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The Roosevelt New Orleans Officially Re-Opens Today
| July 1, 2009 at 11:13 AM | 0 Comments
The Roosevelt's lighting ceremony, in May
We just got word from a hotel rep that the famed Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans, which has been undergoing a major, major renovation and restoration (and transition to become a part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection), is officially opening up today.
We knew the place was running a special reopening promo starting July 26th and running through September 30th ($139! Seriously, get on this) and even though the last time we checked, rezzies were only available on July 11th and beyond, we actually can make reservations for tonight — and the public is welcome to come in and walk through to check out the newly-restored property.
There will be a big grand re-opening sometime in mid-July with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and whatnot, but for now, rooms are available at $139 (the lowest we could find for July 7th, which was the first available room we could book). We gave the rezzie line a call because we were having trouble booking a room for tonight, and agent told us that either the place was totally full or it's doing what a lot of hotels are doing and requiring a few nights' minimum stay over the holiday weekend.
[Photo: The Roosevelt Blog]
Tags: Hotel Opening Rates / New Orleans Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / → All Tags
The Roosevelt New Orleans Will Re-Open at $139 in July
| June 22, 2009 at 12:05 PM | 0 Comments
Though most of the renos are done, all we've got are these cartoony renderings of the interior.
Well, as they say in the South: hot damn. (Er, do they say that in the South?) The Roosevelt in New Orleans is openin' its doors once again. And the ultra-posh rooms are goin' for cheap. Well, at first, anyway.
If you'll recall, we got the real, super-detailed scoop on what was happening with this iconic New Orleans property. Cliff's Notes version: after a $145-million restoration and renovation, the 116-year-old hotel is set to be reborn as a Waldorf-Astoria Collection property (it has been closed since Hurricane Katrina). We knew the place was going to be shooting for a quiet-ish opening sometime this summer, but we weren't sure when — and then, last we heard, there was going to be some major celebration surrounding a bigger Grand Opening in the fall.
Tags: Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Hotel Amenities / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
Puff in Private at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
| May 13, 2009 at 3:42 PM | 0 Comments
Are we feeling a little hoighty-toighty today? Perhaps the best way to handle this is by reaching into the back of your humidor for that special cigar and heading down to the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans in order to join their new private smoking club: The Library. The rest of the hotel may be non-smoking, but The Library welcomes puffers Monday through Sunday from 5pm to midnight.
Charter memberships are still available at this, one of the city's only smoking-allowed clubs, which will spend its inaugural season conducting monthly tastings and seminars with the Spirits Sommelier, Whiskey Ambassador or the Cognac Concierge. Oh, what we'd give to have the latter on our resume.
To experience The Library at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans, there are some uncharacteristically low rates circulating for May and June. Starting from $199, the glamor of a luxurious night's sleep accompanied by a long dreg from something hecho a mano can be yours, so long as you're willing to slink down to The Big Easy for it.
[Photo: Ritz-Carlton New Orleans]
Tags: W Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Deals / → All Tags
The W French Quarter's 'Summer Cinema' Nights Are Back
| May 8, 2009 at 4:26 PM | 0 Comments
The W French Quarter is bringing back their Sunday outdoor movie nights. "Summer Cinema" evenings under the stars are free and perfect for cheap dates who want to score on romance, but skimp on shelling out dough. Hosted by the New Orleans Film Society and Paramount Pictures, even the drinks are budget friendly. X-Rated cocktails are $5 with proceeds benefiting New Orleans Film Society.
Movies run from May 17 to June 21 and start at 8pm. The first film is "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and the summer billing includes "Into the Wild," "Grease," "Hotel for Dogs," "Ghost," and "Top Gun." Seating is limited.
Those who want to turn makeouts at the movies into some serious nookie. For moviegoers rooms start at $139 a night. Give meaning to the shouts: 'Get a room!'
