Hard Rock Hotel Coming to Downtown Long Beach 31-Story Includes 429 Rooms, Music Venue, and More

(LONG BEACH, CA – November 13, 2023) Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson announced today a major hotel construction project in Downtown Long Beach that not only will change how Long Beach looks but how the world looks at Long Beach.

Construction of the 31-story Hard Rock Hotel, at the corner of Ocean Boulevard and Pine Avenue, is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024. The mixed use, glass tower will have 429 rooms, 50,000-square-feet of dining and meeting space as well as amenities such as an outdoor pool with a view of Rainbow Harbor, three-story atrium and outdoor, rooftop bar and lounge on its 31st floor, making it the highest outdoor bar on the West Coast.

“Long Beach boasts an incredible mix of hotels in our downtown area. The addition of Hard Rock Hotel raises our game by bringing an internationally recognized brand to our city,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “It also helps showcase our city’s rich history in the music world, something we can continue to capitalize on in the future as we work to cultivate more arts and entertainment venues and events in Long Beach.”

Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, whose district encompasses Downtown Long Beach, said the project will be a vibrant entertainment hub for residents and visitors alike. “The Hard Rock will be a beautiful addition to our skyline, and will create a wonderful connection between the Downtown core and the waterfront,” she said.

It will also be the first major hotel construction in Downtown Long Beach in more than 30 years and, when completed in 2027 (projected), will not only enhance the city’s skyline but its hospitality offerings. The hotel will be located just a block from the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, the hub of the city’s hospitality and tourism industry, which generates more than $1 billion in economic impact each year.

“It’s another pivotal project for Downtown Long Beach since it further raises awareness of Long Beach with a brand like Hard Rock,” said Steve Goodling, President & CEO of the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The additional 429 hotel rooms are going to permit Long Beach to pursue larger conventions that previously would not have been able to come to the city.”

The hotel will be constructed on a 36,526-square-foot plot located at 100 E. Ocean Blvd. Gregory L. Steinhauer, president of Steinhauer Properties, the project’s developer, said there are plans to incorporate the historic Jergins Tunnel, which lies under the property, into the hotel and redevelop it as a small speakeasy venue. Built in 1927, the tunnel was used to provide safe pedestrian access to the beach and Pike amusement zone. It has been closed to the public since 1967.

There are also plans for a restaurant called Sessions on the main floor, as well as an outdoor pool on the sixth floor.

Though Hard Rock, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, have more than 15 hotels in the United States, this Long Beach location will be only the third to not have a gaming element to it, joining similar properties in New York and San Diego.

Steinhauer, whose company is best known for the 24-story Courtyard/Residence Inn at LA Live, said Long Beach was chosen because it is a great location.

“Hard Rock is a world class brand,” said Steinhauer. “This is going to bring international recognition to the city, and it is going to enhance the downtown and the convention center while adding another dynamic to the music scene.”

Indeed, Long Beach seems a natural fit for the Hard Rock brand since the city has a long, storied musical history. Not only has Long Beach produced the likes of Jenni Rivera, Snoop Dogg and Sublime, but the Long Beach Arena, located just a few blocks from the Hard Rock site, has played host to just about every iconic rock act of the last half century: from the Rolling Stones to Stevie Wonder, Led Zeppelin, Linda Rondstadt and Rick James.

“This will be such a perfect addition to the city,” Goodling said. “The tower is beautifully designed, with a three-story atrium overlooking Pine Avenue and Ocean Boulevard. It reminds me of the hotels in New York that overlook Times Square. It’s going to add an additional element of sophistication and coolness to the downtown area.”

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About the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau: Established in 1982, the Long Beach CVB is a private non-profit organization funded by city hotel bed tax and membership contributions from over 400 area businesses and community organizations. The mission of the Bureau is to contribute to the economic development of the city of Long Beach by selling, marketing and promoting Long Beach as a destination for conventions, meetings, tradeshows and tourism.

About Steinhauer Properties: Steinhauer Properties is a vertically integrated developer specializing in complex Urban Projects in unique locations around Stadiums and Convention Centers primarily in the Western United States. Visit www.steinhauerproperties.com

About Hard Rock®: Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 290 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Venues and Cafes. HRI also launched a joint venture named Hard Rock Digital in 2020, an online sportsbook, retail sportsbook and internet gaming platform. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia at more than 87,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2023, Hard Rock Hotels was honored by J.D. Power's North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study as the number one Upper Upscale Hotels brand in Outstanding Guest Satisfaction for the fourth time over the last five years. Hard Rock was also honored by Forbes among the World's Best Employers, as well as Best Employers for Women, Diversity and New Grads, Best Brands for Social Impact, Customer Service All-Star and a Top Large Employer in the Travel & Leisure, Gaming, and Entertainment Industry. HRI became the first privately-owned gaming company designated a U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal in 2021, and has since been honored threefold. In the 2022 Global Gaming Awards, Hard Rock was named Land-Based Operator of the

Year for the second time in four years. In 2021, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos received first place ranking in the Casino Gaming Executive Satisfaction Survey conducted by Bristol Associates Inc. and Spectrum Gaming Group for six of the last seven years. Hard Rock International currently holds investment grades from primary investment rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

PRESS CONTACT

Claire Atkinson
Communications Manager
562-896-8846
ClaireA@longbeachcvb.org