Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Fairmont New Orleans. It is the brand’s 100th hotel globally and its return to New Orleans after two decades.
The 250-room hotel is in the Central Business District, within walking distance of the French Quarter and near Caesars Superdome.
Kailas Companies developed the hotel and Fairmont operates it. The hotel occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-story structure Skidmore, Owings & Merrill designed in 1970. The original sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and first- and second-floor concrete walls were restored and refurbished, along with the second floor’s bronze paneling and cypress ceiling. The property draws on 1970s architecture rather than French Quarter colonial architecture.
“Celebrating Fairmont’s landmark 100th hotel in New Orleans is a moment of perfect alignment. This is a city built on the very poetry of celebration, culture, and hospitality, setting the ultimate stage for such a historic milestone,” said Omer Acar, CEO of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “After two decades away, returning to New Orleans feels like a joyful homecoming. This magnificent property is designed to be a vibrant social epicenter, a sanctuary where the city’s rich heritage meets a sophisticated, contemporary energy. Through meticulous design, spirited gastronomy, and exceptional spaces created for connection, we are not just opening a hotel; we are welcoming the soulful spirit of New Orleans back into the global Fairmont family for our next great chapter.”
Rockwell Group designed the interiors. The lobby has a mirror-clad stair and a Lobby Bar with a cocktail program and live entertainment. Eric Overstreet, general manager, said: “Today marks an exciting new chapter for Fairmont New Orleans and for our city. From the moment guests enter our lobby to an evening at Delmonico Steakhouse, the hotel was designed to feel distinctly of New Orleans, while offering the service and experience Fairmont is known for. We’re proud to welcome travelers and our local community into these spaces and look forward to seeing Fairmont New Orleans become part of the city’s next chapter.”
The guest rooms and suites have floor-to-ceiling windows. Select king rooms have “faux balconies” with café tables. Fairmont Gold on the 29th and 30th floors will open in December with a private lounge, concierge service, breakfast and afternoon canapés.
Dining is offered in partnership with chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group. Delmonico Steakhouse opens for dinner and is the concept’s first location outside Las Vegas. The Café by Emeril serves breakfast and lunch.
“I’m thrilled to bring Delmonico Steakhouse to New Orleans alongside The CafĂ© by Emeril, creating two distinct dining experiences that reflect what I love about cooking and bringing people together,” said Emeril Lagasse, chef. “We’re proud to be a part of Fairmont’s return to the city and look forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the bold flavors, genuine hospitality, and unmistakable New Orleans spirit that defines everything we do.”
In early December the hotel will open a rooftop pool, Bleu Perdu and the Third Measure cocktail bar, developed with Neal Bodenheimer, founder of Cure. A 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center will open then with three treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, a dry sauna and a steam room. The hotel follows Fairmont’s wellness without walls approach. All Accor members get complimentary Nike lending gear.
The hotel has more than 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space for gatherings of 10 to 500 guests. It includes two ballrooms of about 4,000 square feet each, six meeting rooms, an executive boardroom and three foyers.
