UPDATE: Hard Rock Las Vegas Responds to Construction Cost-Cutting Allegations
Posted on: June 24, 2025, 08:35h.
Last updated on: June 24, 2025, 09:25h.
UPDATE: A spokesperson for Hard Rock International responded to this article early Tuesday morning by stating that “these plan adjustments reflect the natural evolution of a large-scale development project — NOT cost cutting.”
“In short, early permit filings are typically placeholders, and recent updates simply fine-tune details as we move from concept to execution,” stated an email from Jonathan Goldman of Hard Rock International’s New York-based publicity firm, Golin.
“Regarding the room count: After the initial plans, we discovered additional usable space within the curvature of the structure, which enabled us to add 75 rooms upon further review with our architects and design teams,” Goldman continued. “The original 600 suites were not reduced in any way. On the contrary, the total quantity of rooms increased further. The assertion in the article is inaccurate.
“As for the spa, the original design a year ago included placeholder space across the full Guitar floor. Since then, we developed a detailed 30,000-square-foot spa program based on real needs and use cases given our vast experience operating multiple integrated resorts, hotels, and casinos.
“This reflects refined planning — not reduction.”
EARLIER: The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino has increased the number of hotel rooms it plans to include in its 700-foot Guitar Hotel tower, which is currently under construction on top of the demolished Mirage volcano attraction. But it’s not accomplishing this by creating more space for them.
According to a recent set of planning documents obtained by Five Hundy By Midnight podcast co-host Tim Dressen and published on his podcast’s Patreon site, the Guitar Hotel will now boast 675 rooms, not 603, as the last documents published by Hard Rock International indicated. (The originally announced number was 596.)
There’s only one way for hotel owners to increase room volume without increasing the size of their buildings, and that’s the same way airlines increase seat volume without increasing the size of their planes — by cramming them in.
Diminished Guitar Chords
According to Dressen’s reading of the plans, some of the suites have been reduced to single rooms, while back-of-house space — such as the supply closets on each floor — is being eliminated.
In addition, the amount of casino space in the Guitar Hotel will be reduced from 48,234 square feet to 41,584 square feet, while the size of the structure’s spa has cut in half, from 66,673 square feet to 32,958, which was accomplished by eliminating planned pools. (A new restaurant was also added to the same level.)
The plans also show that the Guitar Hotel’s street level has increased in size from 96,668 square feet to 127,645, while the check-in and pool level has swelled to 156,534 square feet to 176,611.
Finally, while the plans submitted in 2023 to the Clark County Commission showed two pedestrian bridges from the resort extending across Las Vegas Boulevard, the one on its south side has been eliminated, leaving only a crossing on the new resort’s north side, to the Venetian.
While plans typically fluctuate as construction projects progress, it’s difficult not to view most of these changes as cost-cutting in response to the increasing cost of building materials and the current downturn in Las Vegas tourism.
Last Comments ( 28 )
The Vegas demise has nothing to do with Trump- that’s the TDS from a bunch of morons!! We have gambling all over the country, sports betting, keno,Vegas has to be more than gambling and I think they do! The crappy hotels will get torn down, and brand new beautiful hotels will replace them! It’s been happening since the 70’s
Gene is obviously a dumb fuck liberal that hates winning which is all his President has done so fuck if gene. Vegas doesn’t need a pussy like you around so go fuck yourself libtard
I have been visiting Vegas since the seventies and in 1985 I purchased a 5 bedroom House 3,200 square feet and a massive swimming pool for 150,000 dollars many people were leaving Vegas then I lived there for 7 year's. The big migration to Vegas had started they were building track homes in Henderson, Summerlin, Green Valley etc. I was surprised how many years the migration went on for. While living there I developed friendships with many Casinos Employees one Pit Boss told me that the Foreign Tourists were there bread and butter especially from the Asian Countries, Canada and European Countries. I think Vegas over built there are far too many Casinos and now that Trump has killed the Foreign Tourist Market most Countries have warning signs about traveling to America and populations around the World hate Trump and said there not traveling to America as long as Trump is President I don’t see Vegas Casinos surviving Trump’s tenure. Steve Wynn was one of the key visionaries who built Vegas up so when he made the decision to sell the Mirage that was a Hugh Red Flag. Each Casino employs 10,000 plus employees and if the Casinos start shutting down how will they pay their mortgages and rent I can see the Casinos and Housing market taking a big hit and most of people in Nevada voted for Trump because he said he wouldn’t tax tips but if you don’t have a job you don’t get tips. Trump is on the verge of destroying Vegas and America.
