Tobacco Business

Eight Lounge opened within Las Vegas' Resort World in November 2021. In addition to a strong humidor program, Eight Lounge offers a wide range of spirits. are softer on the palate, and we’re creating cocktails that pair well with them to create a great experience for everyone. In addition, with features in the venue like the ventilation system, our goal is to create an experience where anyone can feel comfortable to come in and not smoke a cigar,” Bravo explains. “I want you to feel as if you are in an old-school study with a modern twist but still accessible to anyone that comes in. Details were everything. From the chandelier to the phone chargers at the bar to the brass trim on the liquor lockers, everything has a purpose. Also, as I said, the number eight has great significance to me, so you will find that many details have the number incorporated into them, such as the number of sections in the humidor, the octagons on the exterior and the design of the fireplace marble.” Another stereotype that had to be accounted for was the idea that all lounges were stuffy and full of smoke. They didn’t want people to leave Eight Lounge smelling like cigar smoke and opted for a good ventilation system that continually cleaned the air and the use of needlepoint bipolar ionization that would eliminate visible smoke in the room so that it never had a haze to it. Another key component of Eight Lounge is its hospitality program, something most Vegas businesses rely on for success. Eight Lounge’s staff continually tracks the details, whether big or small, that will allow them to connect with the customers enough to get them to return. This could be accomplished by remembering what drink they preferred with their cigars or when their birthday is, for example. “We live by the philosophy that everyone is a VIP, but we also know that the more we know about our guests, the better we can provide an excellent experience for them,” Bravo explains. “We really try to get to know them on a personal level so we can better understand their needs and keep them happily coming back.” Eight Lounge’s humidor is populated by many well-known brands, including Drew Estate, Montecristo, Fuente, Padron, Ashton and My Father Cigars, among others. When building out the lounge’s cigar offerings, Bravo and Chesnoff wanted to ensure that Eight Lounge had a wide range of strengths represented in its humidors and that they also had a few infused options. The goal was to have a selection that would accommodate everyone, from those having their first cigar to the more seasoned cigar smoker. Outside of cigars, Eight Lounge has a selection of different lighters, cutters, ashtrays and personal humidors. Whether you are someone that enjoys smoking cigars each day or only on special occasions, Bravo is confident that the experience you’ll have at Eight Lounge will be unlike any other you’ll have elsewhere in Vegas. For now, Eight Lounge’s best marketing tool is word of mouth. It’s the hope of everyone at Eight Lounge that each visit will be so good that guests will go home and share their experience with friends and family, generating interest in others to visit the lounge when they’re in Vegas. Bravo plans to measure Eight Lounge’s success by the feedback it receives from its patrons. Generally, if people are happy with the experience they have while at Eight Lounge and want to come back again, that will be viewed as success. TB A Spirited Collection Eight Lounge features a top-notch beverage program with what it describes as an approachable cocktail menu that has something for everyone. The cocktail menu at Eight Lounge was developed through many tastings with the lounge’s lead bartender and mixologist. “Originally, we wanted to do a his and hers menu but decided our best option was to include our favorite cocktails for everyone to enjoy,” explains Giuseppe Bravo, co-owner at Eight Lounge. “People’s tastes are so varied today, we wanted to provide a wide variety of drinks for our guests.” Eight Lounge's cocktail menu includes an old-fashioned program that allows patrons to pick from different spirit categories that will completely change the drink. It also features several twists on classic cocktails and some concoctions that are completely unique to Eight Lounge. Eight Lounge's wine list has a heavy emphasis on big reds from all over the world and a collection of fine brown spirits that is referred to as “The Chairman’s List.” “This list features some rare and hard to source marques, as well as classic crowd-pleasers,” Bravo states. “Eight Lounge will continue to curate its collection of brown spirits by adding interesting choices as we taste through the many single malts, bourbons and other whiskeys that are available on the market as they become available.” [ T O B A C C O B U S I N E S S . C O M ] TOBACCO BUSINESS [ 101 ]