Life of Tony Hsieh remembered at Downtown Las Vegas birthday celebration
Las Vegas (KSNV) — Former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh was remembered Saturday during a birthday celebration set up at Downtown Las Vegas.
Despite his birthday being on December 12, the celebration kicked off on Saturday, December 11, with Zappos and DTP Companies naming the day ‘Tony Hsieh Day.’
Festivities began with an invite-only renaming ceremony of the Zappos Council Chambers to 'Tony Hsieh Theater.'
A live-stream debut of the Tony Hsieh Award hosted by author Keith Ferrazzi and short inspirational talks featuring guest speakers followed soon after the renaming ceremony.
Guests speakers included actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt and early Zappos executives & Tony Hsieh Award founding funders Alfred Lin & Fred Mossler.
Other festivities included a panel discussion with Derek Stevens, owner of Circa, Jonathan Jossel, CEO Plaza Hotel & Casino, Ryan Smith, Director of Business & Economics, and the City of Las Vegas.
A special birthday message from Jewel was also shown during the event.
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DTP Companies then hosted a mural debut, which is featured on the side of Inspire Las Vegas, located at Fremont Street and Las Vegas Boulevard.
The mural was painted by Shae Petersen, who has created public murals in the Salt Lake City area between 2012-2016 and was voted Utah’s best visual artist in 2020.
"Tony Hsieh was a visionary who spent his life cultivating environments that were optimized for human connection, inspiration, and success," reads the Tony Hsieh Memorial message posted on the DTP Companies website.
"From building a leading global e-commerce and customer service company like zappos.com, to revitalizing an area of downtown Las Vegas that many had forgotten about."
"Please enjoy the landscape he spent much of his life investing in, and tony would only ask that you be curious and kind."
The Fremont Street Experience also aired a one-minute video before the Viva Vision Show at 8 PM Saturday, honoring Hsieh's life.
The video featured his favorite song, Human by The Killers, in the background and featured a montage of images.
Hsieh played an essential part in the revitalization of downtown Las Vegas, pledging $350 million in 2013 for redevelopment.
The former CEO died on November 27, 2020, following complications of smoke inhalation he sustained during a house fire nine days prior.