Hard Rock is a good casino operator. I play at both Atlantic City and Las Vegas. The Hard Rock are the 2nd most profitable casino in Atlantic City. Their casino is in the old Trump Taj Mahal on the boardwalk which they renovated extensively. The Hard Rock knows what they are doing and are the most generous casino in terms of comps in Atlantic City. I can't believe the amount of comps that the Hard Rock Atlantic city gives to low rollers like me. Others that I talk to get the same offers. The Hard Rock Atlantic City keeps MGM and Caesars in check from the price increases that Vegas experiences because they offer a premium product at medium prices. They cater to the low rollers and the mass market. As far as I know they own their own land in Vegas, so they do not have to pay for rent to a hedge fund like MGM and Caesars. I doubt they will change their formula of going after the low rollers with a premium product, which is why they are having more rooms and less Suites. They give away comp rooms in Atlantic City like candy from September to June (Sunday to Thursday) to low rollers as they want to get the gamblers into the hotel/casino during the off peak times. They create loyalty amongst gamblers by giving people coupons for food and providing above average service.
Blame private equity, the same folks that bought up housing to manage higher rents and home prices, now owns the land under all of the major resorts on the strip. I read they increase the rent to the casino operations 20% a year. That's 100% every 5 years! They have to charge the resort fees and prices in general to pay their rent. https://www.perenews.com/the-changing-ownership-of-las-vegas/
We never go downtown anymore. There used to be a time when you could drive downtown, catch a cheap buffet and wander around gambling which was fun and low stress. Cheap buffets no longer exist and parking is limited to a few places that offer up free parking which are getting harder and harder to find. Our favorite place was Freemont street which we haven't been to in years after they started charging for parking. I'm happy staying off strip where there is free parking, and reasonable dining out all over the place.
Candidly, I am getting annoyed by the "Vegas is killing itself" comments by citing rising prices on food, entertainment, and rooms. These comments are mostly posted by those who have been coming to Vegas for decades. Well, guess what.....nothing in life is constant save change. So let go of this "old Vegas" fantasy...it is never coming back. The prices of commodities, food, and accommodations are going up, but not more than in other high tourist areas around the country. I recently paid $90 to take the elevator to the top of the Empire State Building, and a $135 taxi ride out of Manhattan back to JFK. At the airport, the proverbial "convenience store sandwiches" are $12. At Disneyland in Florida, a hamburger is $18, and with fries and a soft drink, I shelled out $30 ( after spending $149 for an entrance ticket to just one land in the complex). Last weekend in San Diego, parking at the harbor area to view the US Navy ships was $26. So the post about the bottle of water at the Aria failed to mention that it was a premium brand, the type a heavy markup is always present (and the charge was $26 and not $23). This is the new reality in 2025. Sneakers made by Nike and Skechers cost $7 to $10 to manufacture in Vietnam, and then sell for $90 to $130 in the United States. So, what is the delta in this free market global economy? Sit down and stop bitching. It is what it is.
Vegas killing itself, us llocals used to go to the strip for the buffets, do a little gambleing, drive to a few casinos , make a day of it, maybe a show. Now no buffets, twenty dollar parking, fifteen dollar beers, twenty dollar hamburgers, ten dollar water, every hand you see wants a tip. Greed is ruining Vegas, too bad the mob is not still running the city.
The south side IS Harrah's, it's the north side that goes to the Venetian.
When is the grand opening of the Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas?
Vegas is pricing itself out of business. Tourism is down & the Casino's are laying off dealers. During the day, the casino board game staffers are mostly standing behind overpriced table games. There's minimal live casino action...sad. The Casino's could drop table minimums on a few tables to draw action...I mean the Casino always comes out ahead...but, the Casinos are fine with high limit tables & minimal action. I read where the Aria charged a guest $23 for a bottled wtr. from the room....that's the new, but doomed, Vega$.
There’s a type in the last line. ‘Downturn’ not ‘downtown’
A bridge on the "north" side would cross close to the Venetian, the "south" side would cross at Harrah’s. Though both crossings are badly needed, a crossing at the Venetian is very badly needed. Traffic literally stops for pedestrians here. Seems like a misstep not to build multiple bridges, the yearly F1 race I would think is reason enough to invest in them.
Indians so far are being ok !! They really don’t like Union but must deal with it !! They bought property with Union contract and also paid severance pay n insurance for 6 months per bargaining agreement when closing !! Not sure if employees will be hired back with 3 year construction plan !!?? One bridge overpass will be fine n not cheap !! Seems awful big to me but something new n exciting for famed Las Vegas Strip !! We’ll see how Indians get along with Union labor !? The Palms is owned also by Indians but non union not organized yet !! Only other Indians going north towards Reno Paiutes Indians own golf course / casino off 95 North !!
for you guys is only important that you make the most gambling revenue…. I don’t think you care about the players….