Hard Rock marks opening of its first Canadian resort with guitar smash ceremony

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened Thursday with its trademark guitar smash, introducing Canada’s first fully integrated Hard Rock resort. Executives, tribal leaders, and local officials took the stage to shatter guitars instead of cutting a ribbon, announcing the start of operations at the new $350 million complex.

The ceremony also included a performance of “O Canada” by the Canadian Tenors and a $100,000 donation to the Ottawa Food Bank. The launch marks an addition to the National Capital Region’s tourism and hospitality sector, creating more than 600 jobs and expanding Ottawa’s lineup of entertainment venues.

“Bringing Hard Rock to Canada’s capital is an iconic milestone for our brand,” said Jim Allen, Chief Executive Officer of Hard Rock International. Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho pointed to the project’s benefits, saying it would “draw visitors from near and far to Ottawa, create and sustain hundreds of local jobs, and provide millions of dollars for local infrastructure and community programs.”

Ottawa’s mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, attended the opening, along with local police and fire chiefs, representatives from the Ottawa Senators ownership group, PWHL Ottawa Charge captain Brianne Jenner, and WBA Light Flyweight World Champion Sara Bailey.

The new resort features a hotel with 150 rooms and 22 suites, several dining outlets including Council Oak Steakhouse & Seafood and the Hard Rock Cafe, a 2,200-seat live performance venue, expanded casino gaming, and the Rock Shop retail store stocked with Hard Rock merchandise and music memorabilia.

Hard Rock’s Ottawa opening follows similar company resort projects in the United States and abroad. The company says it is banking on the demand for large-scale entertainment hubs that combine gaming, live shows, and hospitality under one roof.

Events continue next week with a concert by David Foster and Katharine McPhee on July 3 and a headline performance by Avril Lavigne on July 5. Christine Crump, president of the Ottawa property, said: “We've built a destination that will attract guests from inside and outside our borders, helping to drive the local economy. It truly is the new place to be.”