Las Vegas Weekly

July 29, 2009 · 7:30 AM

Photo Gallery: Hard Rock Hotel set to open Paradise Tower

By Robin Leach

Hard Rock Hotel Senior Vice President and General Manager of Operations Yale Rowe in the new Paradise Tower.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabik.com

Ahead of schedule and defying the economic downturn, Hard Rock Hotel executives are proudly unveiling the first part of its planned extension this weekend with the new Paradise Tower suites.

Judging from yesterday’s tour by Hard Rock Hotel Senior Vice President and General Manager of Operations Yale Rowe, the Paradise Tower includes the very latest cutting-edge technology in electronics. The marvel forever attraction is the world’s most unique interactive pool table in the penthouse. Three different scenarios, thanks to an overhead projector and multiple sensors, can swing into action while players are in the game!

*The water scenario permits the table to change into a pool of water, which the balls flow through as tracked by sensors.

*In the fire scenario, the balls appear to be on fire with flames trailing them as they are struck by another ball.

*And the third one? Oh, let’s call that the sexy way to play pool when some very sizzling-hot images are revealed in the table as the game progresses. It may even bring a new definition to sporting striptease.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabik.com

The Hard Rock Hotel's new Paradise Tower.

Obscura Digital of San Francisco created the totally unique experience, and it’s only available in the 3,500 square-foot penthouse with full-length windows for a near 360-degree view of the entire city. It also comes with a video wall of one Sony 65-inch screen and four 42-inch televisions to watch multiple sports events. The master and three guest bedrooms have their own 46-inch televisions.

The Hard Rock continues its stylish and sophisticated rock and roll decadence throughout the new, trendsetting 18-floor Paradise Tower. It features 10 pool suites that open this fall. The regular 490 guest rooms feature Sony 40-inch TV screens and clock radios with iPod/iPhone docks. If you’re booked in the south side of the tower, you’ll overlook the world famous Beach Club pool, where the notorious Rehab party is held every Sunday.

The official opening is on Friday, although some guests got a tryout treat last weekend in the new rooms. Yale, who gave a tour for our contributing photographer Erik Kabik yesterday, says that he’s been running at 95 percent occupancy throughout the summer because of the new Joint concert venue that opened in April with its rock headliners and Carlos Santana residency and the new 80,000-square-foot convention meeting space, plus guests wanting to get into Rehab. This weekend, all 1,300 rooms are sold out.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabik.com

The Hard Rock Hotel's new Paradise Tower.

The Harmon Tower, scheduled to open in December, is for high rollers with its 375 luxury all-suites. Yale, who has spent $760 million on the Hard Rock expansion and remodeling, isn’t fazed by the gloomy economic conditions in which he’s opening.

“The demand is definitely there for our product,” he said confidently.

Check back tomorrow for our extended interview with Yale.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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