The Florida Seminoles never surrendered and a peace treaty was never signed despite a long military campaign being declared as ended by the US authorities. The Seminole name comes from yat’siminoli, meaning ‘free people’. The tribe was the first in the United States to venture into gambling and has now become the first to purchase a major international corporation. The UK’s Rank Group has completed the sale of the Hard Rock cafes, hotels, casinos and music memorabilia to the Seminole Tribe for US$965 million, following the approval of Rank shareholders in January.

The Seminoles see the future as the challenge of maintaining their unique culture while operating in the mainstream economy. The completion of the Hard Rock purchase was celebrated traditional style, with music, poetry, speeches and a symbolic signing ceremony by tribal leaders under the Council Oak tree. The deal is a first step into the international hospitality business and perhaps an entry into gaming operations in other states where gambling is legal. It also helps to ensure the tribe’s economic survival.

Apart from the two Seminole casino hotels in Tampa and Hollywood, the purchase includes 124 Hard Rock cafes around the world, 5 Hard Rock Hotels, 2 Hard Rock Live! venues for concerts and a 70,000 collection of rock memorabilia. There are already plans for expansion with more hotels and reconstruction on the hurricane destroyed Hard Rock hotel and casino in Biloxi should finish later this year. Condo hotel properties are planned in Colorado and California and development should start on a hotel and casino in Macau.
(E-03.06.07)

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