Hard Rock to Open Casino in Hungary

Hard Rock International has announced plans to open the first Las Vegas-style gambling center in Europe. The new Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will be built in the town of Bezenye in northwest Hungary, approximately 99 miles from Budapest.

The resort is expected to open in early 2012 and will feature more than 600 guest rooms and a Vegas-style casino with a variety of table games and slot machines. Additional amenities will include a pool, Rock Spa, Rock Shop with the brand's rock 'n' roll merchandise, signature restaurants and bars, convention center, concert venue, nightclub and over 2500 parking spaces.

The move is part of a plan announced in 2007 by the company's owners, the Seminole tribe of Florida, to expand the restaurant chain aggressively in Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Jim Allen, Chairman of Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment, says "Hungary is the perfect location for Hard Rock to continue building on its base of world-class hotel and casino properties, and this development will facilitate further expansion of the Hard Rock brand in Europe."

Located a short distance from Vienna, Austria and Bratislava, Slovakia, the resort seeks to draw business from neighboring areas as well.

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hungary will join Hard Rock's other hotel and casino properties, located in Las Vegas, Florida, Macau, Chicago, San Diego and Bali. Additional hotel and casino projects have been announced in Malaysia, Singapore, Panama, and Dubai.