The Aloft New Orleans Downtown just opened this year, marking the Aloft brand’s debut in the Big Easy. Housed in a historic building that dates from 1962, the property is within walking distance fo the jazz clubs, bars and boutiques in the French Quarter and the Mercedes Benz Superdome.
Visit www.aloftneworleansdowntown.com
For a little more luxury, check out the Le Méridien New Orleans, which just finished a $29 million renovation toward the end of last year. The renovations updated all 410 of the hotel’s guestrooms with a look that’s meant to be inspired by the surrounding city.
Visit www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien
The Loews New Orleans Hotel is another recently renovated property, which just sunk $4 million into its guestrooms and restaurants toward the end of 2014. Designed by local firm Lisambiance Interior Design, the new look incorporates modern lines in blue and gray tones that are mean to be reminiscent of the region’s waterways. New contemporary lamps and sconces throughout the guestrooms and bathrooms offer brighter lighting for late night work sessions, and new art depicts popular New Orleans scenes including riverboats, musical instruments and architecture.
Visit www.loewshotels.com/new-orleans
For those looking for a more boutique feel, the Royal St. Charles Hotel just became a member of Destination Hotels & Resorts this past January. The hotel is housed in another historic building, originally the Southern Federal Savings Bank, between the French Quarter and the Convention Center. (The original bank vault is still intact).
Visit www.royalsaintcharles.com
Finally, the Omni Riverfront Hotel just arrived on the scene in November after Omni Hotels & Resorts bought and reflagged the former Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans. Located in New Orleans' Warehouse and Arts District, and steps away from top attractions and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the property underwent a comprehensive renovation during its transition to the Omni brand. The hotel now sports a new open-air lobby, and the bar has been rotated 180 degrees to create more space for guests. Each guestroom has been completely renovated and has white tile entryways, new carpet and furniture, tubs and black tile in the bathrooms, as well as bedside LED reading lamps and 42-inch flat screen televisions.