Robert Ian Earl
Entrepreneur Robert Earl is the founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc and the co-chairman of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Earl has been the CEO of several successful public companies and is recognized as a leader in the industry of theme-restaurant dining.
In 1977, Earl founded President Entertainment, a company specializing in theme restaurants. When Earl sold his company to Pleasurama in 1998, it had grown from a modest start-up to a company valued in excess of $100 million.
Earl was asked by Pleasurama to join the executive team and delivered the acquisition of Hard Rock Café. During his five-year tenure as the CEO of Hard Rock Café, Earl oversaw the expansion of the brand from its initial seven units to 22 units, all while dramatically increasing the Company’s profitability. This growth was a direct result of aggressive marketing and non-stop positive press. It was Earl’s vision to use the allure of Celebrity to garner enormous amounts of press for his restaurants and it worked very effectively. The combination of celebrity involvement and exciting, creative events gave Hard Rock Café a certain mystique that separated it from its competition.
During this same time period Earl was also a Director of Pelican Group PLC, and oversaw tremendous growth of brands such as Café Rouge, Dôme, and Mamma Amalfi all while increasing the profitability of each of the concepts, until its ultimate profitable sale to Whitbread PLC.
In 1991, Earl founded the Planet Hollywood brand and brought theme dining to a new level. As CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc., Earl negotiated celebrity partnerships and orchestrated Hollywood Premiere grand openings. Under Earl’s leadership the Planet Hollywood trademark logo caught on with the public quicker than any other brand in history. With his expertise in creating a fully integrated and unique dining experience Earl set a new standard leaving would-be restaurateurs scrambling to catch-up.
Earl became joint venture partners in 2003 with London Clubs with his purchase of London’s famed 50 St. James, one of London’s most prestigious gaming addresses. Now operating under the name Fifty, the casino with its fine dining restaurants and hot night club scene, has set a new standard for gaming establishments in the UK. Additionally in 2003, Earl announced a partnership with Lord Sandwich, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, to launch Earl of Sandwich shops in the United States. The first gourmet sandwich shop opened in March, 2004, at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort in the Downtown Disney Marketplace.
In June, 2003, Earl, along with joint venture partners, Bay Harbour Management LC and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, purchased the Aladdin Resort and Casino located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. The property underwent a complete head-to-toe renovation and celebrated its grand re-opening in 2007 as the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The 2600 room property features highly coveted restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, full service spa and gym and a high-tech gaming floor. The entire resort is encircled by the Miracle Mile Shops with over 170 retail outlets.
In October 2006, Earl became a partner in a soccer club in the UK. As a shareholder in the Everton Football Club, Earl is turning his love of sport into a business venture.
Mr. Earl and his wife Tricia live in Orlando, FL., and have three children, Beth, Cara and Robbie.