Industry Weekly

[Evolution]

Seven in heaven: XS celebrates another year at the top

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XS has stayed on top of music, entertainment and service trends by maintaining a fresh perspective.
Photo: Barbara Kraft

So many factors have contributed to the runaway success of XS Nightclub at Steve Wynn’s Encore resort, according to the club’s senior executive director of nightclub operations, Yannick Mugnier, an essential team member who’s been behind the scenes at XS since day one. The club celebrates its seventh anniversary this week.

“When we first opened it was a social environment where the DJ did not have the same measure of impact; he was just there to perform,” Mugnier explains. “In 2011 we saw the beginning of a trend and we wanted to create the trend, so we made a switch.” That was moving the DJ booth to the center of the dancefloor, a seemingly simple transition that coincided with the rise of electronic dance music in mainstream consciousness and the elevation of the DJ to rockstar status.

XS has stayed on top of music, entertainment and service trends by maintaining a fresh perspective. “The whole team contributes on a daily basis with new ideas on how to bring the customer here, and everyone here is consistently pushing to do new things,” Mugnier says. “It’s a daily challenge.”

The club built arguably the biggest DJ roster anywhere in 2012, pioneered the concept of the Nightswim party and, more recently, invested $10 million in technology and production upgrades, adding light, sound and theatrical effects that can make the luxurious indoor-outdoor space feel like a mini music festival. The changes go a long way in creating the feel of a new experience for customers, Mugnier says, and XS’ three-year reign atop Nightclub & Bar’s list of the country’s highest-grossing nightclubs proves it. “Now we want to celebrate our anniversary and say thanks to everybody in the industry who has contributed.” XS’ 7-year anniversary with Diplo at Encore, March 21.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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