As a high-end hospitality entrepreneur, Scott Sartiano makes tough decisions daily. But opting for a partnership with Wynn Las Vegas was an easy call.
“I have said many times before, Wynn is the gold standard in hospitality. So, obviously, I jumped at the chance to do something with them,” says Sartiano, co-founder of the private membership club Zero Bond. “This is an incredible opportunity.”
Zero Bond Las Vegas is set to open to the publicon March 10, nearly 16 months after plans were announced. The club was established in 2020 in Lower Manhattan’s NoHo (North of Houston Street) neighborhood at 0 Bond St., hence the name. Founded by Sartiano and New York hospitality vet Will Makris, Zero Bond has helped redefine the private club concept by catering to a wide swath of cultural power players.
Fashion magnates have mingled with sports stars, music industry heavyweights and elected officials. Among the esteemed celebs who have visited Zero Bond: Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Tom Brady, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bella Hadid and Jessica Alba. Elon Musk has hosted a party at the club. Now-former New York Mayor Eric Adams held his 2021 Election Day victory party at the fortress, reciting a piece of “My Way,” perhaps a foretelling of Zero Bond expanding to the Strip.
Vision for Vegas
In Las Vegas, Sartiano says he and Wynn execs first mapped out how to create a Vegas club out of its Manhattan hotspot.
“We explored the members club in New York and Zero Bond and what it is in New York,” Sartiano said. “We went over and spoke of how it can be incorporated into the Las Vegas landscape and the Wynn ecosystem.”
At more than 15,000 square feet, the club’s location is unique to that ecosystem. Zero Bond overlooks the 18th hole at Wynn Golf Club, formerly the regal Desert Inn Country Club. The decor is inspired by Milan residences, designed by Alessia Genova of Tihany Design and Wynn Design and Development. An indoor-outdoor cigar lounge is among the amenities, as is a wine cellar and a terrace with a clear view of the links.
Chef Alfred Portale developed the menu at the Fairway Grill. At the heart of this luxury is The Salon, where cocktails stir the conversation. The entertainment is ambient, devoid of strobes and party cannons, leaning instead to guest DJs and the occasional trio.
The posting of photos or video is not permitted at Zero Bond, a policy it shares with The Poodle Room at the Fontainebleau, The Pinky Ring at Bellagio and Zero Bond’s companion nightspot at Wynn, Delilah. “That’s not for here, not for Zero Bond,” Sartiano says of the shoot-and-post activity.
Two membership tiers
If this all sounds elevated in terms of access, you’re on the money. Zero Bond’s annual fees start at $2,750 for General Membership, with a $1,000 initiation cost. Founding Memberships are $7,500 annually, with a $50,000 initiation fee. Founding Membership allows access to the Las Vegas and New York clubs, reservations for nonmembers at Wynn (on a limited basis), the privilege of nominating three candidates for membership, and one round of golf per year at Wynn Golf Club.
The New York club has reported a membership wait list of up to 10,000, with just a few hundred spots available. Managing that demand in Las Vegas is among the adjustments made for Wynn.
“One of the big differences is how to handle membership and membership applications,” Sartiano says. “In a place like Las Vegas, we have so many people that are not living there. One of the things we’re doing is just speeding up the application acceptance process.”
No stranger to the Strip
Sartiano has experience on the Strip as founder of 1 Oak at The Mirage, also a more intimate nightlife venue, established alongside the megaclub DJ boom.
“I spent a lot of time there. I didn’t just give the brand and watch it from afar,” Sartiano says. “I was there about half the time. I realized the importance of the local residents and the culture there locally, and the pride that people take in being locals and living there. I learned what they want to experience and how they want to be treated, and that was the biggest takeaway for me.
“We really wanted the club to be built for locals,” he adds. “We’re building a valet in the back to reduce the friction of entering Zero Bond, so you don’t have to walk through the entire casino. Those things are important.”
Beyond the fancy architecture, Zero Bond’s success will hinge on its clientele.
“There are ancillary parts of the operation, but it’s really about the people,” Sartiano says. “It’s the relationships that they want to form, and how does the members club fulfill something in their lives. To understand the market, you need to understand the people, who are from different parts of the world, who will have conversations while we protect their privacy.”
Contact John Katsilometes at [email protected].