State Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the opening of Hard Rock Cafe Puteri Harbour, Johor (HRCPH) marked the fourth Hard Rock Cafe in Malaysia.
The 6,000 square feet HRCPH can hold up to 238 people, and visitors would be able to enjoy the ‘Al Fresco’ terrace area overlooking the harbour.
“As Johor goes through its tourism recovery period next year, Hard Rock Cafe Puteri Harbour will be one of the local anchors that will stimulate the local economy and that the economic spillover impact will be felt by as many Johoreans as possible.”
“Once the COVID-19 situation is resolved and borders are reopened, it will not only serve as a bridge to connect Puteri Harbour but also as a must-see destination for international and domestic tourists,” he stated during a virtual press conference.
According to Onn Hafiz, it will also serve as an appropriate platform for performing arts and Malaysian artists, particularly for Johor’s youthful and aspiring talents.
Speaking of the opening in the midst of the pandemic, General Manager of HRCPH, Jimmy Wong said, the target to hold a soft launch in December 2021 is by the confidence of the nation’s vaccination rate to achieve herd immunity by the said time. He also assures that the establishment would follow strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from both Hard Rock Cafe and the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.
Echoing Onn Hafiz’s words on the local economy, Jimmy said the establishment would practise sustainability by sourcing local produce in their restaurant, and locals could look forward to their quarterly Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme which uniquely focuses on arts and music, joining hands with established NGOs in the state.
There are currently 180 Hard Rock Cafe locations worldwide, with four outlets in Malaysia, namely in Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and now in Johor. Hard Rock opened its hotel chain earlier in Johor, the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast back in 2018.
