Today, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, set to open in the city’s famed Gaslamp Quarter this fall, provides an official pre-release preview with the unveiling of two of its signature guestrooms. Set to offer travelers the ultimate rock star experience, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will capture the authenticity and irreverence of the brand with 420 suites in three distinct floor plans, including 17 loft-like Rock Star Suites, 159 Hard Rock Suites and 244 Studios. The property’s luxurious style and substance will combine a distinctive rock vibe with upscale, contemporary design, state-of-the-art amenities and exceptional customer service, for business and leisure travelers alike.

Enlisting the talents of renowned architect Graham Downes, the interiors of the 12-story, 315,000-square-foot property will exude an atmosphere both stimulating and unpredictable. Famous for his cutting-edge contemporary design and envelope-pushing creations, Downes’ vision will guarantee visually impressive spaces, utilizing a palette of bold colors and dramatic proportions to create an extraordinary sense of excitement and intrigue. The property will also feature a stunning lobby lounge and rooftop pool bar created by Rande Gerber, Nobu restaurant by celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a fourth floor urban garden overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, 40,000 square feet of unique indoor/outdoor meeting space, Maryjane’s Coffee Shop, a Rock Spa and Rock Shop.

The hotel’s 244 Studios complement the essence of rock ‘n’ roll. As guests enter their rooms they will be instantly greeted with their own personal selection of tunes chosen at the time of reservation from ten unique genres of music.

These spacious yet intimate rooms redefine first-class comfort with a modern aesthetic and amenities designed to surpass every expectation. The floor plan allows for balance and easy flow while the vibrant color palette, textured materials, pulse accent carpet and tattoo motif convey pure energy in motion. Curated collections of rock ‘n’ roll artwork along with custom-made furniture inspire universal exclusivity that flaunts tradition and defies bland and boring.

Breaking with the standards of conventional design, a halo of light illuminates the rich ebony, cantilevered bed via a backlit headboard, setting the perfect stage for guests to enjoy Hard Rock’s signature “Sleep like a Rock” bed set featuring Classic Beautyrest® World Class® Felicity pillow top mattresses, down comforters and pillows – all immersed in 300 thread count Egyptian cotton linens embroidered with a classic guitar. Guests will enjoy crystal clear views of the San Diego skyline and killer views of the hip and historic Gaslamp Quarter.

Unwind or wind up in the custom rainforest shower and take in the soothing aromas of the all natural Aveda® luxury bath products. Plush Hard Rock Private Label bath robes and slippers mean there is no need to get dressed quite yet.

The m-bar awaits with the ultimate selection of green-room inspired refreshments to stimulate all of the five senses. Generously sized bottles of premium spirits, a mix-your-own margarita set, gourmet treats and classic munchies, intimate apparel and chice tunes, including the Mark Ronson presents Hard Rock CD, set a balanced stage for plugging in or chilling out.

Technology pulses through the rooms with integrated state-of-the-art video and sound systems, including entertainment systems with 42” LCD high-definition flat screens with full satellite access, video on demand and video game capabilities. The media hub also features a jack pack that connects a variety of electronic devices for plug and play access, wired and WiFi Internet access and laptop safe.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s 159 Hard Rock Suites are configured in a totally unpredictable, totally Hard Rock way. Generously scaled, the suite design places entertainment at the entry and shifts the bedroom into its own separate realm. Public and private collide with three connected spaces: bedroom, bathroom and lounge to create a significant sense of openness and the ideal arena for work or play. Guests control how much or how little they share of their public and private spaces via retractable custom drapery that spans the width of the room, creating a floating wall of concealment. Frosted glass panels in the luxury bath provide seductive silhouettes and alluring interplay.

Hard Rock’s 17 custom-designed Rock Star Suites are all about attitude and brazen sophistication. These ultimate VIP suite accommodations provide expansive, loft-like layouts, unexpected design pairings, spa-like bathrooms and outdoor decks with unprecedented views of the city and bay. Each is unique; choose from Rock Star Suites that feature a fire pit with deck seating for 20 or one with the outdoor hot tub and 270 degree views of beautiful San Diego.

The star of the show will undoubtedly be the Rock Star Suite designed by the Grammy® Award-winning Black Eyed Peas. The band – will.i.am, Fergie, apl.de.ap and Taboo – collaborated on the design for the suite, which reflects each member’s individual style and unique personality. In designing the Black Eyed Peas Suite, the group hand selected everything from the furniture to the bed linens. The suite also reflects the band members’ personal touches, such as a video greeting from will.i.am in which he suggests everything from his favorite haunts in the historic Gaslamp Quarter to choice tunes from his personal music collection.

While no two suites will be alike, all will share the chic urban loft ideal with spacious rooms, ample outdoor spaces and custom-designed elements that let the modern aesthetic take center stage. There is power in bold simplicity - no unnecessary ornamentation here.

Dark ebony wood floors and hand-woven custom rugs will define spaces. Matte leather couches will be accented with vibrantly colored fur pillows, reinforcing the air of unpredictability and irreverent juxtaposition of colors and materials.

High-gloss red Lucite walls, geometric floating overhead panels and dining tables suspended from the ceiling will punctuate the soul of each suite’s personality: pure rock ‘n’ roll.

For more information, please visit www.hardrockhotels.com or call 888.593.6177.

About Hard Rock International
With 123 high-energy Hard Rock Cafes and eight Hotels/Casinos in 46 countries, Hard Rock International is one of the world’s most globally recognized brands. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world’s greatest collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise, Hard Rock Live performance venues and an award-winning website. In addition to the two flagship Seminole Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos in Tampa and Hollywood, Fla., Hard Rock Hotels/Casinos are located in Las Vegas, Orlando, Chicago, Pattaya, and Bali, with San Diego and Biloxi scheduled to open later in 2007. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Palm Springs and Macau, scheduled to open in 2009. Hard Rock International, Inc, is owned by Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, Inc. For more information on Hard Rock, visit www.hardrock.com.

About Graham Downes Architecture
Graham Downes Architecture, Inc. was founded by international architect Graham Downes in 1994. This progressive architectural design firm is known for providing creative solutions for retail, hospitality, and entertainment projects. The firm has recently focused on designing boutique hotels and mixed-use, urban infill projects. The Graham Downes team consists of a total of 40 designers and support personnel, both at its office headquarters at 1600 National Ave. in Barrio Logan, on the fringe of downtown San Diego, California; and at its Las Vegas office, located at 2121 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, NV. More information about the firm is available online at www.blokhaus.com.