Photo credit: Erik Kabik
When the Hard Rock hotel and casino opened in 1995 it was one of the hottest places to be in Las Vegas. Even though the property was located off the Vegas Strip, people descended on the casino as if it was the only place to be in town. The center bar in the casino was packed with a raucous crowd every weekend. Rehab was the most popular pool party in Las Vegas and reinvented how to party during the day. The casino, well it was always rockin’.
Over the years people change and tastes change. The hot spots in Las Vegas are different 21 years later. Like everything else today, the hot spots are changing faster than ever. That hasn’t stopped the Hard Rock from trying to reclaim the glory that may have faded over the years.
The casino has been renovated and is now all on one level and complete with the newest slot machines. The revolutionary Center Bar has been expanded and almost seems to occupy twice the space that it used to. The Hard Rock isn’t only for the rockers today either. The property recently completed an expansion of its convention space. This will not only allow larger meetings but can be home for special events. Now the Hard Rock has moved to upgrading the hotel rooms.
The casino and resort recently unveiled the first phase of a $13 million refresh of the original Casino Tower. The Hard Rock has renovated 575 standard rooms and a second phase of the Casino Tower remodel will upgrade the remaining 65 luxury suites. Upon completion, all 640 rooms and suites will be renovated.
Jody Lake, chief operating officer at Hard Rock says that the “Hard Rock Hotel’s impressive remodel of its Casino Tower is a demonstration of how we stay in the forefront of the Las Vegas market.” “For more than 21 years the property has offered guests high-energy entertainment, innovative gaming and a revolutionary nightlife, daylife and music scene. By upgrading the property’s original tower, we’re ensuring our guests are provided with the best accommodations possible.”
The Casino Tower’s remodel includes new furnishings, quartz countertops, oversized bathrooms with marble flooring, lighted makeup mirrors, new artwork on the walls and USB ports throughout each room. Every hotel room renovation today should include amenities like the USB ports to make charging mobile devices easy. I often travel with 2 or 3 items that need charging so this is a point of major interest.
The tower now features clean, modern lines and bedding of warm grays and whites, with subtle plum accents on throw pillows. Amenities in the new rooms include a fully-stocked mini bar, 55-inch high-definition TVs, and exclusive bath essentials.
The Hard Rock now has 1,500 fully modern, state-of-the-art rooms. The other hotel room options at the Hard Rock are 15-story HRH All-Suite Tower with 359 suites, eight spa villas and seven penthouse suites and the 17-story Paradise Tower with 490 rooms and suites.
The new rooms at the Hard Rock start at $79 and $149 on weekends (plus $31.36 resort fee). The Hard Rock holds a special place in my heart. There are lots of fun memories over the years including my first time playing craps. You might say that the Hard Rock changed my life. It would be nice to see all of the renovations breathe new life into the casino that has given me so many good memories.
