Less than a year after its public grand opening, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego located in downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter has been awarded a prestigious Four-Diamond Award from the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA).  The AAA rating is consistently regarded as the industry’s most trusted evaluation for North American travelers and recognizes the country’s most superior hotels and restaurants in areas including product quality, service and attention to detail.  Only four percent of properties evaluated receive the distinction.

“We are so pleased to have joined a very elite group of hotels which have earned the AAA Four-Diamond rating,” said Matt Greene, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego.  “We strive to consistently deliver a quality hotel experience with the exciting amenities and exceptional service that is uniquely Hard Rock.  Often times it can take several years to perfect this formula enough to catch the discerning eye of AAA evaluators so having earned this rating in our first year of opening is especially rewarding.”

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego celebrated its grand opening in downtown San Diego in November 2007.  In addition to featuring 420 stylish guest rooms including nearly fifty percent luxury suites, the property introduced several world-class brands to San Diego’s emerging nightlife and culinary scenes, including the acclaimed Nobu sushi restaurant, Moonstone Lounge and Sweetwater Saloon operated by nightlife gurus Rande and Scott Gerber and a Pinkberry yogurt store.  In addition, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego features in own retro-chic diner concept, the award-winning Maryjane’s Coffee Shop and the full-service Rock Spa.

To become AAA approved and diamond rated, hotels and restaurants undergo a thorough inspection by one of AAA’s 65 full time, professional evaluators. To win a AAA Four Diamond award, properties much pass two unannounced inspections – one that assesses the facilities and another specifically to evaluate service levels.  Some 60,000 hotels and restaurants nationally will be listed in the 2008 AAA TourBook guides, in print and online at www.aaa.com/diamonds.  Properties earning a Four Diamond rating are defined as upscale in all areas with accommodations that are progressively more refined and stylish and feature an enhanced level of quality throughout.

While some Americans may be feeling a squeeze on their travel budgets this season, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego (HRHSD) is introducing special rates to ensure the current economic climate doesn’t put a chill on this year’s holidays. With HRHSD’s new Holidaze rate packages, those who can’t make it home can create a new tradition with a festive local getaway, and others will be able to impress family and friends and cut down on holiday stress by putting visitors up the most stylish digs in town.

From November 23-27 and again from December 21-25, HRHSD is extending special discounted rates from $179 per night for studio accommodations, or $219 per night for Hard Rock Suite accommodations. The rate is subject to availability and advance reservations are required. In addition to luxurious surroundings at a holiday-friendly price, guests can even enjoy special just-like-home cooking with traditional holiday menus served all-day on Christmas and Thanksgiving at the property’s retro-chic diner Maryjane’s Coffee Shop.
   
Located in the acclaimed Gaslamp Quarter, downtown’s hub of dining and entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is the perfect destination to make home base for the holidays. The hotel is steps away from the city’s best restaurants and hottest spots for nightlife, however if guests prefer to stay put, Hard Rock is home to everything necessary to feel like a true VIP. The property’s amenities include the world-class Nobu restaurant, Moonstone Lounge and Sweetwater Saloon for after-dark entertainment, a sparkling pool featuring private cabanas and day beds, and luxurious Rock Spa offering signature treatments and a high-tech fitness center.

To book Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s Holidaze offers, please visit www.hardrockhotelsd.com or call 888-593-6177.

For many people, Thanksgiving is a holiday marked by heartwarming family gatherings, crisp fall weather and gratitude for the year’s many blessings. For others, it’s the day when we eat until our pants split and then quickly fall into a tryptophan-induced slumber. This year, retro-chic Maryjane’s Coffee Shop at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is inviting guests to loosen their belts, gather with family and friends and enjoy an affordable, casually-hip Thanksgiving dinner that’s just as comforting and delicious as home-cooked meals of holidays past, no matter what’s inspiring the celebration.

Special for the day, Chef Thomas Borgia has created a traditional, three-course Thanksgiving feast just like mom would make (if she had formal culinary training).  First course selections include a choice of Butternut Squash Bisque with Pomegranateand Sage or a Baby Green Salad with Endive, Spiced Nuts, Pears and Maytag Blue Cheese. A main course of Roast Turkey is accompanied by Borgia’s take on all the time-honored accompaniments including Brioche Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Green Bean Casserole and Cranberry Sauce. And no turkey-day meal would be complete without dessert, so diners will have the choice of Pumpkin or a warm Apple Pie.

