Anastasia K. Mann, CEO and founder of the Corniche Group, Inc. and Dabney Bixel, CEO and president of Bixel & Company, both headquartered in West Hollywood, California announced the opening of GEP (Global Events Partners) Las Vegas. GEP Las Vegas is a full-service destination and event management company that works in conjunction with Sofisticado. Sofisticado is a Las Vegas-based destination management company that focuses on developing and managing inbound business from Latin America as well as other international markets.
Tom Kostoff, formerly senior catering executive at Mandalay Bay Hotel & Resort, Las Vegas, is the president of the venture. Kostoff has served as director of catering, convention services, and other top meeting service positions at hotels including The Beverly Hilton, The Westin Bonaventure, The Westin St Francis, and Eden Roc.
GEP Las Vegas and Sofisticado will offer complete event management and destination services ranging from small groups to large conventions, including but not limited to event production, destination management services, tours, entertainment, sporting events, concerts, meet and greet services, transfers and all transportation services. Air travel services will also be available in addition to pre and post visit opportunities.
Las Vegas has rebounded from the nation's recession. The city has recently announced plans for new projects ranging from casinos to theme parks, hotels, shopping centers and event arenas.
Mann and Bixel are widely known in the tourism and hospitality industries. They both spent their early careers as hotel executives and became close friends while working together. Eventually, they founded their own Los Angeles-based companies, which continue to thrive.
Corniche Group, Inc., includes Corniche Travel Management, now in its 26th year; Anastasia's Africa, the customized safari operator, and Corniche Entertainment, a music management and production company. Alongside her career, Mann has dedicated over 35 years to promoting and developing tourism for California and the United States. She was part of the founding group of the California Travel & Tourism Commission and has served numerous delegations promoting tourism throughout the world.
Bixel & Company is a prominent event production and destination management company in its 25th year of operation. Bixel was one of the first members of the Global Events Partners group, which has long been recognized as the leader in event production and destination management.
"With all of our experiences and contacts combined, coupled with Tom's 'on the spot' oversight, Dabney and I are launching GEP Las Vegas and Sofisticado with total confidence that this company will provide the utmost in full service and unique creativity to the meetings, group and FIT markets coming to experience Las Vegas at its finest," stated Mann.
Bixel adds, "We are thrilled to be part of such an exciting and vibrant hospitality market and we plan to bring our unique, fresh, and creative edge to Las Vegas.”