Las Vegas Weekly

July 8, 2010 · 3:48 PM

Angel Management Group taking over operations at Hard Rock’s Rehab?

By Robin Leach

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino at Rehab in the Hard Rock Hotel on July 4, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Las Vegas nightlife is rolling this week with all the major rumored shakeups. We reported Tuesday the massive changes expected at former Barbary Coast turned Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. The latest bombshell dropped last night with exploding whispers that Angel Music Group is taking over Rehab for the new management at the Hard Rock Hotel.

If true, this move comes less than a week after AMG was handed marketing and management operations for Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay. AMG made a big splash in the nightlife scene with Wet Republic at MGM Grand. The company became the promotional marketing partners for MGM’s Studio 54 and Tabu Ultra Lounge, and it has enjoyed rapid expansion in town.

Vegas DeLuxe reported June 21 a massive mandatory drug testing of Rehab and Vanity employees at the Hard Rock, followed by IRS tip compliance meetings. I’m reliably told that Hard Rock employees now turn over their tips to accounting and then get the money after taxes two weeks later. At the time, numerous sources told us that it was all part of “a disguised effort to single out certain employees” and change Rehab’s management.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Kendra Wilkinson at Moorea Beach Club at Mandalay Bay on July 3, 2010.

According to last night’s rumors from industry execs, the property’s new president has achieved AMG’s takeover of Rehab in just a month after his arrival. AMG operated the Wednesday night parties at now-shuttered Body English that was to reopen this spring as a luxurious after-hours club, but no opening date has been set.

AMG, founded by CEO Neil Moffitt, is headquartered here, although it started out as a British management company for dance music groups and then went into music festival management before expanding into hotel nightclub consulting. In addition to its Las Vegas nightclub management operations, the company runs hotspots in New York and gaming properties for Ameristar and has plans for Miami nightclubs.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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