HOLLYWOOD, FL — The only thing more impressive than The Guitar Hotel was its grand opening party, which included everything from celebrity appearances and pyrotechnics, to mermaids in the pool.
The one-of-a-kind, 450-foot-tall, US$1.5 billion project opened its doors last Thursday in Hollywood, Florida as the world’s first guitar-shaped hotel. Operated by Seminole Hard Rock, it stands to become South Florida’s latest tourist destination, with more than 600 rooms, a 13.5-acre lagoon, beams of light that mimic the strings of a guitar, and a refurbished venue for concerts and events.
Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, said the brand is already filled with guitars, so why not a hotel?
“Wouldn’t it be really cool if we could design a hotel shaped like a guitar,” Allen remembers saying. “Before we were more of a local facility. Now, we have the ability to market this internationally.”
Yeah. This happened. @HardRockHolly @MiamiHerald pic.twitter.com/dHiGH28Vr4
— Miami.com (@Miamicom) October 25, 2019
The GREATEST show indeed! ???????? #DiscoverYourRhythm #GuitarHotel pic.twitter.com/pN6BLQyrPd
— Seminole Hard Rock (@HardRockHolly) October 24, 2019
This pool party is getting LIT! ???????????? #DiscoverYourRhythm #GuitarHotel pic.twitter.com/T672zDefUn
— Seminole Hard Rock (@HardRockHolly) October 24, 2019
As for the guitar shape, Allen said it’s meant to be generic and not necessarily the Gibson Les Paul made famous by Led Zepellin’s Jimmy Page, which shares an uncanny resemblance to the hotel’s exterior. But he added that Hard Rock has relationships with both Gibson and Page, and the hotel and casino features many Led Zeppelin artifacts.
Last week’s grand opening was heavily documented on social media, with videos of mermaids lounging poolside, heavy-hitting live performances, and celebrities like model Sofia Richie, Khloe Kardashian, Morgan Freeman and Joe Manganiello walking the red carpet.
Even Captain Jack Sparrow himself – Johnny Depp – paid tribute to his rock ‘n roll roots and paid a visit opening night. Looks like it was one heck of a party!
