ROCHESTER, NY // MILWAUKEE AREA // INLAND MISSISSIPPI // PACIFIC NORTHWEST 01.18 BRAND BALLER Landry’s Tilman J. Fertitta Spotlight: Monica Graves Chief dharma instigator on a wellness mission Dream Drive-To’s Four locales get groups revved for the road The Cutting-Edge CC Trendsetters of the convention world Mastering the Multigenerational Mix Resorts satisfy groups of all ages and tastes FERTITTA ENTERTAINMENT FERTITTA MEETINGSTODAY.COM CV1_MT_0118_Cover.indd 1 12/12/17 1:32 PM BRAND BALLER Landry’s Tilman J. Fertitta BY TYLER DAVIDSON ew individuals have impacted the hospitality and entertainment industries in recent years as much F as Tilman J. Fertitta, a Galveston, Texas, native who as sole owner of Fertitta Entertainment presides over an empire that includes Landry’s restaurants, hotel and casino holdings, an NBA franchise and even a starring role in a reality television show. Thus, one could argue that even the terms est Cafe, McCormick & Schmick’s hospitality and entertainment are one in and Joe’s Crab Shack, to the same in his brand kingdom, as Fertitta’s upscale eateries in the Signa- labels all cater to the customer through the ture Group like Morton’s The prism of providing entertaining experiences Steakhouse, Vic & Anthony's that deliver a specific, tangible impression, Steakhouse, Grotto and The no matter what segment they serve. Oceanaire. Landry’s restaurants cater to all tastes From Golden Nugget Casinos and price points and include many popular and Hotels and Galveston, Texas’ San group dining options in major convention Luis Resort to the ultra-luxe The Post Oak center entertainment districts, from casual Hotel at Uptown Houston offering set to themed restaurants such as Bubba Gump open in March (see sidebar on page 58), a Shrimp Company, Claim Jumper, Rainfor- variety of hotel, resort and gaming custom- 14 Meetings Today // 01.18 14_MT_0118_Tilman_Fertitta.indd 14 12/8/17 2:51 PM Brands-TACULAR! he holdings of Tilman J. Fertitta’s hospi- ers are satiated. tality and entertainment empire are vast. With other recent moves that have included TIf you or your group hasn’t experienced the purchase of the Houston Rockets for an NBA at least one, if not many, of these companies, franchise record $2.2 billion and the starring you really should think about getting out more often. role in CNBC reality TV show Billion Dollar ❚ Fertitta Entertainment Buyer—which just entered into its third season ❚ Landry’s restaurants of production and gives entrepreneur contes- ❚ Golden Nugget Casinos and Hotels tants the opportunity to pitch Fertitta ❚ Houston Rockets NBA franchise on investing in their products—his businesses reach into the disposable Landry’s income of every segment of society This restaurant and hospitality company owns and are perpetually in growth mode more than 600 properties in 36 states and through acquisitions and innovation. more than 15 countries, and is one of the Fertitta began his rise in the real estate largest employers in the U.S., with more than 60,000 employees. development business, opening The Signature Group includes the following his first hotel when he was 26 premier concepts: years old, and then became a ❚ Mastro’s Steakhouse and Ocean Club partner in Landry’s, eventually ❚ Morton’s The Steakhouse buying out the Landry brothers ❚ The Oceanaire in 1986 and embarking on a ❚ Vic & Anthony’s restaurant-opening spree. Follow- ❚ Brenner’s Steakhouse ing the economic collapse of 2008, ❚ Grotto Fertitta decided it was an ideal time to ❚ Atlantic Grill up his game. ❚ La Griglia ❚ Willie G’s “When the world fell Plus 8 more apart in 2010, it gave me the opportunity to go pri- Its multi-unit restaurant brands include: vate again,” he said, adding ❚ Chart House that his company will ❚ Landry’s Seafood House do more than $4 ❚ Rainforest Cafe billion in revenue ❚ Saltgrass Steak House in 2017. ❚ Bubba Gump Shrimp Company His Landry’s ❚ Claim Jumper operation alone ❚ Mitchell’s Fish Market ❚ Dos Caminos owns more than ❚ Bill’s Bar & Burger 600 properties ❚ Joe’s Crab Shack in 36 states and ❚ McCormick & Schmick’s 15 countries at last ❚ 50% of Catch (in Los Angeles and New York) count, and is one of Plus 27 more the largest employers in the U.S., with more than 60,000 on the payroll. Forbes Gaming and Hospitality recently estimated Fertitta’s net worth at $3.6 billion, landing ❚ Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel brand him the #212 spot on the Forbes 400, with the publication calling (Five locations: Las Vegas and Laughlin, him “The world’s richest restaurateur.” Nev.; Atlantic City; Biloxi, Miss.; and Lake Charles, La. Not bad for s self-made man who dropped out of both Texas Tech ❚ GoldenNuggetCasino.com and the University of Houston but now chairs the latter