The landmark Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in South Florida is nearing its completion date, with the $1.5bn guitar-shaped tower set to open in October this year.
The 137-metre building will house 638 rooms, as well as a Hard Rock Casino hosting 3,267 slot machines and 178 table games, and act as a flagship property for the Seminole Tribe.
“Our ancestors and elders welcomed curious tourists to our Florida reservations,” said Tribe chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr. “Today’s members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida will soon welcome visitors from all over the world to what will become a landmark destination.”
“Our guitar tower will attract global attention.”
The expansion project was first announced in 2014, and adds over 950 rooms to the complex, with 638 rooms - all over 48 sq m - in the tower itself, and 168 rooms in a seven storey Pool Tower, flanking the main building.
The guitar tower will also contain an enlarged Hard Rock Live performance arena, with 7,000 seats, increasing capacity by 1,500, as well as a 41,000- sq ft spa.
An extra 2,000 staff members have also been employed through a 4 June careers fair, in order to staff the 28,000 sq ft of retail space, 141,000 sq ft of convention space, 14 restaurants and the Daer nightclub.
“Our talented team of architects and designers have done an amazing job of designing this incredible structure and working to bring it to life, but it’s our team of dedicated employees and managers at Seminole Gaming who really deserve the credit,” said Hard Rock chairman and Seminole Gaming CEO James Allen.
“They are responsible for the ongoing success of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino by helping to lay the foundation to make this expansion project possible.”
