The company also owns the Hard Rock Cafe on the Strip (but not the off-Strip Hard Rock Las Vegas, which is being rebranded under new ownership as a Virgin casino hotel). Hard Rock currently is comprised of 259 venues, including owned and licensed hotels, casinos, shops and cafes, in 75 countries. Gaming expansion has been one of the core elements of Hard Rock’s strategic thinking since the hotel and restaurant chain was acquired by the Seminole Tribe. Hard Rock International, chaired by Allen, is experiencing a growth spurt. And now the brand is coming up on its 50th anniversary.” The tribe owns Hard Rock and we’re creating something we want the whole world to see. This hotel has become the iconic statement of that relationship. “When I came up with the idea to buy Hard Rock,” he says, “I explained to the tribe that this is a long-term commitment. When Seminole Gaming CEO Jim Allen approached the Seminole Nation tribal council about buying Hard Rock International in 2007, he was excited about the possibilities but warned them that there was a lot of work ahead.
