2008 Comic-Con at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego

	by Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Saturday, July 28, 2007
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Although not scheduled to open until the fall of 2007, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has already been secured through Travel Planners Inc. to host the 2008 attendees from two of the largest lifestyle and entertainment conventions in the country - Comic-Con International and the Action Sports Retailer (ASR) tradeshows. Through its partnership with Travel Planners Inc., the host travel agency for Comic-Con and ASR, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has arranged for 300 rooms during each event, as well as space for private media events associated with each convention, including a planned gala during ASR to benefit several action sports environmental organizations like the Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Institute and Heal the Bay.

With its prime location across the street from the San Diego Convention Center and at the ceremonial entrance to the historic Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego's dining and entertainment district, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego provides arguably the best Downtown location for hosting guests of the city's burgeoning meetings and conventions market. With over 40,000 square feet of unique meeting space, guests of the 12-story, 315,000-square-foot property will also enjoy a stunning lobby lounge and rooftop pool bar created by Rande Gerber, Nobu restaurant by celebrated chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a fourth floor urban garden overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, a live concert venue, coffee shop, Rock Spa and fitness club.

“Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's partnership with Travel Planners Inc. on the upcoming 2008 Comic-Con and ASR tradeshows is an ideal marriage of organizations and helps to strengthen the lead we each hold in our respective industries in creativity, trend setting, and raising the level of guest expectations. We are excited to offer attendees of these shows the ability to enhance their experience by staying at Hard Rock, the ideal stay and play environment,” explains Melissa Olsen, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's Director of Sales.

Participants in both tradeshows will have the opportunity to utilize Hard Rock Hotel San Diego's super tech-enabled indoor/outdoor meeting and event spaces, as well as a 5,000 -square-foot entertainment venue ideal for concerts and movie premiers. This venue offers a stage, offstage VIP area, talent Green Room, professional quality audio/visual equipment and lighting, and video and satellite broadcasting capabilities. Each group has also reserved one of the hotel's 17 luxurious Rock Star Suites.

Aptly named, each Rock Star Suite is equipped with integrated video and sound systems, including entertainment centers, matte leather couches, vibrantly colored pillows, dark ebony floors and hand-woven custom rugs that elevate the chic urban loft design. Ranging in size up to 1,200 square feet, each suite is unique: the top floor Rock Star Suite features a fire pit and deck seating for 20, while another boasts 270-degree views of the San Diego Bay and an outdoor hot tub. One extraordinary Rock Star Suite was personally designed by the Grammy® Award-winning Black Eyed Peas.

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will also host celebrities and high-profile guests in attendance at the 2008 Comic-Con and ASR tradeshow. Every year, Comic-Con and ASR welcome the most well-known names from their respective industries, including for ASR those in the action sports world such as avid surfer and musician Jack Johnson and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk. Comic-Con's celebrity participants span the film and television industry, from actors such as Angelina Jolie and Samuel L. Jackson, to director Kevin Smith, and entire cast ensembles such as last year's attendees from the hit television series, “Lost.” - Michelle Rodriguez, Evangeline Lilly, Naveen Andrews, Josh Holloway, Terry O'Quinn, Emily DeRavin, Dominic Monaghan, Daniel Dae Kim and Yujin Kim.

Comic-Con International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the comic and related popular art form industry, hosted over 114,000 individual attendees and film and television celebrities during its 2006 show and that number is expected to grow in 2007 and 2008.

ASR has been the leading trade event for the action sports industry for 26 years, bringing together top manufacturers like Quiksilver, Billabong, Hurley, Volcom, domestic and international buyers from over 35 countries, as well as action sports, fashion, lifestyle and mainstream media from around the world. ASR stages two large tradeshows annually in San Diego delivering over 50,000 professional attendees.

For more information on the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, visit www.hardrockhotelsd.com or call 1- 888-593-6177.