Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
TypeDivision
IndustryGaming, hospitality
Founded2007 in Florida, United States
FounderHard Rock International
HeadquartersDavie, Florida, U.S.[a]
ProductsHotels, casinos
OwnerSeminole Tribe of Florida
ParentHard Rock International
Divisions
  • Hard Rock Casino
  • Hard Rock Hotel
  • REVERB by Hard Rock
  • Rocksino by Hard Rock
SubsidiariesHard Rock Hotel Licensing, Inc.
Website

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, also stylized as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, is an American casino resort and hotel franchise.[1] It is an owned division of Hard Rock International, an American hospitality company that also owns the restaurant franchise the Hard Rock Cafe.[2] Hard Rock Hotel and Casino operates a large number of Hard Rock branded hotels and casinos, and is also involved in various residential projects.

History

Background

In 1995, Hard Rock Cafe co-founder Peter Morton spent $80 million to open the Hard Rock Hotel near the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. A subsequent $100 million expansion in 1999 nearly doubled the hotel's capacity.[3] In May 2006, Morton sold the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas to Morgans Hotel Group for $770 million, including the rights to the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino brand west of the Mississippi, including Texas, California, Australia, and Vancouver, British Columbia, informally known as the "Morton Territories."[4] The hotel began another expansion in 2007 at a cost of $750 million. The project added 875 rooms in two towers and expanded meeting space.[5] In March 2011, Morgans surrendered control of the property to partner Brookfield Asset Management, citing the high debt on the property in the face of the economic downturn.[6] In April 2018, the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas was sold to Richard Branson with plans to renovate the property under the Virgin Hotels brand; Virgin Hotels Las Vegas debuted in March 2021.[7]

2007–2013: Seminole Tribe of Florida

Hard Rock International was formed when on December 7, 2006, The Rank Group sold Hard Rock Cafe International to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for $965 million, including 124 Hard Rock Cafes, four Hard Rock Hotels, two Hard Rock Hotel and Casino resorts, two Hard Rock Live! concert venues, and stakes in three unbranded hotels.[8] Hard Rock Hotel and Casino operates as a Hard Rock International division.

In 2007, the Seminole Tribe of Florida owned and operated all units except the Sioux City, Tulsa, Biloxi, and Las Vegas properties. In 2004, Hard Rock International and Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts launched Lifestar Hoteles España SL, a joint venture that intended to manage Europe's first Hard Rock Hotel in Madrid, but it was never opened as a Hard Rock property upon the dissolution of the joint venture in 2007.[9] The other joint venture hotels in 2007 were in Chicago (in the Carbide & Carbon Building), New York, and San Diego (the San Diego property includes Hard Rock condominiums). Hard Rock also operated hotels and resorts in Orlando, Florida (a joint venture with Loews Hotels); Bali, Indonesia; and Pattaya, Thailand, (a joint venture with Ong Beng Seng/Hotel Properties Limited). Hard Rock International continued to expand internationally (including hotels, casinos, resorts, and condominiums) through several joint ventures (Becker Ventures, Ong Beng Seng/Hotel Properties Limited and Loews Hotels), including hotels in Chicago, Bali, Orlando, Penang, San Diego, Singapore, and planned openings in Abu Dhabi, Cancun, Dubai, Hungary, Panama, Punta Cana and Puerto Vallarta,[10] as well as hotel-casinos in Hollywood, Florida; Tampa, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Catoosa, Oklahoma, just northeast of Tulsa.[11]

The Hard Rock Casino in Biloxi, MS is owned by Twin River Management Group, Inc. Opened on January 20, 2010, in Singapore at Sentosa, the Hard Rock Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa is owned by the Genting Group.

2014–2020: Rebrandings and expansion

The Hotel Zoso in Palm Springs, California was converted into a 160-room Hard Rock Hotel and opened in 2014. It subsequently closed.[12][13] A location in Atlantic City, New Jersey was planned in 2010, but those plans were canceled in 2012; however, in 2017, they acquired from Icahn Enterprises the closed Trump Taj Mahal, which in 2018 was reopened as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.[14] All-inclusive resorts operate under the Hard Rock brand in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. On December 18, 2013, the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park opened as a joint slot machine and track venture near Cleveland, Ohio.[15]

Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza in Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza, Spain had a soft opening on May 18, 2014, followed by a grand opening on June 20, 2014.[16] In 2015, Hard Rock announced a new hotel in Bogotá, Colombia, which will open in 2019. The company had plans to open in the biggest financial district in Colombia, the Centro Internacional, but it revised those plans. The hotel would be located in the exclusive Zona Rosa de Bogotá, home of luxury boutiques. Hard Rock Hotel Chicago would close permanently on November 30, 2017, to undergo a rebranding as St. Jane Chicago Hotel,[17] now Pendry Chicago as of May 2021.[18]

Then in early 2019, it was announced that Jack Cincinnati Casino in Cincinnati was sold for $745 million to Vici Properties and Hard Rock International, with Vici acquiring the land and buildings for $558 million and Hard Rock buying the operating business for $187 million.[19][20] Hard Rock would lease the casino from Vici for $43 million per year, and would rebrand it as Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati.[20][21]

In July 2019, Hard Rock International announced plans for a casino in Rockford, Illinois, about 75 miles west of Chicago along I-90, developed on the former site of the Clock Tower Resort, infamous for housing an, at the time, heavily vandalized and defunct CoCo Key Water Resort before it was torn down.[22] Two other proposals were made for the city's lone casino license, but the city council only recommended the Hard Rock proposal to the Illinois Gaming Board, who would decide which site will get the license.[23] The temporary casino, named Rockford Casino-A Hard Rock Opening Act, opened on November 10, 2021. It features a Rock Shop, Hard Rock memorabilia, slots, and two restaurants. The permanent casino was planned to open within two years and feature a Hard Rock Cafe, live music venue, 90-foot-tall replica of a Rick Nielson guitar, and will be a full-fledge Hard Rock Casino.[24]

In November 2019, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain opened adjacent to the Toyota Amphitheatre near Wheatland, California.[25] Also in November, Hard Rock announced a new hotel in São Paulo, Brazil, in the heart of popular Paulista Avenue.

2021–present: Recent and pending projects

Hard Rock Hotel Macau (now The Countdown Hotel)

In January 2021, it was announced that Hard Rock will be opening a new hotel in London, Ontario, Canada, with a 353-room hotel slated to finish construction in 2025. It will be located in the 100 Kellogg Lane complex.[26]

In May 2021, a $300 million Hard Rock Casino location opened in Gary, Indiana about 35 minutes east of Chicago. Branded as Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, the location includes memorabilia from local natives Jackson 5 and a 1,950-seat Hard Rock Live performance hall.[27]

In December 2021, Hard Rock purchased The Mirage from MGM Resorts for $1.075 billion.[28] The deal closed in December 2022.[29] The Las Vegas Strip property will be completely renovated, but was permitted to keep using "The Mirage" name for up to three years. A new 36-story hotel tower in the shape of a guitar, like the one at the Seminole Hard Rock, would be added.[30] After renovations, the plan is to reopen the hotel under the name Hard Rock Las Vegas in 2027.[31]

Hard Rock is currently developing the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens in Athens, Greece. It will become the first integrated resort in continental Europe when it opens in 2027.[32] Hard Rock is also currently developing non-gaming hotels in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates[33] and Malta. The temporary Rockford Casino closed on August 12, 2024, and Hard Rock Casino Rockford had its grand opening on August 29 of that year. A hotel was planned for the casino in 2025,[34] but plans for a $103 million hotel and convention center expansion did not come until May 2026.[35] Leonardo Hotels acquired and closed Hard Rock Hotel Dublin in August 2024; the hotel only operated for four years.[36]

Hard Rock is one of multiple bidders who are bidding for one of three casino licenses for Downstate New York. Hard Rock is looking to build an integrated resort called Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Metropolitan Park adjacent to Citi Field in Flushing, New York.[37][38] Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza would close on October 2, 2025,[39] to undergo a rebrand as BLESS Ibiza The Site.[40]

