Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Inn on the axe
So you wanna be a rock and roll star? Take a holiday in a guitar, says PAUL COLE
IT will be the world’s biggest rock and roll guitar. What’s more, you’ll be able to take a holiday INSIDE it. Yes, we’re talking that tall. When it opens in Florida this October, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is going to be a rock fan’s dream.
The world’s first ever Guitar Hotel will boast no fewer than 638 rooms; the neighbouring Hard Rock Tower will feature 465 newly renovated guestrooms; and there’ll be another 168 rooms in seven-storey sister Oasis Tower. The brothers Gallagher would roll with it.
And, of course, there will be all manner of musical memorabilia to marvel at.
Hard Rock bosses are splashing out a hefty $1.5 billion on the project, transforming the resort.
Among the high-end amenities will be a lush Bora Bora-style lagoon with private overwater cabanas; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa; a 13.5 acre water experience for swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding and more; 19 dining outlets, and 20 bars and lounges.
There’ll be an expansive gaming floor offering 3,100 slot machines, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of meeting and convention space; and a 26,000 square-foot shopping mall.
The cherry on top is the 7,000-seater Hard Rock Live entertainment venue which will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions.
Opening day headliners will be Maroon 5.
“The Guitar Hotel has a 12,000-foot rooftop bar and lounge area as well as retail stores and large spaces for conventions,” says a spokesperson.
“In front of it, there are 13½ acres of restaurants, entertainment, a water park, and pools, including one that’s the size of three football fields with a lazy river. For uber-luxury by the pool, there are cabanas that sit over the lagoon.”
Each night there’ll also be a rock and roll light show to showcase the Guitar Hotel in all its glory.
Hard Rock International chief executive Jim Allen explains the hotel, built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, is also an HD TV set in its own right. “Not only can we run moving images on the face of the building but we also have lasers on top of it that can go 20,000 feet into the sky,” he says.
“So while it’s this amazing building during the day, wait until you see the show on it at night-time!”