly $10 million more than it grossed in 2013.
Hakkasan landed at No. 2, its first official ranking on the annual list, which uses venue data to determine estimated revenue of national nightclubs and bars. The MGM Grand danceteria, the Vegas home of dance giants Calvin Harris, Hardwell and Tiësto, also reportedly brought in $100-$103 million, losing the top spot to XS by a hair.
The two enormo-clubs are just two of 15 local nightlife venues on this year’s national rankings chart, and there are seven in the top 10 alone. Other newcomers included the Cosmopolitan’s Bond (No. 66) and Vesper (No. 67), and Venetian’s Bourbon Room (No. 68).
TAO Group landed four venues in the top 10, three of which are located on the Strip. Marquee, last year’s No. 2 and a former No. 1, slid down to No. 3 with a reported $80-$85 gross—$5 million less than its 2014 figure. Sister venue Tao also fell one spot (to No. 4), though its $50-$55 million revenue projection is the same as last year’s. Also descending one spot, and by $5 million, is TAO Group’s other Vegas operation, Lavo, which is perched at No. 10 with $20-$25 million.
What’s interesting about that latter figure is that Lavo shuttered its longtime nightclub operation (except for special events) in 2014. Reps for Nightclub & Bar couldn’t confirm whether Tao or Lavo’s reported revenues also included their dining operations, though that’s probable given that their respective estimates on previous top 100 lists for both N&B and Restaurant Business magazine match.
Rounding out the top 10 for Las Vegas were Surrender (No. 6, $40-$45 million) and Hyde (No. 9, $25-$30 million). Other local Top 100 venues included Chandelier, Tryst, Chateau, Ghostbar and Lagasse’s Stadium.
Noticeably absent were Drai’s and Life—neither of which were open for the required 12-month window—LAX, Body English and any properties under the Light Group umbrella in 2014. Nightclub & Bar used T.G. Mayer & Co. to solicit, review and verify information submitted from the national venues. Any venue not providing necessary information for the firm to do so was disqualified.
N&B holds its annual convention and trade show March 30-April 1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information, visit ncbshow.com.
1. XS ($103-$105 million+)
2. Hakkasan ($100-$103 million+)
3. Marquee ($80-$85 million)
4. Tao ($50-$55 million)
6. Surrender ($40-$45 million)
9. Hyde Bellagio ($25-$30 million)
10. Lavo Las Vegas ($20-$25 million)