Hard Rock International Named Land-Based Operator of the Year

The award recognizes Hard Rock's rapid expansion over the past year, highlighted by the debut of its first integrated resort in Canada, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa. Judges also pointed to the successful Phase One completion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon in Kern County, California, which opened late last year in partnership with the Tejon Indian Tribe.

Looking toward future growth, the company is currently advancing major projects, including a new 42-story guitar-shaped hotel tower on the Las Vegas Strip, an integrated resort in Athens, and a development in Queens, New York, alongside Steve Cohen. Jeff Hook, Chief Operating Officer at Hard Rock International, noted that the recognition reflects five decades of music-driven brand heritage. Beyond its top-tier win, the company earned runner-up status for Responsible Business of the Year and Property of the Year, while also receiving nominations for its Hard Rock Bet digital platform and the Unity loyalty program.