Hospitality management firm The Light Group says it plans to run four venues inside the main hotel-casino of the $8.5 billion CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip.

The Las Vegas-based firm released details today of the restaurant, pool, nightclub and lounge at Aria Resort Casino that the company announced it would be managing Monday.

Located on Aria’s casino floor, Light Group’s Union Restaurant and Lounge will serve contemporary American cuisine under the direction Light Group Executive Chef Brian Massie. Massie’s resume includes head sous chef at Charlie Palmer’s Aureole at the Mandalay Bay, executive chef for the N9NE Group at the Palms and executive chef for Light Group’s first restaurant venture, FIX at the Bellagio.

Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas interior design firm Adam Tihany is responsible for Union’s design. The New York City-based firm has done other food and beverage outlets like The Cravings Buffet at the Mirage and Aureole at Mandalay Bay.

The group said it also will manage Aria’s only nightclub, Haze Nightclub and The Deuce Lounge, a smaller bar with high-limit gambling featuring hors d’oeuvres from Union. Haze Nightclub’s interior will be designed by ICRAVE, the firm responsible for spaces like Sushi Samba at the Palazzo and Caesars Atlantic City’s newest nightclub, Dusk.

Completing Light Group’s Aria portfolio will be the resort’s topless pool, Liquid, set to open in spring 2010. Liquid will feature 17 cabanas, several pools and underwater speakers.

The Light Group manages 11 food and beverage outlets in Las Vegas including Jet nightclub and Bare, the topless pool at the Mirage, and The Bank and Yellowtail Sushi at the Bellagio. The group is expected to manage CityCenter’s Harmon Hotel & Spa.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By Amanda Finnegan (Las Vegas Sun)