Hard Rock Hotel

[NJ Ralph]

I recall reading an article in recent Aruba publication during the first week of April. The article stated that there were several rejected bids and the winning bidder was required to use the facility as a training school for hotel management.
also recall am upfront payment of $10M for site "beautification".

can anyone confirm?

I'm not enthusiastic about another americanized product landing on the beaches but the prospect can only be beneficial to the downtown development, as with the eventual and long discussed moving of the cargo containers. As a fan of the slow and low side of the island I hope the progress is good for the economy but does not affect the island's swagger that lures me every year.

Ralph

[Arubalisa]

Minister announces finalization of agreement for a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Aruba considered imminent
Rosalie Klein, The Morning News Aruba

ORANJESTAD - Minister of Tourism, Transport & Labor, Otmar Oduber, announced that his ministry considers a contract with South*- west Inc to construct and ma*nage a 310-room 4-star Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at the site of the former Bushiri Beach Resort will be finalized and signed very shortly.

A call went out in October for submission of project plans, and though nine international concerns initially showed interest, it was Southwest and Global, the hospita*lity concern with the Starwood and Sheraton brand resorts, which showed serious intent by meeting the requirement of a $2 million dollar submission fee with their proposals.

A commission was formed with personnel from the Central Bank of Aruba and Chamber of Commerce to study the agreements and negotiate with the companies during the selection process.

Presently, the agreement is pending the demonstration that Southwest has the 40% guaranteed equity on the $120 million project, before finaliza*- tion. Renderings of the project show a spectacular resort which will be built from the ground up after the removal of the old Bushiri buildings; it will occupy the present grounds, without impinging on the pubic beach adjacent.

The planned resort will have sections ranging from 5 floors to 7; there will be adult, teen and kids’ entertainment areas and several pools, one with a waterslide.

There will be an area for all day dining, which will seat 500, another for fine dining and a specialty bar/restaurant, each to accommodate 120 patrons.

The resort will have a shopping arcade, day spa, fitness room, ballroom and meeting rooms and function lawn to accommodate conventions and special events.

Another condition Southwest was willing to meet was the construction of a 1,000 square meter, state-of-the-art Government Training Facility as part of the resort, which will bring back to that location the original purpose for which the first resort was constructed. It will provide a hands-on Hospitality Management and Culinary education; this time with students being mentored by a recognized international hospitality concern.

Minister Oduber expressed that pending this final compliance of demonstrating equity, the project is ready to start and hopes to see them break ground by the end of this summer, with a projected completion date of August 2014.

[Lewny1]

I have to agree with Andrea - if the hotel will look anything like the artist's sketch, it will be a vast improvement to what is currently there (even with the guitar lol).

If I'm not mistaken, the closest hotel to the abandoned bushiri site is the Divi Dutch Village (Tamarijn is across from Divi Links and next to Tamarijn).

[Arubalisa]

I have to agree with Andrea - if the hotel will look anything like the artist's sketch, it will be a vast improvement to what is currently there (even with the guitar lol).

Photo of present state of decay

If I'm not mistaken, the closest hotel to the abandoned bushiri site is the Divi Dutch Village (Tamarijn is across from Divi Links and next to Tamarijn).

Divi Dutch parking lot and Tamarijn buildings 2400 & 2500 at the southern end. See attached.

Though on a bit of the smallish side to make out detail, Diario has a set of the architectural renderings (click on the thumbnails) at http://www.diario.aw/2012/04/ruinana...-hotel-casino/

[Arubalisa]

Courtesy of Diario
Public beach area to the north of the Hard Rock as well as a close up of the archicterual rendering for the area, including a parking area and walkway.

[charles]

My last thought on this is - and it is only my opinion - but if Frank Lloyd Wright were to design a hotel for Aruba (god rest his soul in peace) at this point in time, it would just be overkill. Enough is (in my eyes) simply enough. It isn't a question on the qualifications of the builders but more the future impact on the environment and peace and quiet that so many hold dear.

By the way, no one answered me but - who tunes that big cement guitar?

Be well
charles

[hockeymom]

My thoughts exactly - only you put it so much more eloquently. How much is too much? To me, this is too much!!!

As to tuning the guitar - hopefully no one!!!!

PS - Missed you in March, but Iris took very good care of me! Be Well!

[NJ Ralph]

Charles and hockey on...
My spirit is with you both. How much more is needed? Are all the hotels, inns, timeshares, house rentals completely booked? What will become of the downtown when all the monetary interest is in the waterfront?

I'm sure the hotel will boost employment and with the addition of the ritz force competitive pricing. hopefully development is not at a cost to the areas where the government might consider implementing and supporting development, such as downtown.

Charles....love the FLW reference I'm a big fan of his work and vision.

Elvis tunes the guitar! He's alive and well, living in Malmok and parasailing in his free time.

Ralph

[sagman17]

here are my few points..one if the hard rocks does build there will they move their restaurant down into the hotel..we don't need two large guitars..second i really don't believe all the hotels are now at 100% occupency so do we really need another hotel..and this is without the ritz even open yet..lastly i think the aruban government should concentrate on doing something with the condo bldg downtown(across from 7 west)..either do something with the place or tear it down because as it is empty it has no value except to bring a bad element hanging around..

[arubabob]

This line in their press releases makes me go hmmm.....

"Hardrock has twelve hotels of which seven are under construction."

That is a lot of capital to be putting out in this economy. I'm glad to see the government is taking steps to make sure the developer doesn't begin the project and then not be able to continue.

There is a Hard Rock Hotel and Casino about 30 minutes from my house here in Oklahoma. We go to "The Joint" there for some pretty good entertainment. Point is, this hotel casino is NOT OWNED by Hard Rock. It is owned by the Cherokee Indian tribe. Hard Rock is the operator under an agreement that put their name on front about 3 years ago. This casino hotel is "under construction" as well and has been for over 7 years. They keep making it bigger. The Cherokees pay for all the construction.
Maybe this is counted as one of Hard Rocks under construction numbers. I dont know how many of Hard Rocks casinos are owned and operated or just operated.