Profile

Angela Lester

Executive Vice President Business Development EMEA
sbe

Angela Lester’s executive career spans more than 30 years in hospitality and gaming in the Las Vegas and global environments. Angela has been involved in pinnacle endeavors such as leading the global expansion of the portfolio of Hakkasan Group Brands (2013 ), launching Caesars Entertainment into the non-gaming global hospitality sector (2011) and the development and opening of CityCenter (2010) and Bellagio Resort & Casino (1998), both located on the Las Vegas Strip. Most recently, Angela has assumed the role of EVP of Business Development EMEA for sbe Lifestyle Hospitality. Angela will work in conjunction with sbe to oversee and spearhead business development, deal execution, strategic business development planning, capital partnerships, acquisitions and portfolio management across the verticals of the company including HQ Smart Lifestyle Hotels & Residences, Everyone Eats and Disruptive Restaurant Group. Established in 2002 by Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, sbe is a privately held, leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates world-class hotels, restaurants, lounges and nightclubs. Prior to Angela's most recent role, she held the position of Executive Vice President of Business Development for Hakkasan Group (acquired by Tao Group Hospitality as of 2021), which owns and operates the world's most successful food, beverage, nightlife and daylife venues with over 60 venues spanning five continents. Angela was responsible for the group's strategic growth plan, solidifying like-mined partners and deal negotiation and execution. Other positions held by Angela's include Head of Brand Development and Operations for Caesars Global Living, the nongaming global hospitality division of Caesars Entertainment, General Manager at the Vdara Hotel & Spa, a 57 story, 1,495 allsuite hotel with over 780 employees and 1.6 million square feet of space located on the Las Vegas Strip, and various positions through the corporate ranks in hotel and food and beverage operations at Bellagio Resort & Casino, The Mirage Hotel & Casino and Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. Angela consulted for the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco and the Ko Olina master planned community in Oahu, assisted in the opening of Beau Rivage Hotel & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi and was directly involved for Bellagio earning the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for the first time. Angela has been featured in such magazines as Vanity Fair, VEGAS, CityCenter, and Luxury Travel Advisor and was recognized as the “Top 40 Under 40” by In Business Las Vegas in 2010.