Hard Rock Hotel in Madrid to Combine Rock Star Chic with European
Style & Luxury MADRID, Spain, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hard
Rock Hotel in Madrid will soon rock onto the European scene,
bringing renewed vitality to the historic Gran Hotel Reina
Victoria, deep in the heart of Spain's capital. The joint venture,
managed by Spain's largest hotel group, Sol Melia and the
U.S.-based Hard Rock, brings the Hard Rock Hotel brand to Europe
for the first time ever, transforming the hotel interior into a
sleek and contemporary space while maintaining the architectural
integrity of the building's exterior. Scheduled to open in late
Spring 2006, the 192-room Hard Rock Hotel in Madrid will offer
guests a total sensory experience combined with one-of-a-kind
service, guaranteed to exceed expectations. "We are thrilled to
bring Hard Rock hotel to Europe for the very first time," says
Trevor Horwell, Vice President of Hard Rock Hotels. "The Hard Rock
Hotel in Madrid will epitomize the ideal of urban luxury and is
guaranteed to deliver to our guests the unique and dynamic
experience for which Hard Rock has become famous." Enlisting the
talents of renowned British architect Keith Hobbs of United
Designers and American nightlife entrepreneur Rande Gerber, the
Hard Rock Hotel will create an atmosphere that is sophisticated yet
sensual. Famous for his modern design and discerning taste, Hobbs'
vision will guarantee a visually impressive space. Rande Gerber is
the founder of Midnight Oil Company and has partnered with his
brother, Scott Gerber, to create After Midnight Company. Meanwhile,
the Gerbers will introduce one of their signature sexy, chic
lounges and restaurants to the European nightlife scene. "Sol
Melia, known for its world-class properties, will bring to our
loyal guests and locals the most exciting destination hotel concept
that Madrid has ever seen," says Angel Palomino, Executive Vice
President of Development for Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts. "A
high-quality product designed to compete with Madrid's best hotels
and touting our service excellence, the Hotel Rock Hotel in Madrid
will be a valuable asset to the city while serving as a paradigm
for future European Hard Rock hotels." The Hard Rock Hotel in
Madrid uses a restricted palette and a family of colors to play
upon the contrast of the old and new -- a juxtaposition of historic
existing architecture and contemporary design. The design team
concentrated on the hotel as a whole linking all the spaces to
embody the spirit of the Hard Rock brand. Upon entering the lobby,
guests will encounter a long dynamic space filled with natural
light that offers intriguing glimpses of the drama unfolding
beyond. The ambiance of the space will be skillfully orchestrated
by the hotel's Vibe Manager. This 'cultural ambassador' ensures
that guests experience a cool, calm and contemporary culture, an
urban retreat, a place they can call home. Hard Rock Hotel in
Madrid's personalized concierge service practices the mantra --
Love All, Serve All -- 24 hours a day -- 7 days a week. Whatever
the elaborate need, the Hard Rock in Madrid's concierge will go to
the ends of the earth to ensure a seamless experience. The Hard
Rock Hotel in Madrid is an option for both business and leisure
travelers, packed with amenities designed to exceed every guest
expectation beginning with contemporary designed rooms, accented
with timeless artwork featuring the work of a variety of musical
artists including rhythm & blues, jazz, rock, etc. Poised to
meet its guests' discerning taste, deluxe & supreme rooms
feature plush feather top bedding with three hundred thread count
cotton linen, dark hardwood floors, an oversized work station, iPod
connection and a cocktail bar. All rooms are electronically
equipped with a state-of-the-art home theatre entertainment center
featuring a 32-inch plasma television and CD/DVD while WiFi
Internet access and laptop safe ensure convenience and safety all
at once. In the select Dream Rooms, guests will have access to
every possible service and amenity through the personalized
concierge service, which includes complimentary pressing, iPod use
and beverages from the cocktail bar. A special service will even be
provided to guests who come with their own car which will be
cleaned and washed and made ready for the next day. All Grand
Suites offer a private terrace while The Tower offers breathtaking
views of the Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza del Angel. Once the
legendary room choice of Spain's leading bullfighters, The Tower
offers guests a 360 degree view of the city and a complimentary
bottle of champagne with which to enjoy it. The Hard Rock Hotel in
Madrid's bar and dining venues will be just as impressive as the
rest of the hotel. In typical Rande Gerber fashion, the new
restaurant is sure to attract the city's fashionistas, hipsters and
movers & shakers with a seductive combination of globe spanning
cuisine and scintillating ambience. The centrally located bar with
its luxurious finishes and modern, eclectic furniture will appeal
to everyone, ensuring easy access for late night rendezvous'. "The
design of the restaurant, lounge and rooftop bar will incorporate
the glamour and excitement of Madrid with the richness of cutting
edge design," said Rande Gerber, Founder of Midnight Oil Company
and After Midnight Company. "As with all of our properties, we will
work to create a unique vibe in our lounge and roof deck, and
implement an international mix of music." The Roof Top Bar of the
Hard Rock Hotel will be Madrid's hallmark hotspot. Guests will come
for the drinks... stay for the music... and love the scene. Whisked
up from the ground floor in a private elevator, guests and the
public alike can experience the Hard Rock Hotel's Terrace Bar where
the people are as dynamic as the unobstructed, panoramic city views
that overlook the famous Plaza Santa Ana. To accent the fabulous
outdoor space, lounge chairs can be enjoyed to sun during the day
or gaze at the stars at night. Indoors, guests can enjoy the
comfortable lounge or take a seat at the exclusive VIP Bar, where
Madrid's most glamorous guests will gather for unforgettable
private parties. Also ideal for business meetings and events, The
Hard Rock offers 4,400 square feet (more than 400 square meters) of
meeting, reception and conference space, which can be separated
into seven individual spaces. Located on the Conference Level, the
hotel features state-of-the-art equipment, adaptable to suit many
needs. Guests can also make use of the 24-7 Business Center, which
features high-speed internet, computers, fax and scanner. Not to be
missed is the Hard Rock's "Rock Shop," a new retail project
developed especially for the Hard Rock hotels. Stephanie Nelson,
expert buyer and product developer for Hard Rock Hotel boutiques,
has used the inspiration of musicians to launch a new
artist-inspired collection. The result is the Rock Shop, a fashion
boutique which will compliment the style and glamour of Hard Rock
Hotel guests. The unveiling of the updated Rock Shop promises to
become the go-to fashion spot for all movers, shakers and music
fanatics. The Rock Shop will feature exclusive collections of
fashion designs from the world's best music artists, such as I.AM
and Edun, as well as lifestyle items such as fine linens and
bedding, unique picture frames and exquisite, hand-crafted candles,
to name just a few. This is in addition to traditional Hard Rock
branded items and memorabilia, as well as personal sundry items.
