Hard Rock Hotel to change management this week
The familiar logo of the Hard Rock Hotel won’t be up for much longer in Palm Springs. The parent company, Hard Rock International announced it would cease management of the hotel Monday.
It says the move was made due to “circumstances outside of their control”. Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon said it’s unfortunate.
“We were all excited five years ago when Hard Rock came here but for some reason, it just didn’t seem to work, the business plan that Hard Rock corporate had,” he said.
It was in 2013 the Hard Rock took over the location of Hotel Zoso. According to Mayor Moon, once new management takes over, it will turn back into Hotel Zoso.
“The new brand will bring some new spirit and excitement to this site,” he said. “Zoso always did a good job managing this site.”
According to a corporate spokesperson, the over 130 employees at the hotel, including current managers will be kept once the new management takes over, ensuring the site stays in operation,
which the mayor says is in a prime downtown location and helps the local economy.
“The ballroom of this hotel has really been valuable to the local community cause a lot of events are held in that ballroom,” Mayor Moon said.
One guest staying at the hotel acknowledges the area would lose a name brand, but isn’t concerned about staying there again.
“You know, we can be partiers so I guess the Hard Rock brand plays into that a little bit, but it wouldn’t bother me if the name changed,” Cathy Fenton of Calgary, Canada, said.
At L’Atelier Cafe next door, workers weren’t concerned over the change in regards to customer traffic.
“If they think they’re going to change out businesses or will affect our businesses, it won’t,” Jose Heredia Jr., a server, said.
The Hard Rock’s time in Palm Springs has been rocky, with corporate taking over management operations in 2016, and the hotel faces a lawsuit earlier this year from Alfie Petit, whose drag show there was canceled. Petit alleges the decision was fraught with discrimination. The hotel refuted the claims saying the cancellation was strictly a business decision.
Mayor Moon said a seamless transition at the hotel can only help the city.
“The growth of downtown Palm Springs makes us realize how important these hotels are to our tourism industry which is the lifeblood of our city,” he said.
A corporate spokesman said the change in management would occur Thursday.
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