For those guests unafraid to break tradition, the Thanksgiving menu will be served in addition to Maryjane’s daily menu of classic comfort foods including Chicken Pop Pie, signature Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Wavy Gravy and Five-Cheese & Macaroni,Angus Beef Burgers,Salads, Sandwiches and a selection of Breakfast Items offered all-day long. Maryjane’s Thanksgiving Dinner will be served from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27.   The prix-fixe menu is priced at $28.  No advance reservations are required.  For more information, call (619) 764-6950.

Maryjane’s Coffee Shop is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, with extended late night hours on weekends. Happy Hour is Monday – Thursday, 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and Friday’s 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm – 12:00 am. Every Sunday from 6:30 am – 2:00 pm, Maryjane’s offers a special Sunday Brunch menu and entertainment, including Build-Your-Own-Bloody Marys and the city’s only live DJ on Sunday mornings who spins all of the 80’s favorites and more.

One of the hottest hotels in the Windy City, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago welcomes any and all with open arms, ready to show you why, and how, they rock so hard. From its prime location in downtown Chicago to the amazing cuisine at China Grill, from every luxurious room or suite to the incredible perks, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago always knows just what you want.

Right now, Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is offering you some great packages to enjoy. They've got a package for every taste. Falling prices for the cool-weather months help you keep warm, with their "Ode To Autumn" package. If you're spending Turkey Week in Chicago, they've got some amazing prices for you with their "Wild Turkey Week" special. Wanna live like a rock star? Now you can, with the "Weekend Like A Wentz" package, which lets you follow in the footsteps of Chicago's own Pete Wentz (of Fall Out Boy fame) and live like a rocker. Hard Rock's Pink Sheets package not only offers you a great room, with fun amenities, but 25% of the room rate helps in the fight against breast cancer.

These are just a few of the great packages and specials Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is offering right now. Click here to check out the package that's just right for you and let them show you why Hard Rock Hotel Chicago is the place to be in the Windy City.

Hard Rock Hotels is set to develop their second hotel in the United Arab Emirates, Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi, with the Tasameem Group. Late last year, the two companies announced plans for a Hard Rock Hotel in Dubai.

“With the announcement of the Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi, we are reinforcing our global development trajectory and adding to our international leisure portfolio,” said Hamish Dodds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hard Rock International. “Our hotel brand possesses a completely unique personality, a vibe that you cannot get anywhere else in the industry. The focus is a five-star luxury hotel brand that adds personality to its properties through music, entertainment and superior customer service,” he said.

Abu Dhabi is among one of the top global cities poised to become a luxury destination and hot spot for global tourism. The new contemporary tower hotel will be situated on the Al Meena Road, which is currently being rebuilt as the pre-eminent center for shopping, entertainment, leisure and hospitality in Abu Dhabi. Reconstruction of the area will offer picturesque green parks, pools, fountains and will provide dramatic views of Abu Dhabi.

The hotel will be designed to match the world's highest standards of architecture and environmental sustainability. It is slated to feature a grand porte-cochere off Al Meena Road, providing a prestigious grand entrance to the hotel’s foyer. The exterior architecture will reflect the importance of the landmark location at Mina Zayed (the current Abu Dhabi Port) which is being redeveloped into a major commercial, residential and tourism destination. The plans encompass an impressive two-level lobby and the top floor of the soaring tower will feature exemplary restaurants, fashionable lounges, superior function and meeting rooms including a grand ballroom. Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi will feature extensive landscaped terraces for guest relaxation and recreation including garden terraces for public or private functions.

“The Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi, being the second Hard Rock Hotel property owned by the Tasameem Group, reinforces our strong collaboration with this eminent investment group,” announces Jim Allen, Chairman of Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment. “Abu Dhabi is regarded as the one of the richest cities in the world today. Our premium lifestyle brand fits perfectly with their developing marketplace.”

Hard Rock Hotel Abu Dhabi guest rooms will be furnished to meet international five-star deluxe standards, incorporating Hard Rock’s tradition of providing luxury, quality service and amenities. The hotel will contain destination dining venues, all-day restaurants and high-energy bar locations, offering both locals and hotel guests a place to see and be seen.

