Los Angeles-based hospitality company SBE Entertainment announced today it is expanding its Hyde Lounge nightlife brand to Las Vegas.

The company plans to rebrand and redesign the Fontana Bar at the Bellagio as the resort’s first indoor-outdoor nightlife venue.

Construction on the 12,000-square-foot venue will begin in May with a grand opening planned for New Year’s Eve, SBE said in a release today. The renovations will include an expanded terrace overlooking the Bellagio fountains. The lounge will feature a mixology program and plans to operate as an “exclusive lounge” until 10 pm, then transform into a nightclub.

SBE, which is led by Sam Nazarian, opened the first Hyde Lounge in Hollywood in 2006 and has since expanded the concept to the Staples Center and Mammoth Mountain. The company has plans to open Hyde Beach in Miami in 2012. It operates 24 restaurants and nightclubs in the Los Angeles area.

Hyde Lounge will be SBE’s first nightlife venture in Las Vegas, but the company already has a presence on the Strip.

SBE purchased the Sahara hotel-casino in March 2007 for a price estimated between $300 and $400 million. The Navegante Management Group operates the casino while SBE manages the hotel and restaurants. Nazarian has talked about a complete remodel and rebranding of the hotel for years, but formal plans haven't been announced.