universi- ❚ San Luis Resort (Houston-Galveston area) ty’s board of regents as well as serving on the boards of the Hous- ❚ The Westin Houston Downtown ton Museum of Fine Arts and the Texas Heart Institute. ❚ The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston “Some people are good multitaskers—that’s something (opening in early 2018) that’s a gift,” Fertitta said, in more than a bit of an understate- Plus 4 more ment. “I’ve had a lot of people with me for many years, which helps tremendously.” Entertainment Destinations Besides what one could interpret as a bit of Texas-size brand- ❚ Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier ing bluster when watching him on Billion Dollar Buyer—in one ❚ The Kemah Boardwalk ❚ CNBC promotional spot he actually described himself as being, Downtown Aquarium in Denver and Houston ❚ Tower of The Americas in San Antonio to paraphrase, a "mother f-er,"—during a recent interview ❚ Boardwalk Fantasea Yacht Charters with Meetings Today, Fertitta was quite the reserved, mannered gentleman, giving the credit to his team, which extends to and is Sports nurtured by his management philosophy. ❚ Houston Rockets (NBA) “If you look at the people who work for me, that answer to me directly, they probably average over 20 years,” he said. “I think what Television ❚ Billion Dollar Buyer (CNBC) MeetingsToday.com 15 14_MT_0118_Tilman_Fertitta.indd 15 12/8/17 2:51 PM Towering OAK people like is there’s not a lot he Post Oak at Uptown of games, and I tell them what Houston is the newest I want and where they can im- Tmember of Tilman J. Fertit- prove. I think people respect you ta’s hospitality and entertainment as a leader if you shoot straight FERTITTA AND CARLOS CORREA, HOUSTON ASTROS family, and it’s one Golden Child. WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS THIRD BASEMAN Set to open in spring 2018, and you take care of them.” the 250-room luxe hotel is part The bluster, such as in the a modest Fertitta said, rec- of a Gensler-designed mixed- aforementioned CNBC promo, ognizing the responsibility of use project near Houston’s tony is all part of elevating the brand. those who have amassed great Uptown and Galleria areas set on “That’s drama,” he said, with wealth to give back. “We’re 10 acres that also includes office, a telling laugh that seemed to all in very visible business… residential and restaurant spaces. The development is also near Fertitta convey a little bit of blush about they’re just different organi- Entertainment’s corporate headquarters, which allows for the hands-on having crossed the line a bit in zations that I’ve always been touch when it comes to planning and monitoring the construction. the spot promoting the show involved with.” The suite offering will include a 5,000-square-foot Presidential Suite and the larger-than-life persona But as nice as it is to be nice, and 4,000-square-foot, two-bedroom chairman suites with private elevator access and all the latest high-tech he exudes on it. “I have brands and as any professional bas- amenities. Restaurant experiences that are all over the country. ketball player would attest, the will include the first Texas Mastro’s It’s another way my brand is competition is always hot on Steakhouse and a Willie G’s Seafood exposed. It doesn’t look like an your heels, and the dynamics of & Steaks. Other highlights will include infomercial—it’s definitely not the game are always changing, a spa, salon and designer retail and an infomercial. It gets me out to so letting up is not an option. boutique office space. see what’s new out there. It’s as “Stay on top of your game,” For meetings, a 16,000-square-foot much educational for me as it is he said. “There are no spare ballroom—the largest in the Uptown mentoring for them.” customers. Treat every custom- area—and conference center, offering Another side of Fertitta is his er like they’re your last.” a total of 35,000 square feet, will be adjacent to the tower. Two large philanthropic endeavors, in- That philosophy also extends prefunction areas and a second-level, cluding serving as chairman of to those in the business of plan- the board of both the Houston ning meetings and events. 3,000-square-foot ballroom and Children’s Charity and Houston "I think that you always try to 10,000 square feet of conference Police Foundation, and his work be innovative, especially when and breakout space will round on the executive committee you’re dealing with meeting out the meeting facilities. of one of the largest charitable planners,” he said. “You want And when it comes to ul- organizations in the U.S., the to roll out the red carpet and tra-luxe, nothing says exclusive Houston Livestock Show and treat them better than every- like the two-story Rolls-Royce Rodeo.