“We are proud to participate in this year’s Earth Hour initiative and will continue to make strides to help the environment,” said Dale Hipsh, senior vice president of hotels for Hard Rock International. “It is part of Hard Rock’s continuous commitment to its founding motto to save the planet.”

Earth Hour is a global environmental movement by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a non-governmental organization working toward wilderness preservation. Each year, WWF inspires millions of people, businesses and landmarks worldwide to turn off their lights for 60 minutes and showcase their commitment to combatting climate change and protecting nature. In 2018, 188 countries and territories participated in Earth Hour, along with 18,000 landmarks.

“Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a critical part of what we do,” said Zubair Rashidi, regional director of marketing for Hard Rock International. “It’s an honor to partner with WWF and support this initiative. We will continue to give back to our planet and hit the high note on sustainability.”

During the event, all light sources in public areas such as the lobby, restaurants and bars, the terraces and the hotels’ outdoor lighting were switched off. Even with the lights off, the Hard Rock vibe was still shining. Properties not only hosted candle-lit dinners but took a step further and planned enticing events for guests to enjoy. Various ‘glow in the dark’ activities were offered including: glowing manicure & pedicures, live painting sessions, flash mobs, nomadic dance performances, face-painting & tattoos, fire bowls & marshmallow sessions and much more.

“I think it’s great how Hard Rock is using this global event to create fun events and bring environmental awareness to guests,” said May Ch’ng Koe Chien, a guest at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. “My husband and I were really impressed with the glow-in-the-dark cocktails, and our kids were entertained with the glow-in-the-dark crafts and tattoos.”

Participating properties were: Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Hard Rock Hotel Penang, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, Hard Rock Hotel Goa, Hard Rock Hotel Davos, Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife, Hard Rock Hotel Sioux City, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta and Hard Rock Hotel Guadalajara.

SOURCE: Hard Rock International