The Hard Rock Hotel in Madrid is centrally located with easy access
to all major attractions including the Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza
and Reina Sofia Museums, Retiro Park, Parliament, Puerta del Sol,
Plaza Mayor, the Royal Palace and the business and shopping
districts, with plenty of eating and drinking options. Barajas
Airport is only 14 km from the hotel and Atocha Train Station is
about 2 km away. About Sol Melia Hotels and Resorts Founded in 1956
in Palma de Majorca (Spain), Sol Melia is the largest resort hotel
company in the world. Notwithstanding its resort leadership
position, more than 50 percent of its hotels are in urban locations
and is by far the largest hotel company in Spain, and one of the
leading European hotel groups both in the city and resort hotel
markets. The company's portfolio currently comprises over 350
hotels in 30 countries on four continents and provides employment
to more than 29,600 people within its Melia, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus
and Sol MeliaVacation Club brands. For more information on Sol,
visit http://www.solmelia.com/. About Hard Rock With 120
high-energy Hard Rock Cafes and 13 Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in
more than 40 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the
world's most globally-recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric
Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's greatest collection of
music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the
globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and
music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an
award-winning website. Hard Rock International, Inc. is owned by
The Rank Group Plc (NASDAQ:RANKF). For more information on Hard
Rock, visit http://www.hardrock.com/. About the Joint Venture
Lifestar Hotels LLC, the joint venture between Hard Rock Cafe
International and Sol Melia SA, provides hotel owners a unique
proposition to access the Hard Rock Hotel brand through long-term
management agreements. Madrid will be the fourth Hard Rock Hotel to
be part of the joint venture since its formation in 2003, the
others being in Chicago, which opened in 2003, New York, scheduled
to open in 2005, and San Diego which is due to open in 2006. About
Midnight Oil Company and After Midnight Company Rande Gerber is the
founder of Midnight Oil Company and along with his brother Scott
are the founders and operators of After Midnight Company. The
company, an evolution of their trademark brand, The Whiskey, was
created to develop innovative nightlife, hotel, restaurant and
lifestyle concepts. Rande Gerber founded The Whiskey nearly 15
years ago, and he has since become the most influential nightlife
proprietor in the country. His extraordinary success with The
Whiskey Bars has established Gerber as the preeminent tastemaker,
with an uncanny ability to create chic, seductive bars with modern
glamour that reflect the times and national moods. Since then, the
Gerbers have expanded this nightlife brand and vision, developing
hotel bars with W Hotels and Ian Schrager. The Gerbers were also
tapped by Giorgio Armani to redevelop his Armani Cafes nationwide
and by Donald Trump to transform Trump Parc on Central Park, now
Whiskey Park. The Gerbers newest ventures include Stone Rose,
located in Manhattan's Time Warner Center, a partnership with Maxim
Magazine to develop Maxim Lounges, and Las Ramblas hotel,
condominium, and casino in Las Vegas. For additional information,
visit http://www.mocbars.com/. About United Designers Europe Ltd
With leading design projects such as the Metropolitan Hotel in
London, the Clarence Hotel in Dublin, and Parrot Cay Resort under
his belt, Keith Hobbs and his internationally-renowned team, United
Designers, are currently working on a vast range of exciting and
exclusive projects worldwide. As well as the exciting Las Ramblas
hotel project in Las Vegas, these include the Dolder Grand Hotel in
Zurich, the Hard Rock Hotels in Madrid and New York, and Le
Meridien Hotel in Dublin. Other projects in the pipeline include
The InterContinental Hotel Miami, several hotel projects in
Ireland, and the refurbishment of the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans
that was due to open the same day New Orleans was devastated by
flooding. The driving force behind the company is their
determination to excel, coupled with a sympathy and ethos of design
and a passion for everything new and creative. Aside from its
reputation, the success of United is based on the fact that the
company relishes a challenge and offers a professional level of
service and creativity that cannot be beaten. It is the fact that
United continues to bring an energy and insight to every project
they undertake at a global level that has put the company at the
pinnacle of their profession. DATASOURCE: Hard Rock CONTACT: Dawn
Rowan, Josh Cramer, Ani Zerounian, Marissa Mastellone, all of Dan
Klores Communications, +1-212-685-4300, for Hard Rock Web site:
http://www.hardrock.com/ http://www.solmelia.com/
http://www.mocbars.com/
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