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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hard Rock Now Going In For Theme Resorts

New York Times

The hotel pool has rock music piped in so Mick or the Spice Girls can serenade swimmers underwater. Guests can visit a studio to record themselves singing or playing in a band. And when background music is required, guests can tune to the in-house radio station, which broadcasts music throughout the hotel.

It’s the spend-the-night version of the now ubiquitous theme restaurants. The new three-acre property, set to open May 1, is the 417-room Bali Hard Rock Hotel and Beach Club, on Kuta Beach in Bali, Indonesia. It is the first of at least seven international Hard Rock resorts that are planned over the next dozen years.

The resorts are a joint venture between Hard Rock Cafe International and Leisure Ventures Ptc. Ltd., a Singapore company whose partners include Ong Beng Seng, a hotel and restaurant entrepreneur who has franchised Hard Rock Cafes throughout Asia.

Under the agreement, Leisure Ventures and Ong will develop the properties, while Hard Rock will license its name and lend support in carrying out the rock theme.

Rock, roll and relax sums up the resort’s ideology, according to Jim Berk, president and chief executive officer of Hard Rock Cafe International.

Rooms, outfitted in pastel seaside hues, are to be functional but comfortable, with ceiling-mounted televisions, CD and cassette players and rock star photographs in black and white.

The 22 suites are called pads. And rooms are grouped into wings named for rock’s notable eras, like Psychedelic and Alternative.

The complex will also include six restaurants, including a two-story Hard Rock Cafe; a children’s center; a health club, and a coin-operated laundry.

Rooms will start at $95. For reservations, call (212) 489-6565.