Hard Rock International announces development plans for Reverb by Hard Rock Pensacola (Fla.) to break ground in 2026 and open in 2029. Reverb by Hard Rock is a hotel brand designed to be an energetic cultural hub for connection, creation and inspiration among music fans, locals and travelers alike. This will mark the company's sixth Reverb property joining the portfolio, with Atlanta and Hamburg, and Kalamazoo (Mich.), Tampa (Fla.), and Scottsdale (Ariz.) also being developed.
Reverb by Hard Rock Pensacola will have more than 125 hotel technology-enhanced rooms, a full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, lobby bar and lounge, quick-service restaurant and fitness center. An exclusive Reverb City Guide for Pensacola will feature local artist-curated lists of favorite drinks, dining and entertainment locations throughout the local area. Additionally, the property will host a podcast recording studio for local talent and creators as well as a meeting space for conferences.
The property will be located downtown at Maritime Park along Pensacola Bay with views of the water that connects to the Gulf of Mexico and with views of Blue Wahoos Stadium. It will provide easy access to nearby hotspots including beaches, the National Naval Aviation Museum and the Pensacola Museum of Art.
"Hard Rock is thrilled to keep growing our Reverb hotel portfolio with what will be the second planned property in Florida, this time in the heart of Pensacola Bay," Todd Hricko, SVP and head of Global Hotel Development at Hard Rock International, said in a statement. "We have full confidence in our partner, the Dawson Company, to deliver a best-in-class hotel based on their four decades of proven experience executing complex and catalytic projects throughout the eastern United States, and their extensive knowledge of the Pensacola market."
The Dawson Company, a second-generation, Pensacola-based development firm known for its landmark mixed-use developments in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Pensacola has assembled the design and engineering teams to design the project in Florida's Panhandle. The design team includes Gensler and Kravitz Design, the global conceptual consulting firm helmed by Lenny Kravitz. With a plan to build in mass timber, Thornton Tomasetti is also on the design team.
"With its roots in music, entertainment and philanthropy, Hard Rock is a wonderful partner for The Dawson Company to continue extending our real estate footprint," said Tamara Bowens, president and COO Chief for the Dawson Company. "We are truly excited to bring the Reverb by Hard Rock to the city of Pensacola and we look forward to also working closely with Gensler, Kravitz Design and Thornton Tomasetti to develop what's to become an incredible mainstay in Pensacola."
Other partners contributing to the development include Pensacola native NFL Hall of Famer and real estate entrepreneur, Emmitt Smith, CEO at EJ Smith Enterprises.