Hard Rock International (HRI) has announced that it is set to increase the brand’s presence in the US in an agreement with the Intrawest Corporation to develop Hard Rock Hotels at selected Intrawest mountain resorts.

The group is also currently developing three new hotels; in Madrid and San Diego and also in New York where it is carrying out a multi-million dollar refurbishment of the Paramount Hotel.

The Hard Rock Hotel Madrid is being developed in partnership with Spanish hotel chain Sol Melia and is due to open next spring, while the US$100m (£54.2m, 79.8m euro), 417-room hotel in San Diego is scheduled to be opened in the winter of 2006.

Plans to open a new Hard Rock hotel and casino alongside a new café in Biloxi, Mississippi – originally scheduled to open on 1 September – have been delayed after the properties were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina on 29 August. The New Orleans Hard Rock Café also suffered substantial damage but is expected to reopen by the end of the year.

HRI has recently relocated its New York Café to the heart of Times Square. The new 708-seat restaurant features a Hard Rock Live concert venue and outdoor area for private parties.

HRI is owned by the Rank Group and operates 120 cafés and 13 hotels and casinos in 40 countries. Details: www.hardrock.com