Tags: March Madness Hotels / Hotel Deals / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
Sink Slam Dunk Rates at NOLA Marriott, from $69
| March 4, 2009 at 10:17 AM | 0 Comments
Travelers can be quick to forget that New Orleans does, in fact, exist beyond the mania of Mardi Gras. As a friendly reminder, the New Orleans Marriott has a pretty rad incentive: “Bee-Ball Buzz” rates ($69-199!) to coincide with Hornets home games now through April 13. To which, we say: Score!
Plus, basketball fans can extend the good rate for a night pre- or post-game night. Hornets play at home March 16 (vs. the Houston Rockets), March 18 (vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves), March 20 (vs. the Memphis Grizzlies), March 22 (vs. the Golden State Warriors), March 25 (vs. the Denver Nuggets), March 29 (vs. the San Antonio Spurs), April 5 (vs. the Utah Jazz), April 8 (vs. the Phoenix Suns), and April 12 (vs. the Dallas Mavericks).
Book the Bee-Ball Buzz rate using rate code SPE. Two-week or more advance purchase required.
Tags: Mardi Gras Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel Rates / → All Tags
Last-Minute Revelry: You Can Still Make it to NoLa For Mardi Gras
| February 23, 2009 at 5:09 PM | 0 Comments
Mardi Gras is about spontaneity, so we bet a few of you out there haven’t even bothered to check whether there are still hotel rooms available for you to sleep it off after all the festivities down in NoLa. It's lucky you have us to do that for you, and we’ve been looking for rooms on a budget since chances are you won’t be spending any time there anyway. Here’s what we found.
We did a quick search on our hotel rates search engine, and came up with a few options that aren’t exactly budget, but are still pretty good.
Tags: Mardi Gras Hotels / Insane Hotel Packages / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
Pre-Game for Mardi Gras with Harry Connick Jr.
| February 6, 2009 at 3:36 PM | 0 Comments
Still on the fence about your Mardi Gras plans? Perhaps Harry Connick Jr. can change your mind.
That’s right, your favorite ‘90s crooner has teamed up with the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans to offer the “Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime” package, which gives two guests the chance to ride with the New Orleans native in his Krewe of Orpheus during the parade held the day before Mardi Gras: Monday, Feb. 23. (You know, because “lundi” means Monday in French.)
Package guests get bedecked in theme-appropriate costumes and outfitted with throws or beads, plus access to a videographer who will document the 12-hour day and night. Plus, a limo will be at your whim for 48 hours, so you don’t have to try to catch a cab in the middle of Mardi Gras. And, of course, the package also covers a two-night stay in the Ritz-Carlton Suite, which has “sweeping views” of the French Quarter and Canal Street.
If you didn’t know that Harry Connick Jr. had his own krewe, well, we didn’t either, but apparently he founded it back in 1993. And since many of the krewes are old men’s clubs, this is one of those ways anyone can buy their way into the storied tradition.
All that for just $25,000. Gulp. For that price, Harry better throw in an in-suite serenade of “It Had to Be You.” And maybe give a quick tutorial on how to achieve those signature snazzy ’dos.
[Photo: Krewe of Orpheus]
Tags: Mardi Gras Hotels / New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel News / → All Tags
Hotel Rooms in NOLA Are Still Under $200 For Mardi Gras
| February 3, 2009 at 9:59 AM | 0 Comments
Hey party people: Mardi Gras is fast approaching, and it's time to get your hotel rooms locked down for the February 24th festivities. We know you hesitated when you saw the ol' bank account's sad state after the holidays, but we can't think of a better reason to go down South for dancing in the streets all drunkers during daylight hours than, say, a dire economy and having to endure the freezing cold month of February wherever you happen to live.
It's looking like scoring a hotel room for Mardi Gras for under $200 a night is going to be a snap this year. We checked out rates for the 23rd through 25th on Expedia to get an idea of what the rates were lookin' like this year, and here are some of the more decent deals we found for just Tuesday night:
· Sheraton New Orleans starting at $139
· JW Marriott NOLA starting at $179
· W New Orleans starting at $169
· La Pavillon starting at $169
The Best Western is looking like it's going for $127 for Mardi Gras — so we think you might as well drop the extra couple of 20's and go with a nicer property like the JW or the W. It's not too late to book — come on, you know you want to.
