HOLLYWOOD — The Guitar Hotel and the other unique features at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood served as the photo backdrop for the latest issue of the iconic Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

Hard Rock International partnered with the magazine for its August 2021 issue – a first for both entities – and held launch party events July 23 and July 24 to create buzz for fans and visitors of both brands. Many of the swimsuit models who appear in the edition were on hand to walk the red carpet in the particularly glitzy and glamorous way the Hard Rock is known for.

The photos for the issue were shot in 2020 under Hard Rock’s enhanced Covid-19 safety measures. The Hollywood Hard Rock was one of four locations that were used for the swimsuit edition. The others were the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento.

“While 2020 presented many challenges, we came together with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit to create an issue that spreads the power of music and is sure to resonate with all of our fans,” Keith Sheldon, president of entertainment for Seminole Gaming and HRI said in a statement. “The ability to host the launch events … [is] a fitting celebration of a year’s worth of combined efforts.”

“We are bringing together leaders in the lifestyle, hospitality, entertainment and music space to deliver innovative and unrivaled experiences to celebrate the launch of SI Swimsuit’s annual issue and continue the evolution of our game changing brand,” Hillary Drezner, general manager of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit said in a statement.

To access the edition, go to swimsuit.si.com. The Seminole Tribe is the parent entity of HRI. More is at hardrock.com.