Hard Rock Hotel’s Rehab pool party cleaning up image
Rehab at the Hard Rock Hotel has gone to rehab.
The risque, debauched atmosphere that pool managers tried to cultivate got a little out of hand when the pool party was featured on its own reality television show from 2008 to 2010. Staffers were shown engaging in rude, obnoxious behavior that eventually led Hard Rock Cafe to sue, claiming the pool party damaged its reputation.
So when Ian Kohoutek returned to the hotel this year as executive director of nightlife, he set his sights on cleaning up Rehab’s image.
“I think it was a poor depiction of what Rehab is all about,” Kohoutek says of the antics that were shown on several episodes. “This is actually a very fun, clean environment. We have a clean pool; we operate effectively and by the law.”
Live entertainment and celebrity appearances are part of that rebranding effort. Though guest DJs have performed on special occasions in the past, guests can now expect to see regular programming on Saturdays and Sundays, too.
The pool features DJs Thursday through Sunday, including resident DJ Ryan Wellman and guest DJs such as Diplo and Bad Boy Bill.
Rehab, which takes place on Sundays, is in its eighth season. It was perhaps the first weekly pool party to set the tone for dayclubs in town and served as a model for those that opened afterward.
On average, 4,000 to 5,000 people go through the doors every Sunday. The pool party features 22 daybeds and 51 cabanas. Daybeds start at $500, while cabana prices start at $1,500. The average price of a cocktail ranges from $12 to $16, while a beer costs $7. Cover charge is $40 for men and $20 for women and goes up depending on events and holidays.
Cover charge increases throughout the day and can get as high as $75 for men and $40 for women. People begin lining up around 9 a.m., Kohoutek says.
Rehab opens at 10 a.m. and closes whenever the party’s over. For information or to make cabana and daybed reservations, visit hardrockhotel.com or call 693-5555.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.
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