Fairmont returns to New Orleans with brand's 100th hotel globally

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has returned to New Orleans after two decades away, opening the brand's 100th hotel worldwide. The property was developed by Kailas Companies and is operated by Fairmont, located in the city's Central Business District near the French Quarter and Caesars Superdome.

The hotel occupies 17 storeys of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-storey landmark designed in 1970 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Elements of the original structure, including the sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and second-floor bronze panelling, were preserved and refurbished. Interior design was completed by Rockwell Group, drawing on the city's 1970s oil boom era.

Fairmont New Orleans features 250 guest rooms and suites, while floors 29 and 30 will house the Fairmont Gold experience, offering a private lounge and personalised service from December. Amenities include dining venues developed with chef Emeril Lagasse, such as Delmonico Steakhouse —its first location outside Las Vegas— and The Café by Emeril, plus more than 19,000 square feet of event space. A rooftop pool, bars and a 10,000-square-foot spa are set to open in December.

Fairmont CEO Omer Acar said "celebrating Fairmont's landmark 100th hotel in New Orleans is a moment of perfect alignment," while general manager Eric Overstreet said the hotel was designed "to feel distinctly of New Orleans."