ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What does it really take to build a hospitality business in the UAE?In this episode of Last Flight Out, Mike sits down with James Simmons, an American entrepreneur who moved to Abu Dhabi as a teacher and went on to build an events business before opening Atlon Restaurant & Lounge and Café Nota.James shares how he spotted opportunities in Abu Dhabi's hospitality scene, built a community through events and took the leap into owning his own venue alongside business partner Cliff.They discuss the financial risks of opening a restaurant, how much investment is needed, working long hours while maintaining another career and what it really takes to turn a busy hospitality venue into a sustainable business.From hosting events at Emirates Palace to navigating food costs, staffing, operations and business expansion, this conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship that people don't always see.In this episode:- Moving from the United States to Abu Dhabi- Building an events business and community- Creating opportunities in luxury hospitality venues- Risking personal savings to open a restaurant- How much it costs to start a restaurant in Abu Dhabi- Managing food costs, staffing and profitability- Expanding the business with Café Nota- Lessons for aspiring entrepreneursIf you're interested in entrepreneurship, hospitality, business ownership or building a new life in the UAE, this conversation is for you.Subscribe to Last Flight Out for more conversations about taking risks, creating opportunities and building a life on your own terms.Follow James Simmons: https://www.instagram.com/jsentertainment81/FOLLOW OUR HOSTS: Jay ➡️ https://instagram.com/jloubriel26 Mike ➡️ https://instagram.com/ifmikewashere FOLLOW LAST FLIGHT OUT PODCAST: YouTube ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@LastFlightOutPodcast Website ➡️ https://www.lastflightoutpodcast.com Instagram ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/lastflightoutpodcast/ TikTok ➡️ https://www.tiktok.com/@lastflightoutpodcast Apple Podcasts ➡️ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-flight-out-podcast/id1711422290 iHeart ➡️ https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-last-flight-out-podcast-323371807?cmp=ios_share&sc=ios_social_share&pr=false&autoplay=trueSpotify ➡️ https://open.spotify.com/show/2xZJhd2qIw5IxV4VBQufZn#mikeandjay #lastflightoutpodcast #lfo #lastflightout #shorts #bts #dubai #abudhabi #uae #nyc #expat #latino #blackpodcast #latinpodcast #expatlife
