November 2020 would be the 20th anniversary of Pattaya Hard Rock Hotel. Unfortunately, its license to use the Hard Rock brand expires this November, unless the license is renewed. Rumours are that Thaibev Beverage company (Chang beer owners) has bought 60% of the Pattaya Hard Rock Hotel property. The hotel and license was owned by a Singapore based firm. If the license isn't renewed, Pattaya Hard Rock Hotel will close having fallen on hard times and insufficient revenue and profits. Maybe something new will replace Pattaya Hard Rock hotel, we'll find out before year-end. More condos?

 

 

who cares, overpriced in every way shape and form...

Thai Bev and Singapore Company can rename and / or repurpose the property. Of course, with no reference to Hard Rock.  

 

Still, sad to see an establishment with such history finishing up here, if in fact it does.

   

14 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Thai Bev and Singapore Company can rename and / or repurpose the property. Of course, with no reference to Hard Rock.  

 

Still, sad to see an establishment with such history finishing up here, if in fact it does.   

 

They'll just change the name to "Planet (fill in the blank)" and get another 20 years out of it.

3 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

They'll just change the name to "Planet (fill in the blank)" and get another 20 years out of it.

Of course.  It's what they do here. 

When the ladies of Pattaya go to town looking for hard rock...it is not the Hotel they have in mind!

1 hour ago, Banana7 said:

More condos?

More like another mall that will have more shops than customers

12 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

More like another mall that will have more shops than customers

I wonder for how much longer they can hold out on having casinos here.  

 

Many large malls and hotels going broke, pre Covid, and Chinese gamblers with billions of dollars, not baht, dollars to spend, willing to fly in when Covid is finished.  

 

They should be passing legislation now, and revamping premises for it, and training staff.  

3 hours ago, Leaver said:

I wonder for how much longer they can hold out on having casinos here.  

 

Many large malls and hotels going broke, pre Covid, and Chinese gamblers with billions of dollars, not baht, dollars to spend, willing to fly in when Covid is finished.  

 

They should be passing legislation now, and revamping premises for it, and training staff.  

Let`s hope that never happens.

4 hours ago, impulse said:

 

They'll just change the name to "Planet (fill in the blank)" and get another 20 years out of it.

'Trump Tower Pattaya'.  No doesn't have a nice ring to it. 

6 hours ago, Leaver said:

Thai Bev and Singapore Company can rename and / or repurpose the property. Of course, with no reference to Hard Rock.  

 

Still, sad to see an establishment with such history finishing up here, if in fact it does.

   

Yes, Hard Rock brought back to life what was a crappy decrepid hotel that used to charge a joiner fee, The Merlin. What it became was not to my taste but seemed popular, good for a young crowd. I was not aware it was struggling pre-Covid.

Hotels are rebranded all the time...it's a normal part of the hospitality business. What is noteworthy about the HRH is that it was the first international hotel brand to open in Pattaya...before that all the hotels were locally owned or Thai brands (Dusit, Siam Bayview/Shore, Amari, Montien). Of all the international brands we have here now, Holiday Inn, Hilton, Sheraton, etc.) HRH was the first. I was surprised HRH would take a flyer on Pattaya, with it's seedy reputation, thinking that some underage scandal in one of their rooms would sully the brand and they wouldn't want to risk that but they did and it's been a success up to now. At the grand opening, I had a tour and the rooms, while nice, are tiny and I only at at the cafe once (good but expensive by local standards) so I can't say I will miss it much (plus I'm waaay past their prime demographic).

If true a very good example of the existing uber wealthy snapping up distresssed prime assets for the long term. They will be the ones to capitalise on the short term situation and benefit from the major capital projects that will see transformation of the area over the next 20 years and beyond. 

Maybe go from "Hard Rock" to "Soft Sand"?

super overpriced for everything, been there once or twice, not worth it

Generally way overpriced, but their Christmas dinner was pretty good.

Went there for a very nice overpriced burger when it opened ,never went back .been there done that.

8 hours ago, Leaver said:

I wonder for how much longer they can hold out on having casinos here.  

 

Many large malls and hotels going broke, pre Covid, and Chinese gamblers with billions of dollars, not baht, dollars to spend, willing to fly in when Covid is finished.  

 

They should be passing legislation now, and revamping premises for it, and training staff.  

I would love to see that happen. 

I recall that Thiabev owns most of the land in that particular area, at both sides of second road, for many years already.

9 hours ago, Leaver said:

I wonder for how much longer they can hold out on having casinos here.  

 

Many large malls and hotels going broke, pre Covid, and Chinese gamblers with billions of dollars, not baht, dollars to spend, willing to fly in when Covid is finished.  

 

They should be passing legislation now, and revamping premises for it, and training staff.  

The Chinese do not need to gamble in Thailand. They have the choice of nearly every other country in the region.

 

The claimed reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is because the locals would become hopelessly addicted. There is obviously some truth in that, as there are plenty of tales about them losing everything in the illegal lotteries. My own sister-in-law picked up a house at a big discount as the owner needed to sell to pay off her debts.

 

The real reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is that the shadowy figures who own the illegal ones would lose their massive profits. As those shadowy owners are no doubt in a position to influence or even make the laws banning casinos nothing is likely to change.

I went there once in the last 13 years. Not going to be missing that one, nothing special.

9 hours ago, Leaver said:

I wonder for how much longer they can hold out on having casinos here.  

Not forever. It'll become another Sihanoukville, a Chinese outpost. That'll be the ultimate death blow.

6 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The claimed reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is because the locals would become hopelessly addicted. There is obviously some truth in that, as there are plenty of tales about them losing everything in the illegal lotteries.

 

I seem to recall that casinos in Singapore are targeted at tourists, I believe that Singapore residents, nationals and expats, have to pay an entry fee, for each visit or an annual pass, there is a cooling off period between buying and entering to discourage problem impulsive gamblers.

Not sure that would work here but it might prevent the poorer addicts feeding their addiction.

2 minutes ago, theoldgit said:

 

I seem to recall that casinos in Singapore are targeted at tourists, I believe that Singapore residents, nationals and expats, have to pay an entry fee, for each visit or an annual pass, there is a cooling off period between buying and entering to discourage problem impulsive gamblers.

Not sure that would work here but it might prevent the poorer addicts feeding their addiction.

I'm not sure it would work, either. Same anywhere. Once you're in they'll be only too happy to encourage you to spend. Same anywhere.

Probably rename it "No Customer Hotel" seems fitting for the times or obey the thinking of the current Government "No Dirty Farang Hotel".

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The real reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is that the shadowy figures who own the illegal ones would lose their massive profits. As those shadowy owners are no doubt in a position to influence or even make the laws banning casinos nothing is likely to change.

You mean it's not because Thailand is a Buddhist country?

3 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

1 hour ago, Bangkok Barry said:

The real reason that Thailand doesn't have casinos is that the shadowy figures who own the illegal ones would lose their massive profits. As those shadowy owners are no doubt in a position to influence or even make the laws banning casinos nothing is likely to change.

You mean it's not because Thailand is a Buddhist country?

It is? Who'da thunk that!

Change it to hard knock and put in some bunkbeds . 

12 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

When the ladies of Pattaya go to town looking for hard rock...it is not the Hotel they have in mind!

Hard rock with no money to spare after thousands spent to get into Thailand. Maybe thai men will be happy to oblige 555

Indeed, it will be very little missed.