Miami Forum: An Evening with Sam Nazarian and Jeff Zalaznick
To learn more about the Miami Forum, please visit the website: https://miamiforum.org/.
**All guests must be approved in advance. Given limited capacity, please attend only if confirmed and let us know if your plans change so we can offer your seat to someone on the waitlist.***
Topic
The Making of a Destination: What transforms a restaurant, nightclub, or hotel into a cultural phenomenon? A conversation exploring the intersection of hospitality, culture, and commerce, and what it takes to build iconic brands that attract audiences from around the world.
About Jeff Zalaznick
Jeff Zalaznick is a restaurateur and entrepreneur. He was born and raised in New York City and is a graduate of Cornell University. Prior to becoming a restaurateur, Jeff worked as an investment banker for J.P. Morgan and then a manager at the Mandarin Oriental.
In 2010, Jeff met his match in visionary chefs Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi at Torrisi Italian Specialties. Together, the trio formed Major Food Group (MFG), a new breed of restaurant group seeking to operate restaurants that are respectful of the past, exciting for the present, and sustainable for the future.
Jeff has served as the Cornell Hotel School's Entrepreneur-in-Residence and has been listed in 30 Under 30 by Zagat and Forbes. He has also been named 40 under 40 by Crain’s and a Rising Star Restaurateur by Star Chefs. Jeff lives in Miami with his wife Ali and their children Poppy, Leo and Zoey.
About Sam Nazarian
Sam Nazarian is an Iranian-American entrepreneur, investor, and hospitality executive best known as the founder, chairman, and CEO of sbe, a global hospitality company he established in 2002.
Nazarian built sbe into a major player in luxury hospitality, developing and operating iconic brands including SLS Hotels, Mondrian, Delano, Hyde, and Katsuya. In 2016, he acquired Morgans Hotel Group for approximately $805 million, significantly expanding his global footprint. In 2020, he completed an $850 million transaction with Accor, selling the remaining stake in sbe's hotel platform while retaining its restaurant and nightlife businesses.
Today, Nazarian is expanding his hospitality portfolio through HQ Hotels & Residences, developed in partnership with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and The Estate, a luxury hospitality and wellness venture launched with Tony Robbins. His career has earned him recognition on Fortune's 40 Under 40 list and multiple hospitality industry honors.