Allen: Hard Rock now focused on Tomakomai

Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, was interviewed by a Japanese camera crew at the June 28 opening of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and apparently made definitive comments that Hard Rock’s IR bid in Japan was now entirely focused on Tomakomai, Hokkaido.

“We have certainly looked at Osaka, we have looked at Yokohama and some of the other cities,” Allen stated, “[but] the government, both local and regional, seem very excited about having a potential destination resort in Hokkaido.”

Daniel Cheng, senior vice-president of development, revealed last month that Hard Rock would be opening a branch office in Tomakomai in August or September.

Allen’s comments, however, appear to be a clear indication that Hard Rock is no longer in the hunt for Osaka Yumeshima, in spite of having become an Official Partner for Osaka’s 2025 World Expo bid at the end of last year.

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