Explanatory notes and references

  1. ↑ Location may also be listed as Hollywood, Florida due to a shared ZIP code.
  1. ↑ https://hotel.hardrock.com/
  2. ↑ https://www.hardrock.com/
  3. ↑ "The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Selects Rainmaker Group Revenue Management". Hospitalitynet.org. June 22, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  4. ↑ Spain, William (May 6, 2006). "Morgans Hotel Group to buy Vegas Hard Rock for $770 million". The Wall Street Journal. marketwatch.com. Retrieved March 17, 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ↑ Finnegan, Amanda (February 6, 2009). "Hard Rock Hotel expansion hits another milestone". Las Vegas Sun. lasvegassun.com. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  6. ↑ Green, Steve (March 2, 2011). "Hard Rock Hotel management group ends its run with resort". Las Vegas Sun. lasvegassun.com. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Business Mogul Richard Branson Buys Las Vegas Casino-Hotel". casinoreviews.co.uk. April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ Adrian Sainz (December 7, 2006). "Seminoles buy Hard Rock cafe". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. seattlepi.com. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  9. ↑ Milligan, Michael. "Sol Melia confident that ME brand will stand out from the crowd". Travel Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2007.
  10. ↑ "Hard Rock International and the Luckie Street Partners Announce Atlanta Hotel Development". Hard Rock Cafe. October 24, 2007. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Contact Us". Hard Rock Cafe. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  12. ↑ Vincent, Roger (February 10, 2013). "Palm Springs hotel to be converted into Hard Rock outpost'". Los Angeles Times.
  13. ↑ "Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs Announces Star-Studded Grand Opening Celebration Set for March 6th". GlobeNewswire. February 19, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  14. ↑ Wittkowski, Donald (September 13, 2012). "Hard Rock casino developers scrap Atlantic City casino project". The Press of Atlantic City.
  15. ↑ "MGM Northfield Park, formerly Hard Rock Rocksino, celebrates 10 years as Ohio's top gambling destination". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. December 19, 2023. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  16. ↑ Griffith, Carson (June 20, 2014). "The Hard Rock Hotel Opens in Ibiza". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  17. ↑ Sudo, Chuck (August 30, 2017). "Goodbye Hard Rock Chicago, Hello St. Jane Hotel". Bisnow. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  18. ↑ Turner, Matt (May 26, 2021). "Pendry Chicago Opens in Historic Art Deco Building | Luxury Travel Advisor". Luxury Travel Advisor. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  19. ↑ Sarah Brookbank; Alexander Coolidge (April 5, 2019). "Hard Rock takeover gives Jack Casino a new owner, new name. What about a hotel?". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Vici Properties Inc. to acquire Jack Cincinnati Casino and lease to Hard Rock International" (Press release). Vici Properties. April 5, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019 – via BusinessWire.
  21. ↑ "Hard Rock Entertainment purchases Turfway Park". The Blood-Horse. April 8, 2019. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  22. ↑ Braun, Georgette (July 16, 2019). "Hard Rock would be the 'best partner' for a Rockford casino, Cheap Trick guitarist says". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  23. ↑ Guerrerro, Isaac (September 30, 2019). "Hard Rock Casino is Rockford mayor's choice for only license". Rockford Register Star. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  24. ↑ Horst, Ally (August 2, 2024). "Temporary Rockford Casino closes ahead of Hard Rock grand opening". Rockford News First. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  25. ↑ Catlin, Veronica (2025-04-19). "Northern California casino set to undergo massive $2 billion to $4 billion expansion". Yahoo News.
  26. ↑ "Hard Rock plans first Canadian hotel in London's former Kellogg factory". lfpress.
  27. ↑ "New $300 million casino opens in northwestern Indiana". AP NEWS. May 15, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Guitar-shaped hotel is latest themed project for Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. December 18, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Hard Rock closes $1.1B purchase of The Mirage". Las Vegas Review-Journal. December 19, 2022. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  30. ↑ Rempley, Gina (December 21, 2022). "Hard Rock tells more about the changes at the Mirage in Las Vegas - VideoGamesRepublic.com". videogamesrepublic.com. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  31. ↑ Valinsky, Jordan (July 17, 2024). "The iconic Mirage in Las Vegas is closing today after 34 years". CNN. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Hard Rock International Breaks Ground on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Athens". Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  33. ↑ International, Hard Rock. "Hard Rock International to Bring Hard Rock Hotel & Residences to Ras Al Khaimah". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  34. ↑ "Hard Rock Casino Rockford". 500 Nations. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  35. ↑ Langley, Nathaniel (May 12, 2026). "City of Rockford's $103M bonds for Hard Rock Casino hotel clear first hurdle". Rockford News First. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  36. ↑ "Hard Rock Hotel Dublin to close its doors after only 4 years". July 31, 2024. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  37. ↑ "Mets Owner Steve Cohen's Metropolitan Park Plan Commits over $1B in Community Benefits If Casino Gets Green Light from State". Flushing Post. February 12, 2024. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  38. ↑ Parry, Bill (January 25, 2024). "Hard Rock International CEO Pitches Metropolitan Park Opportunity with Queens Business Community". QNS. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Farewell to Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza: What's next for the Children of the 80's party?". Ibiza Daily News. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
  40. ↑ Ritchie, Sophie (April 10, 2026). "Insider's Look at BLESS Ibiza The Site, Opening June 2026". The Wordrobe. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
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