Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming have been selected as a 2025 US Best Managed Company Gold Standard winner. Sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal, the program recognizes outstanding U.S. private companies.

The 2025 designees are U.S. private companies that have demonstrated excellence in strategic planning and execution, a commitment to their people, as well as maintaining financial performance and governance. Designees drove their businesses forward while remaining dedicated to their people and focusing on their customers.

“We are proud to be recognized as a US Best Managed Company for the fifth consecutive year, marking us a Gold Standard winner. This honor reflects the exceptional talent and dedication of our nearly 65,000 team members worldwide whose collective efforts and commitment to excellence fosters an inspiring workplace culture and extraordinary guest experiences,” said Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming.

Applicants are evaluated and selected by a panel of external judges focused on assessing hallmarks of excellence in four key areas: strategy, ability to execute, corporate culture and governance/financial performance. They join a global ecosystem of honorees from more than 44 countries recognized by the Best Managed Companies program.

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Hard Rock International has welcomed NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a brand ambassador to its roster of legendary athlete partners. This exciting partnership will bring exclusive collaborations and limited-time offers to NASCAR fans while they watch and revel in the 2025 season.

“Hard Rock is such a historic and iconic brand. I have always been a huge fan of music, so the vibes and attention to detail that Hard Rock puts into its locations is incredible to me. They have something for everyone – music, food, drinks, casino games and sports betting. I’m excited to partner with them and the opportunities we have to do some really fun things together,” said Earnhardt Jr.

“As a leader consistently delivering entertaining experiences across live music, gaming and sports to guests, Hard Rock is honored to have Dale Earnhardt Jr. as part of our team. Together we will celebrate the spirit of car racing at our properties across the globe through exciting new menu items, apparel and more,” said Keith Sheldon, President of Entertainment and Brand at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming.

Through the partnership, NASCAR fans will have the opportunity to engage with Earnhardt via Hard Rock Bet, which has already hosted a sweepstakes at Daytona International Speedway and will offer additional “money can’t buy” experiences for its players to meet the Hall of Fame driver. Fans can also follow along with Earnhardt’s sports betting picks on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet app and view exclusive video content on @HardRockBet channels.

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Additionally, later this spring, Hard Rock Games will debut the free-to-play Full Throttle with Dale Earnhardt Jr. slot game on the Hard Rock Neverland Casino and Jackpot Planet apps. This high-octane game will put players in the driver’s seat, with their race car gaining speed with each win, delivering an adrenaline-fueled slot experience like no other.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver, champion team owner, businessman, NASCAR analyst, and 2022 inductee into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He won a record 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards from 2003 to 2017, consecutive NASCAR Busch Series Championships in 1998 and 1999 and the prestigious Daytona 500 in 2004 and 2014.

In celebration of Hard Rock International’s annual “International Women’s Month” in March and International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8, Hard Rock and global superstar & humanitarian, Shakira, announce a year-long partnership that aims to empower women around the world to tell their stories, be their authentic selves and unite through the power of music. The company is raising funds through its charitable arm, Hard Rock Heals Foundation, throughout International Women’s Month. A portion of proceeds will benefit Pies Descalzos Foundation—Shakira’s non-profit organization enhancing the education and social development of girls in Colombia’s most vulnerable communities—as well as local women’s organizations within the communities of Hard Rock locations.

“I’m excited to partner with Hard Rock, an organization with an incredible history of uplifting women through the power of music, to empower my sisters this International Women’s Day and beyond. Together we can use our voices to break barriers and make the world a more inclusive space where every woman feels confident being themselves,” Shakira said.

Hard Rock and Shakira collaborated on menu items including food, a delicious “Hips Don’t Lie” cocktail and unique clothing designed to celebrate women. Hard Rock will also host 1000 women-led performances in March—including the incomparable global star Diana Ross and standup comedian Iliza Shlesinger among many others—at its cafes, hotels, casinos, and live music venues across the globe.

“From concerts to her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran album release party and being part of the Unity by Hard Rock loyalty program commercial, Hard Rock and Shakira’s shared values of honoring women through music has connected us over the course of her groundbreaking career. This year, we encourage women to raise their voices, share their stories and lift each other up,” Elena Alvarez, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Partnerships at Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, said.

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The Hard Rock Heals Foundation will donate $250,000 to Pies Descalzos Foundation in addition to guest contributions to the program.

“We are grateful to Hard Rock for its generous donation, which will support our mission of providing access to education for Colombia’s young girls, giving them a brighter future,” Patricia Sierra, Executive Director at Pies Descalzos Foundation, said.