Originally published Coury Acquires Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on by https://www.sdbj.com/tourism/hotels/coury-acquires-hard-rock-hotel-san-diego/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=coury-acquires-hard-rock-hotel-san-diego at San Diego Business Journal
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SAN DIEGO – On June 20, Texas-based hospitality management group Coury Hospitality announced its acquisition of Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. The change in management was effective July 1, making Hard Rock Coury’s largest asset.
“When we got the news that we were going to work with this hotel, [we knew] the future of this hotel is very bright,” Coury President Andrew Casperson said. “The location is amazing. The convention center is right there…there’s so much going on right there, and the ownership plans on continuing to move that building forward. We’re excited to be a part of it.”
With 420 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of meetings and event spaces, the Hard Rock acquisition is representative of a larger strategy for Coury. Coury’s footprint began in Texas and the Midwest, moving over time to the Northeast and Florida. Earlier this year, Coury announced its West Coast expansion plans, assuming management of nine hotels across San Diego, Palm Springs, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale.
Leadership from Coury and Hard Rock were in talks about an ownership transition since late last year.
“Having an established California presence gave our ownership group confidence in Coury,” Hard Rock General Manager Taylor Murphy said. “From what I’ve seen, Coury was selected because of a proven track record in lifestyle hotel management, particularly their strength in the guest experience, culinary innovation and brand execution.
“They have a hands-on approach and a deep understanding of what today’s travelers are looking for, which has made them a natural fit for this next chapter,” he continued.
A New Era for Both Organizations
As Hard Rock’s management shifts, employees and executive leadership will remain the same. Throughout June, as Coury geared up for the new partnership, its team began speaking with Hard Rock team members to facilitate a smooth transition.
“This property has a great brand. We’ve spent a lot of time over the last probably 30 to 60 days getting to know the Hard Rock brand more and more,” Casperson said. “What they do is special, and how they’re growing is great. We look forward to partnering with them to help this hotel continue to move forward, whether it be making sure the lobby is activated at all times or making sure that the food and beverage continues to grow.”
With San Diego Comic-Con fast approaching, Casperson said that Coury is ensuring task forces and other resources are available if support is needed. Both Casperson and Murphy agreed that the partnership will unlock new potential for Hard Rock.
“We know we will help drive revenues, as well as execution,” Casperson said. “And most importantly, the experience for the folks that visit San Diego at Hard Rock.”
According to Murphy, Coury’s training programs and approach to hospitality were among the organization’s most attractive attributes as a new management team.
“Hard Rock is a brand that has continuously evolved and elevated over the years,” Murphy said. “We expect to do the same here in San Diego and, with this change in management, we hope to do the same through reinvigoration of our food and beverage offerings and future refresh of hotel spaces.”
Beyond its West Coast expansion, Coury plans to acquire a hotel in downtown Chicago later this summer.
Culture-Driven Growth
At Coury, energetic hospitality, activations and customer service are hallmarks of the brand. Coury refers to all of its employees as “experience curators.” Come July, Hard Rock will implement this philosophy.
We have spent a lot of time growing our reputation,” Casperson said. “We work with Marriott, we work with Hilton, and now we’re going to work with Hard Rock. We are, in our opinion, a great partner. We focus very heavily on our culture, which fuels everything we do.”
Driving Coury’s culture are its five pillars: people come first, activate every inch, every touchpoint matters, create resident experts and have a winning mindset. As the local hospitality industry navigates a challenging tourism market—including decreased international travel and rising costs—Murphy believes that new management will take Hard Rock in a positive direction.
“When you talk about headwinds in the industry in San Diego or otherwise, we believe that in partnership with Coury and focusing on our curators, guest experiences, and delivering unmatched moments is going to lead to continued success for this hotel,” Murphy said.
Coury Hospitality
FOUNDED: 1999
CEO: Paul Coury
HEADQUARTERS: Grapevine, Texas
BUSINESS: Hospitality Management
EMPLOYEES: 3,000
WEBSITE: https://couryhospitality.com/
CONTACT: [email protected]
SOCIAL IMPACT: Coury Hospitality is deeply committed to social impact, embedding purpose into every facet of its operations. From fostering meaningful community connections to cultivating a culture of service and belonging, the company prioritizes people above all.
NOTABLE: Unlike most hotel management companies that prioritize guest room operations, Coury Hospitality leads with food, beverage, and activations as core revenue drivers.
Born and raised in San Diego, Madison takes great pride in local storytelling. Her coverage at the San Diego Business Journal includes tourism, hospitality, nonprofits, education and retail. An alumna of San Diego State University’s journalism program, she has written for publications including The San Diego Union-Tribune and The San Diego Sun. At the 2024 San Diego Press Club awards, Madison was recognized for her exemplary profile writing. She was also a speaker for the 2023 TEDx Conference at Bonita Vista High School. When she’s not working on her next story, Madison can be found performing music at a local restaurant or on one of San Diego’s many hiking trails.
Originally published San Diego Business Journal