“Our synergistic partnership driven by a mutual commitment for excellence delivers a unique foundation for our strengthening relationship with Tasameem," said Trevor Horwell, Chief Hotels Officer, Hard Rock International. "This iconic development in Abu Dhabi will be a monument to the drive and passion of this remarkable city which we are immensely proud to be a part of."

The Hard Rock Hotel experience offers style and substance with a unique rock vibe designed to provide unforgettable experiences. Properties cater to the evolving and distinctive needs of today’s experienced, modern travelers, who seek a reprieve from traditional, predictable properties, whether for business or leisure travel.

Two hundred blushing brides gathered yesterday at downtown San Diego’s stylish Hard Rock Hotel San Diego to make their commitments legal in the city’s largest all-lesbian wedding event to date since gay and lesbian couples were granted the right to marry in California. Following the ceremony and a lavish reception, the newlyweds - some who have been together for over 30 years -immediately embarked on a week-long Mexican Riviera honeymoon cruise. The event, arranged by Olivia Companies, the nation’s premier lesbian-owned travel company, demonstrates the positive impact that same-sex marriage continues to have on California’s hospitality and travel industry.

“We partnered with Olivia Companies nearly a year ago to begin coordinating this exciting event – it’s no small task to plan individual dream weddings for two hundred brides,” said Matt Greene, general manager of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. “However, this was an extremely joyous and monumental occasion and we are so proud that Hard Rock Hotel San Diego was chosen as the site for these weddings. We wish each one of these newly-married couples the very best in their futures together.”

With a prime urban location, 40,000 square feet of event space and a team of experienced professionals, Hard Rock Hotel was Olivia’s choice pick to help execute the milestone wedding ceremony and considerable reception. Rather than hold an impersonal, mass wedding ceremony in which all couples said their “I Do’s” at once, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s event management team worked with Olivia executives to plan intimate individual ceremonies that took place throughout the day. The first marriage vows were exchanged at 2 p.m. and the final couples said their nuptials at 7 p.m. before joining a massive reception where all 200 women--accompanied by friends and family--gathered to celebrate the occasion.  

“Olivia is so proud to have provided a space for almost 200 women to marry,” said Judy Dlugacz, president and founder of Olivia. “The couples ranged in age from mid-twenties to their seventies and many have been together ten, twenty, thirty years. Imagine how significant it was to be able to finally have the legal recognition of marriage. This was truly an historic event.”

Following the weddings, the women embarked on a luxurious honeymoon cruise to the Mexican Riviera, chartered by Olivia. During the next week, the brides will enjoy an onboard commitment ceremony, champagne reception and will be joined by tennis legend Billie Jean King and LPGA star Rosie Jones. Olivia is the largest promoter of lesbian travel and services in the world, chartering entire ships, resorts and tours ranging from intimate boutique voyages in the Galapagos and France on ships holding 140-300 women to Caribbean cruises on ships holding nearly 2,000. Known for its A-list entertainment, Olivia has previously featured headliners such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Heart and The Indigo Girls.

Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White of Yes will perform as part of their “In the Present” U.S. Tour at Hard Rock Live Orlando on December 14 and Hard Rock Live Hollywood, FL, on December 17. The three will be joined by keyboardist Oliver Wakeman, the son of Yes' Rick Wakeman, and vocalist Benoit David, a Montreal, Quebec, native and vocalist in several Yes tribute groups, who was discovered by the band on the Internet. Tickets are on sale now for both shows.

Yes postponed plans for a 40th anniversary “Close to the Edge and Back” tour in June, when vocalist Jon Anderson suffered a severe asthma attack and was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure. Chris Squire said, "This isn't an attempt to replace Jon Anderson, because as we all know, that would be impossible. With Benoit, we are bringing in a talented singer so that we can go out and honor the music of Yes for the fans who have waited for the past four years to see us perform."

Formed in London in 1968 by Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, Yes has proven their mettle as one of the most successful progressive rock era stories.  Their complex arrangements, unusual time signatures, virtuoso musicianship, dramatic dynamic and metrical changes and a blend of musical, lyrical and vocal harmonic styles has persevered, internationally, for nearly 40 years.

The best part is, both shows are each right next to an awesome hotel! Check out the Hard Rock Hotel Orlando and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, FL, for all the details and extraordinary amenities.

You can find tickets for the Orland show here and tickets for the Hollywood, FL, show here.