What are your responsibilities at Hard Rock?
I lead large, complex projects from conceptualization to completion. More recently, I opened our brand’s first hotel in India, Hard Rock Hotel Goa, followed by Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife [in Spain], our second European property after Ibiza, and Hard Rock Shenzhen, our first project in mainland China. I am currently overseeing the completion and opening of Hard Rock Hotel Dubai, our first hotel in the Middle East.
How do you incorporate Hard Rock’s music experience in the design?
When guests pull into the porte cochere, they are greeted by iconic lyrics and possibly a guitar. Inside, the walls are adorned with curated pieces of priceless memorabilia in displays that blend with the design of the space. Local artists that fit the vibe and music culture of the destination are implemented throughout the resort’s memorabilia displays, like Shakira pieces in hotels throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
How does Hard Rock inject its DNA into the hotel’s various facilities?
It is not unusual to walk into a lobby to witness a DJ set or catch a local band at one of the property’s bars. We currently execute nearly 30,000 live music experiences each year. In addition, our pools come equipped with underwater audio systems and curated poolside playlists. And our vibe managers incorporate music in all public spaces, creating mixes for events and managing personalized music history or memorabilia tours.
What is the standout of your music program?
Our Rock Spa’s Rhythm & Motion is the world’s first music-infused spa menu, ultimately providing a sensory spa that is more Zeppelin than Zen.
What are some of your global expansion plans?
There are more than 10 properties opening within the next five years in highly sought-after destinations, such as Abu Dhabi; Los Cabos and Riviera Cancun in Mexico; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; London; Berlin; and Brasília, Itapema, and Caldas Novas in Brazil. We will soon welcome properties in Dalian and Haikou in China. And we have three domestic U.S. locations opening: Atlanta, New York, and Hartford, Connecticut.
