Recommend June 2018 - 32

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Hip accommodations at the Hard Rock
Hotel Daytona Beach.

Hard Rock Hotel
Daytona Beach
Jessica Poitevien

Conversations about musical cities in the
U.S. often call upon the names of Nashville,
Detroit, and New Orleans. But Daytona
Beach, Florida? That city is often left out of
the discussion. While attending the recent
grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel
Daytona Beach, however, I saw that the
iconic hotel brand is reminding travelers of
the city's musical history and bringing the
sound of music back to its shores.
The experience, which is sure to inject the
love of music straight to the souls of anyone
who visits, starts right at the entrance. With
its white tile floors and walls, the lobby is
colored only by its chic, mid-century modern
furniture, the chandelier-like cascade of
drum cymbals hanging over the stairs, and
the music memorabilia that lines its walls-a
colorful outfit once worn by Rihanna and a
Taylor Swift bikini up ahead, both promising
that there's more to discover. It's what I
imagine walking into the home of a stylish
rock star feels like, and that sentiment would
be a common theme throughout my stay.
A bright, neon-lit sign above the elevators
evokes the song lyrics, "Come go with
me," so I do exactly that, and on my way
to my guestroom, which is one of 112 with
full ocean views, I encounter more musicinspired details like the album covers that
hover above every room number. The album
decorating my guestroom entrance? Johnny
Cash's At Folsom Prison. Classic.
Once inside, I got my first real taste of the
rock star lifestyle when I feasted my eyes on
the electric Fender guitar and amp patiently
waiting for me by the balcony. I strapped on
the headphones and strummed a few fun yet
32 june 2018

horrible-sounding notes, and it was all thanks
to the property's 3-part Sound of Your Stay
program. In addition to being able to rent
Fender guitars for in-room jam sessions free of
charge, guests can also download and enjoy
listening to a specially curated playlist unique
to the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, or
they can go old school and have a Crosley
turntable and vinyl records delivered to their
room. For those who want to fully embrace
their inner rock gods, they can choose to stay
in one of the 15 Rock Royalty suites, which
are an exclusive product within the hotel
offering upgraded amenities, such as VIP
concierge services and a pillow menu, as well
as access to a private outdoor lounge area that
leads directly to the pool or lobby.
As expected with any Hard Rock property,
walking around the lobby and halls of the
hotel shows the depth of the brand's music
memorabilia collection, which features the
stage costumes of some of the world's most
well-known artists alongside some of their
personal belongings like a grade school
report card or favorite jacket. Highlights of
the memorabilia at this particular property
include a guitar from The Allman Brothers
Band whose founding members grew up in
Daytona Beach and an MTV VMA trophy in
homage to the days when MTV hosted yearly
spring break concerts on Daytona Beach.
To fully appreciate the variety of items on
display, recommend that your clients request
a memorabilia tour, and one of the highly
knowledgeable staff members at the hotel will
give them the full run down, making for an
even more meaningful understanding of the
musical artifacts.

Music is simply everywhere at the Hard
Rock in Daytona Beach. From the guestrooms
to the pool, where underwater speakers ensure
you won't miss a beat while you take a dip,
Vibe Managers-yes, that's their real title-
have curated playlists to infiltrate every corner
of the hotel with a wide range of musical
genres and have also chosen the right lighting
and scents to go with them.
"Everything is unique with the Hard Rock.
It's not a cookie-cutter brand," says Susan
Keaveney, director of marketing for the Hard
Rock Hotel Daytona Beach. "Everything from
the murals to the memorabilia to the decor is
well thought out."

Wellness Mixed With Music
Just because the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona
Beach may leave your clients feeling like
a rock star doesn't mean they have to
wreck their bodies like celebs on the road
often do. With the property's Sound Body
wellness program, they'll want to take care
of themselves whether it's at the fitness
center, in their rooms using the Rock Om
program, which rents complimentary yoga
mats and includes on-demand yoga videos
featuring not-so-typical Zen music, or with a
specialty treatment at the Rock Spa & Salon.
Highly recommend your clients indulge in
what was the most unique treatment I have
ever received at a spa: the Rhythm & Motion
Synchronicity Massage. With this treatment,
guests choose one of three playlists before
lying on a table specially designed for this
massage. As the music plays, ranging from
soothing to upbeat and energetic at times,
treble beats come from a speaker above
guests' heads, while the bass speakers
embedded in the table send vibrations
throughout their bodies. Massage therapists
synchronize their techniques, pressure and
rhythm with the music making for a perfectly
harmonious experience. ■
Contact Information
Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach:
hardrockhoteldaytonabeach.com
recommend.com
http://www.hardrockhoteldaytonabeach.com http://www.recommend.com
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