The Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs is loaded with designer eye candy. Rock and Roll is the obvious theme, with some pretty amazing garments from rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, to an over the top lampshade owned by the king himself, Mr. Elvis Presley.
Reviews for the hotel during it’s first six months (it opened March 2014) have been great from the party crowd, but not so great from the vacationers looking for a family friendly hotel. Additionally, there seems to be tremendous issues with room security in the hotel, cleanliness, and the lack of amenities such as a place to eat after 2 p.m., or ice in the ice machines. Many have also complained about the constant party atmosphere, which shouldn’t really be a surprise since it’s billed as a Rock and Roll Hotel. That said, I’ve never been to any of their other HRH (Hard Rock Hotel, not Her Royal Highness) locations, which seem to have more favorable reviews.
When I think of Palm Springs, I don’t think Rock and Roll, I think Sinatra, The Rat Pack, and lounging poolside with martini’s. Therefore, there may be an underlying conflict regarding the purpose of this hotel in the city. I recall how excited the city council and some of the residents were about the Hard Rock bringing it’s brand to the desert. I wasn’t onboard, and consequently stayed away. It was during this past weekend that I finally wandered into the hotel to see what it was all about. I have to say that I really love the atmosphere that was created, which far exceeded my expectations. Although as you can see from my photos, the hotel was fairly empty on a Monday morning.
From a design point of view, the Hard Rock Hotel has plenty to offer. The rich use of red is very stimulating and creates a sexy atmosphere that might be best suited for young adults, not the family crowd. The tufted gold banquettes in the ‘cocktail pit’ also scream sit here, get cozy, and make new friends. Again, not a place I’d even consider bringing the kids. The images on the Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs web site are remarkably inviting and also accurate, billing it as The Entertainment Destination in the California Desert. I’m not sure the hotel has reached the pinnacle of its mission statement just yet, but I’m hoping the guys at corporate will take a closer look at what has and hasn’t been working at the hotel, and pull it all together. And one last design note, why do I need to see the word FUN with a big period after it? Good design and good customer service make that a given, I don’t need to be told how to feel or what my experience should be. Either it’s fun or it isn’t. Period.