The Hard Rock Hotel Debuts in Palm Springs


By Lauren Clarke-Bennett & Malcolm Danare

When you get a call from The Hard Rock Hotel to come a spend a few days celebrating the newest addition to their luxury brand in the warm and inviting Palm Springs desert of California — you go! The transformation of Downtown Palm Springs, a one-time home to some of the world’s most glamorous stars like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra is welcomed not only to the Coachella Valley but also to the Los Angeles community, as it is about a two-hour drive away.

The superb weather, soothing mineral baths, great gambling, wonderful restaurants, a host of grand golf courses, artisanal delights and beautiful vistas, add to the magic that is calling modern day Hollywood and their fans from around the world back to this very special destination. With celebs like Leonardo DiCaprio, who just purchased Dinah Shore’s old digs, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Aniston and Robin Williams rediscovering what so many before them coveted, these modern day icons of the silver screen are spending some of their downtime in this delightful desert oasis.

The new Hard Rock Palm Springs Hotel & Spa in the heart of the newly resurgent city is the first Rock’n Roll/music themed hotel to open in Palm Springs. To celebrate the opening, hundreds of guests descended on the pool in the heart of the hotel. Palm Spring’s Mayor, Steve Pougnet welcomed the hotel to his proud city, as a dozen VIPs including Audrina Patridge of ‘The Hills’ smashed Fender guitars, to commemorate. There was delicious ‘Farm To Table’ food from the hotel’s Sessions Restaurant, created by Chef Aaron Kiefer and attendees were wowed by an intimate performance from the mega music group Phantogram.

Since restauranteur Peter Morton and businessman Isaac Tigret founded The Hard Rock Cafe in 1971 and Morton opened his first hotel in Vegas in1995, it has been revolutionary in implementing the music lifestyle into its ambiance. Boasting that business remains super strong, it is attracting an affluent young at heart clientele who enjoys vacationing at trendy destinations. And nowhere is it trending more than in Palm Springs; especially now that the world-famous Coachella Music Festival is right around the corner and making The Hard Rock your home away from home during the festival would make the total experience even more spectacular.

With 163 music inspired rooms and event spaces that can accommodate up to 1,200 guests, this luxury hotel offers comfort and style in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. To further enhance the Hard Rock’s music theme, the hotel proudly adds a host of top DJs poolside, creating a continual party atmosphere to their list of inviting qualities. And attention all you wannabe rock stars (and some real ones) an amazing program called The Sound Of Your Stay® where one can request a fabulous Fender guitar to your room or DJ equipment for those of you who dream of becoming a mega DJ!

If you love a walk down memory lane or a look at pop culture history, you will enjoy the Hard Rock’s impressive collection of outstanding celebrity memorabilia found in most of the common areas throughout the hotel. As one takes a glimpse inside the private world of Mr. Sinatra and his ‘Angel Face’ letter to Mia Farrow, ganders at a Sammy Davis Jr.’s wide pink & silver striped suit complete with a pair of hot pants, an Elvis motorcycle jacket, a Lady Gaga scooter and cellophane dress and a magnificent beaded butter suede fringed Jimi Hendrix Jacket you get the impression that they are right there with you.

If you really want to feel like glitterati, The VIP RockStar Suite is for you. This one bedroom suite is done to the nines with all-out star quality decor which can be stocked with a full bar and serve delectable bites from the hotel’s premier restaurant ‘Sessions’. With eats like the ‘Big Boss Burger’ made with Kobe beef, short rib beef and Manchego cheese, ‘Phish & Chips’, a scrumptious Tempura beer battered Halibut and the freshest of ceviche served on a mouthwatering homemade potato chip you will think you died and went to Rock’n Roll heaven. The restaurant also serves sumptuous breakfast, lunch and dinner that anyone with a discerning palate would covet.

To keep one in ‘Red Carpet Ready’ shape, the Hard Rock Hotel offers the Body Rock® workout facility with state of the art equipment in the perfect atmosphere and get those rock-hard abs. Then detoxify, purify and rejuvenate in their luxurious Rock Spa® that lavishes the body mind and soul with everything from a Nature’s Firming facial to a Rhythm and Motion massage to a Sweetgrass Body Wrap Remix all done with their intoxicating line of organic skin care from Amala. Finish it off with a Mococcan Oil hair treatment and a stellar mani-pedi. For romance treat you and a loved one to a ‘Rock Of Love‘ couples massage or schedule a Girlfriends Getaway and for the ultimate Celebrity Experience reserve the entire spa for you and your entourage and get ready for a rock’n time!