• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa officially opened for visitors on Thursday
• Celebrating the opening of Hard Rock's first fully integrated resort in Canada, the venue hosted a signature guitar smash ceremony
• Jim Allen, Hard Rock International's Chief Executive Officer, speaks about the importance of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa

Canada's first fully integrated Hard Rock resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa, officially opened its doors Thursday, the leading gaming, entertainment and hospitality company, Hard Rock International, announced.

A signature guitar smash on Thursday celebrated the opening of the venue, which promises exceptional hospitality and entertainment.

The ceremony invited local leaders and Hard Rock executives

The grand opening ceremony of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa was attended by Hard Rock executives, including Jon Lucas, the company's Executive Operations Advisor and Jeff Hook, Hard Rock's Chief Operating Officer.

Also attending were Brianne Jenner, Captain PWHL Ottawa Charge, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Stan Cho, as well as Ottawa officials like Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Fire Chief Paul Hutt and Police Chief Eric Stubbs, among other high-profile guests.

Unlike traditional ribbon-cutting ceremonies, in true Hard Rock fashion, executives, community leaders and other important guests were invited on the stage to ceremoniously smash guitars.

Overall, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa features more than 150,000 square feet of entertainment and hospitality space.

At the city's newest hotel and casino resort, guests can enjoy a large casino floor offering slots, live table games, as well as high-limit gaming areas.

Similar to other Hard Rock venues, guests can enjoy live performances at a state-of-the-art venue called Hard Rock LIVE, which has capacity to fit up to 2,200 guests.

Not unexpectedly, Hard Rock Ottawa also offers a hotel with 150 guest rooms, 22 luxury suites as well as a range of dining options and a signature Rock Shop which offers "Hard Rock merchandise and curated music memorabilia from Canadian and international music icons," as described in a statement.

Hard Rock's venue in Canada represents a major milestone

Hard Rock International's Chief Executive Officer, Jim Allen, said about the new hotel and casino resort: "Bringing Hard Rock to Canada's capital is an iconic milestone for our brand."

Moreover, the executive pointed out: "We're proud to expand our global footprint and create a destination where locals and visitors can experience world-class gaming, hospitality, and entertainment all in one place."

Christine Crump, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Ottawa's President, shared the positive vibe, acknowledging that the city's new hotel and casino is finally open and promises engaging experiences for tourists and local visitors.

"At our core, we are an entertainment company, and we know that our guests will feel the vibe and energy the moment they walk in," she said.

The price tag of Hard Rock's new resort in Ottawa is $350m and it created more than 600 new jobs.

Image credit: Hard Rock International