Tags: Hotel Closings / New Orleans Hotels / → All Tags
Is the Maison DeVille Hotel Closed?
| January 29, 2009 at 8:55 AM | 0 Comments
It appears so. HotelChatter tipster David sent us this photo of the Maison DeVille and Audubon Cottages hotel on Rue Toulouse which had a For Sale sign hanging from its balcony where the usual hotel sign would hang. The reportedly haunted hotel actually closed on December 1, 2008. Guests who have made a deposit on an existing reservation will be refunded in full. On the bright side, the hotel's bistro still remains open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Sad.
Another photo is after the jump.
Tags: New Orleans Hotels / Hotel Renovations / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / → All Tags
A Closer Look at Plans For The Roosevelt New Orleans
| January 28, 2009 at 12:44 PM | 0 Comments
We just got some brand new renderings of the plans for the post $135-million-renovation Roosevelt New Orleans, which is slated to make its debut this summer. If you'll recall, we sat down with Tod Chambers, the new GM of the iconic property, earlier this winter to discuss plans for the hotel — which was known as the Grunewald in 1893, The Roosevelt in 1923 and was most recently known flagged as a Fairmont. It's set re-open as a Waldorf=Astoria Collection hotel and is hoping to both reclaim its position as a local hotspot and re-emerge as a NOLA destination.
Some of the hotels biggest bragging points are its public spaces; most notably, the legendary Sazerac Bar, the classic Blue Room supper club, and the massive, ornate lobby. We know the spaces aren't going to be exactly on point with these artistic renderings, but these images, after the jump, should give you a pretty good idea of the old-school luxury vibe of the interiors.
Tags: Hotel Video Tours / HotelChatter Reviews / New Orleans Hotel Scene / Marriott Hotels / → All Tags
Inside the New Orleans Marriott
| January 22, 2009 at 4:45 PM | 0 Comments
A few months ago, Juliana spent some time in New Orleans checking out the city's still-booming business of live music, haunted tours and good cookin' all the while still maintaining its ability to overserve visitors on Bourbon Street (and pretty much everywhere else.) We've uncovered some old footage that we forgot to air. Blame it on the booze, you're probably right.
We had no idea that when we checked into the New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans that it had over 1,000 rooms in two different towers. Nor did we know it had a Starbucks inside or free WiFi in the lobby. Fortunately for you, we figured all those things out during our three-day stay here.
We arrived in town during Voodoo Fest and our nerves were already a little frazzled thanks to a malfunctioning plane. Don't worry, the mechanics fixed it up and we were on our merry way, three hours later. But of course, Voodoo Fest is not really about Voodoo, just music. Still, we wondered what it meant that the hotel is located on 555 Canal Street and we were given room 555. Ah...welcome to the mysterious city of New Orleans.
Tags: Interviews / New Orleans Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / → All Tags
The Re-Opening of The Roosevelt New Orleans
| January 6, 2009 at 2:28 PM | 0 Comments
A HotelChatter Exclusive
In mid-2009, the historic old-school luxury Roosevelt New Orleans — which originally opened as the Grunewald in 1893, was rebranded as The Roosevelt in 1923 and was most recently known flagged as a Fairmont — will reopen as part of the Waldorf-Astoria Collection of Hotels, welcoming guests for the first time since its closing in 2005 due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Since the storm, the 505-room hotel has undergone a $135-million renovation that makes the project one of the largest private investments in downtown New Orleans since the storm — mostly restoring the orginal architectural grandeur and classic luxe details of the old hotel while incorporating modern amenities and technology.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Tod Chambers, the new General Manager of the Roosevelt New Orleans, to get a sense of what we might be able to expect from the property — and to give him a chance to tell us why it's so special to the city of New Orleans.
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