The Hard Rock International brand will be a plus for Sint Maarten if all goes well with the acquisition of the Simpson Bay Resort property in Pelican. This will be the fourth hotel brand to establish itself on the island (Westin, Sonesta and Radisson).
All parties and stakeholders concerned, need to look at the bigger picture and the long-term opportunities for the overall economy and the creation of employment for the people of this country.
According to media reports, Hard Rock International intends to also construct an additional 150 to 200 rooms, an investment estimated at around US$85 million.
Hard Rock International has 173 venues in 53 countries, including 138 Cafes and 15 Hotels/Casinos. Hard Rock’s two flagship Hotels and Casinos are in Tampa and Hollywood, Florida.
The company has additional hotel and casino projects including Panama Megapolis, scheduled to open in 2012; Cancun and Vallarta scheduled to open in 2012; Riviera Maya, Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2013.
Hard Rock International plans to build a 310-room beachfront hotel and casino on Aruba. The group just opened its first hotel in Latin America, Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis, a 66-floor hotel where the first phase opened on April 16, featuring 500 rooms of its more than 1,400 total rooms.
The Hard Rock International brand is owned by the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida, a federally recognized Indian tribe, and the only tribe in America who never signed a peace treaty. By 1957 Tribal leaders moved forward and drafted a Tribal constitution. They attained self-government through the formation of a governing body, the Tribal Council. At the same time, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc. was created to oversee the business matters of the Tribe.
The Tribe employs more than 7,000 and purchase more than US$130 million in goods and services annually.
The Seminole business enterprise today supports the socio-economic development of the Seminole Indians providing health, welfare, public safety, education and other services to the community. Besides hospitality (hotel and casinos), the Seminole’s other business ventures are spread over in cattle, citrus, and due to the progress made in all areas, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is considered one of the most successful native business peoples in the United States.
Roddy Heyliger