I've stayed in the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando and Vegas, and am booked into the new property in Chicago for a business trip in 06. These hotels are nothing like the Cafes. They are up there with W and Schrager - very high design, rooms with all the amenities expected of today, and yes - bars and entertainment are a major factor.

But take San Diego for example - the two "lounge" bars are being designed by Rande Gerber of The Whiskey Bars, and the signature restaurant will be Nobu. Hardly the college hangouts you may have in mind. The properties you mention - in Madrid and New York - showcase the direction Hard Rock Hotels are headed - 4 star experiences. Given the existing hotels of late and the brand - one of the most recognized in the world - it all seems more than possible.

As for the condo-hotels - well they have become the real estate option of most of the major hotel brand of late - Four Seasons, St Regis, Westin, etc. They are the choice for those that travel to these very high demand destinations frequently, would like own some real estate, but just can not justify the costs and maintenance hassles associated with traditional second home real estate. At the Hard Rock in Vegas, they had 1,000 suites to sell and over 3,000 reservations. In San Diego, they have just over 400 condo-hotel suites for sales - and given the fact San Diego is one of the top 5 most visited cities in the US %uFFFD it seems they will have similar success. And as you know %uFFFD real estate is all about location %uFFFD especially in the condo-hotel business, and the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego%uFFFDs location is right at the entrance to San Diego%uFFFDs downtown Gaslamp Quarter.

Owning real estate or a condo-hotel in a Hard Rock is not for everyone - that's for sure. But for those looking to own a piece of what should become one of San Diego's marquee hotels, it's something to have a look at - www.hardrockcondos.com.

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