Industry legend: Jonathan Zeman
With a major redevelopment of LKF Group’s key California Tower now in full swing, the nightlife veteran still has plenty up his sleeves after almost two decades in the businessAs the CEO of Lan Kwai Fong Group, Jonathan Zeman helped to usher the company into a new era. While LKF Group is best known as the largest landlord in the Central nightlife area, it is also a hybrid entertainment and hospitality brand that oversees property development and investments, F&B offerings, media and marketing platforms.
Zeman describes Hong Kong’s nightlife as unlike anywhere else in the world. “Hong Kong is one of the most international cities in the world. We have people who work hard and play hard and lots of people who can afford the finer things in life. But when you go to parties, there is often a less pretentious atmosphere than you’d find in other big cities like London or New York,” he says.
Standing out in the city’s uber competitive entertainment landscape is no easy feat and Zeman sets his standards high. “Do it better than anyone else. Don’t worry about the expense. The customers and the money will follow if you’ve created something amazing,” he says.
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Throughout his highly accomplished career, the LKF heavyweight names one of his professional highlights as the opening of California Tower, the 27-storey flagship building of Lan Kwai Fong, where the group joined forces with Gucci for a pre-opening event that spanned across multiple levels of the tower and included a sit-down dinner, an art exhibition and a party in a pop-up club.
Another major achievement for Zeman was the conceptualisation and opening of C Club. The night club was one of the first venues in Hong Kong to have a well-known international resident DJ and fly in top international guest DJs every few months.
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With a major redevelopment of its key California Tower now in full swing – the group’s new modern Italian restaurant Aria has opened earlier last month; its popular Japanese restaurant Kyoto Joe recently relocated to the building; and new bars and nightclubs are currently under the works – there is no slowing down for the nightlife behemoth.
Feature image: Graham Uden
