Hard Rock said that “key elements” of its project (pictured in an artist’s rendering) included: monorail access to the property from the nearby Chitose International Airport; a guitar-shaped hotel tower based on Hard Rock’s signature branding; a Four Seasons hotel; a Hard Rock Live entertainment venue; multipurpose “Broadway-style” theatres, a centre focused on health and well-being; and more than 215,000 square feet (19,974 sq metres) of retail and dining space.
It added: “The new design also features an authentic Ainu village experience, designed to help raise awareness for the local indigenous Ainu people.”
The firm also announced a number of partnerships for its proposed casino resort in Hokkaido, including with American professional baseball team the New York Yankees and with Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment LLC. The latter is a U.S.-based entertainment company that manages theatres and presents Broadway-style productions in international markets.
In addition, Hard Rock said it would bring the “latest facial recognition and security services” to its project in Hokkaido, in partnership with Japanese technology provider NEC Corp.
The property would also feature a “Music Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame”, aiming to “bring praise and awareness to the musical accomplishments of Japanese, Asian and global artists”.
“We are extremely excited about the prospect of introducing our Hard Rock family to the people of Hokkaido, Japan with this world-class entertainment resort,” Hard Rock’s chairman and chief executive Jim Allen said in a prepared statement included in a company press release.
He added: “It will not only bring economic benefits to the local community, but also act as a gateway to learn more about the wonderful heritage of Japan and all that it has to offer.”
Hard Rock has signalled its interest in developing a casino resort in Tomakomai at least since June last year. The firm however faces tough competition, as several other casino resort operators and investors have also expressed interest in pursuing a casino resort project on Hokkaido.
Source: GMB
