Hard Rock All-Inclusive Resorts Roll into Mexico

Dec 05, 2011

It was only last January that Hard Rock International made a splash in the Caribbean with the grand opening of the 1,800-room Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The opening marked a new partnership between Hard Rock International and Palace Resorts and inaugurated the first-ever, all-inclusive Hard Rock experience. The two companies have recently announced an agreement to transform three Palace Resorts properties in Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Maya into all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels. This will be the first time the Hard Rock experience is available in these three Mexican tourist destinations. The properties will still be Palace Resorts owned and operated.

The first property to launch will be the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun in winter 2012, followed by Puerto Vallarta in spring 2012. Fall of 2012 will see the debut of Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. Each of these three properties will remain fully operational during the transition process.

"After the success of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana and as tourism rebounds in Mexico, Palace Resorts and Hard Rock Hotels saw a great potential to grow this partnership by launching a brand new vacation experience in the Mexico market," said Frank Maduro, vice president of marketing for Palace Resorts.

Each Hard Rock Mexico location is a beachfront property that, upon its re-flagging, will feature all-inclusive luxury accommodations, including in-room double Jacuzzis, fine dining, top-shelf drinks, 24-hour room service and live entertainment. All three will offer Hard Rock's signature Rock Star Suites and will showcase an extensive collection of authentic memorabilia from international and local music artists, while incorporating diverse music genres throughout. Additionally, in keeping with the Hard Rock tradition, each property will host an ongoing schedule of live concerts, celebrity-driven soirees and other on-site events.

Hard Rock Cancun (formerly Cancun Palace) will offer 601 guestrooms, all having private balconies and water views, five restaurants (among them, a new Brazilian steakhouse), five bars and lounges, a spa with outdoor palapa-style massage areas, an expansive pool area and meeting facilities, including a 16,408 square foot convention center.

Hard Rock Puerto Vallarta (formerly Vallarta Palace), located on the beaches of Bahia de Banderas, near Puerto Vallarta in the heart of Riviera Nayrit, has 348 guestrooms, four restaurants, four bars, a new Moon Lounge, spa, two swimming pools and 6,300 square feet of meeting facilities.

Hard Rock Riviera Maya will combine two adjacent Palace Resorts properties, Aventura Cove Palace and Aventura Spa Palace. Aventura Cove Palace will offer 489 guestrooms, three restaurants including a new dinner theatre venue, four bars, multiple pools, water activities, and other family-friendly amenities, including a teen club with gaming cabanas. Aventura Spa Palace will be marketed to adults and will have 777 guestrooms, four restaurants, four bars, a top-rated spa and numerous pools, including a grotto pool that will become a nighttime club experience.

"The hotels will go through a transformation to adapt the look and feel of Hard Rock Hotels, similar to what the hotel went through in Punta Cana," said Maduro. "Hotels will remain open during this time, and the transformation will not disrupt operations. It will be a smooth transition for guests and groups, and the hotels will maintain the same high level of service."

"Special travel agent rates and fams will be available but, at this time, the exact travel agent contact is not yet set," said Maduro. "Special invitations will go out to travel agents for each hotel's grand-opening celebration."

Maduro suggests that agents visit AllInAgents.com for more information.