THE PERFECT HARD ROCK CAFE COLLECTORS’ MEETING IN BENNINGHAUSEN, GERMANY (2024)

A HARD ROCK CAFE COLLECTOR MEETING

What a meeting! The Hard Rock Beach Club party was a huge success for all attendees! As a group of travel enthusiasts, some of them are more traveling than at home, it’s always wonderful to meet fellow Hard Rock Cafe collectors who share the same passion. How did the meeting go? Great conversations with old and new faces, fantastic food, and a host family that went all out to make their guests happy.

THE LOCATION

Michael and his family live in the small town of Benninghausen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. To put it in Hard Rock Cafe collector terms: the closest Hard Rock Cafe is in Cologne. I’ve known Michael since a chance encounter at the now-closed Hard Rock Hotel in Amsterdam, so it was even more special that Vicky got to meet him in person as well. In the WhatsApp group for organizing the event, Michael had already mentioned that she would receive the prize for the longest journey—traveling an impressive 10,770 km from Lima, Peru to Benninghausen. More about that prize later.

That something big was happening in Benninghausen on August 10, 2024, was already evident by looking at his house. In true HR style, he had decorated his home. Shortly after entering, he even had two motorcycles on display. The attention to detail was remarkable. Starting at 3 p.m., 28 collectors had arrived, who were directed to the entrance in their native languages.

Right at the beginning, he gave everyone a VIP wristband that also makes a great souvenir. The house itself had everything a Hard Rock Cafe collector’s heart could desire: a BBQ area where delicious food was prepared later that evening and the next morning, a swimming pond, and a garden shed temporarily set up like a Hard Rock Cafe collector’s shrine.

THE BEACH HOUSE

The Hard Rock Beach Club House was one of the highlights for us. In front of the house, there was a sand area with comfortable seating, and inside, a fridge stocked with ice-cold beer. We’ll get to the beer selection later, but suffice it to say, a lot of beer was bought, and a lot was consumed.

The decor reminded us of a Hard Rock Cafe, and Michael had displayed some cool items, like menus from various Cafes and his T-shirt from the 125 milestone visit in Myrtle Beach.

In front of the Beach Club is the swimming pond, where the traditional guitar smash took place. If you’re interested in Hard Rock Cafes, such as all open locations, closed locations (with the duration of their operation), or to see the visits we’ve made, check out our dedicated Hard Rock Cafe page.

DINNER

The attention to detail was evident throughout the entire event. From the many translations for “Entrance” to the VIP wristbands and the guitars in the swimming pond, everything was meticulously planned. But the food was the cherry on top! Just like at a Hard Rock Cafe, Michael had created a menu that we could scan with QR codes. Dont worry, we’ll cover the drink options soon.

As Michael told us, the BBQ area was his last major project, and thankfully, he finished it just in time. The food was delicious, and some even said quietly, “It tastes better than at the Hard Rock Cafe.” Julian, Michael’s son, and his wife Melanie helped wherever they could and were always ready to assist.

If this place were a public restaurant, we would definitely come back.

DRINKS

With temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, no one should be left thirsty. To be on the safe side, Michael offered four different types of beer and plenty of “Alternative Rock”—non-alcoholic drinks. Rumor has it that two collectors together drank 11 liters of Guinness, showing how important hydration was to them. There was also a separate menu with explanations for the drinks.

The selection of beers was as well-executed as the food, and in conversations about past and future trips, as well as, of course, about Hard Rock, it was a nice come-together. Vicky immediately put on her gift. The HRC Benninghausen Beach Club T-shirt fits perfectly.

BREAKFAST

For those who thought that was it, they don’t know Michael. The next morning, he prepared breakfast for the overnight guests. Although some slightly uneasy stomachs were still dealing with the previous day’s festivities, Michael doesn’t do things halfway. As true Hard Rock Cafe collectors, we were treated to a classic breakfast.

HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY

After experiencing all this, there’s really only one question left: How can I become part of this crazy group? The most important thing to know is that it doesn’t matter how much merchandise you buy or how many visits you have. What truly matters is the exchange about the best hobby ever: traveling!
Such as in our travel blog, where we write about more than just Hard Rock Cafes.

Here are some links to Facebook groups and other collectors. You can also reach out to us anytime through one of our channels, and we’ll be happy to help.

THANKS

We’d like to say once again thank you to Michael and his family for the invitation and the wonderful day. We can imagine how much time went into the preparation, and we’re very grateful to have been part of it. We also want to thank Bas and Tim for picking us up and taking us with them. As Hard Rock Cafe collectors, it was a fantastic opportunity for both of us to reconnect with old friends and meet new faces. We hope to host such an event ourselves someday. Don’t worry, it won’t be in Lima.

THANKS FOR READING!
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ABOUT
VICKY AND MALTE

We love traveling around the world and even more we love to share our trips and to inspire other people!