Hard Rock pushes forward with hotel-casino project on the Las Vegas Strip

One year after the iconic Mirage hotel-casino shut its doors for the final time, Hard Rock International is making steady progress on the transformation of the site into the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and the Guitar Hotel Las Vegas.

Construction began on July 18, 2024, less than 24 hours after the Mirage closed, and according to Hard Rock Las Vegas President Joe Lupo, the redevelopment is both on time and within budget. The South Florida-based hospitality group is targeting a grand opening in the second half of 2027, with Lupo projecting an early fourth-quarter debut.

“We are very pleased with the progress of our construction, which began the day after closure. Hard Rock’s development team and our construction partners have been working diligently since then, and the project remains on schedule to open (in the) early fourth quarter of 2027,” Lupo told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “Of course, the opening date remains subject to a variety of market and economic factors, but we’re very happy with the progress.”

The resort’s development comes amid mixed economic signals in Las Vegas, with recent declines in visitor numbers and gaming revenue prompting delays and downsizing for some projects on the Strip. However, Lupo said Hard Rock remains confident in the long-term strength of the city and has even expanded the scope of its own project.

Hard Rock Las Vegas President Joe Lupo

Addressing reports that the resort had been scaled back, Lupo said the opposite is true. The Guitar Hotel will now include 675 rooms and suites, up from the original 600, with the size of the pool complex increasing by nearly 50% and spa space nearly tripling. Each of the hotel’s two towers will now include its own spa.

“We appreciate the interest in our project, but some of the speculation has painted an inaccurate picture,” Lupo told the Review-Journal. “To set the record straight, from a general standpoint, we continue to look to expand our property offerings, not reduce them.”

As part of its vision, Hard Rock aims to create an integrated resort destination that adds new experiences to the Las Vegas Strip. Lupo said the team remains focused on quality and innovation while staying aligned with the Hard Rock brand.

“We continue to prioritize the quality of the overall product, including our amenities, new and exciting entertainment, and experiential opportunities for the Las Vegas visitors we intend to attract and retain,” he noted. “We look forward to announcing further details at appropriate junctures.”

With the resort still more than two years from completion, key features such as the entertainment lineup, culinary offerings, and experiential elements are still being finalized. Lupo cited ongoing projects like The Sphere, the proposed A’s stadium, and the Brightline high-speed rail as signs of continued investment and momentum in the Vegas market.

“We are very encouraged about the vitality of the Las Vegas market as we expect continued long-term growth in all business segments,” he said. “The city continues to redefine itself as existing properties and new entrants continue to invest capital. We foresee continued growth and an exciting future for Hard Rock Las Vegas.”

An earlier version of this article stated that the project’s cost was $4.3 billion. This information was inaccurate and has since been corrected.

“We’d like to clarify that we have not released official figures for this development. We are excited that the project is currently underway and will share further updates as it progresses,” a Hard Rock spokesperson said.