40 Under 40: Donald Contursi, President, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours

Donald Contursi, president of Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, is a 2020 Vegas Inc 40 Under 40 honoree.

Donald Contursi can’t cook. But, what he lacks in kitchen know-how, he nails in taste.

It’s a skill he credits to his biggest mentor—his mom. “She was the one who instilled in me an appreciation of good food and caring service,” Contursi said. “As a successful business owner in her own right, she worked long hours but always took the time to bring us all together at dinnertime over one of her wonderful home-cooked meals.”

Contursi’s first job as a server assistant taught him that warmth, respect, appreciation and professionalism go hand-in-hand in hospitality. Later, as a server at some of the most high-profile restaurants on the Strip, he honed his trade. “It was then that I came up with the idea for a culinary walking tour that would give guests easy access to multiple top restaurants in one efficient and fun experience,” Contursi said.

Lip Smacking Foodie Tours was born.

The tours take the guesswork out of dining by giving guests VIP service at acclaimed restaurants, where they enjoy curated signature dishes and personalized greetings from chefs—without long lines or reservations.

“I’m thrilled to have hosted groups as large as 210 guests on our tours, and to introduce so many people to the hard-working, independent restaurants that make Vegas so special,” Contursi said.

This homegrown Vegas culinary tour has expanded to six other cities with more planned, and has received a host of Best Tour awards, accolades from the World Food Travel Association and Thrillist, and No. 1 rankings on both TripAdvisor and Yelp.

Active in the community, Contursi also serves on the board for the Las Vegas Hospitality Association and volunteers for Fill a Bag With Cheer, which works with the Clark County School District to provide underprivileged children necessities and gifts during the holiday season.

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