Fairmont’s 100th Hotel Turns a 1970 New Orleans Bank Tower Into a Landmark

Fairmont has reopened its doors in New Orleans after a 20-year absence, and the new property doubles as a milestone: it is the brand’s 100th hotel worldwide and its 19th in the United States. Developer Kailas Cos. and operator Fairmont have installed 250 rooms across 17 floors of the former Bank of New Orleans tower, with rates starting at $459 a night.

The 31-story building was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1970, and Kailas bought it in 2014. Rockwell Group handled the interiors and kept some of the original character, including the entry canopy, lobby floors, concrete walls, bronze paneling and a cypress ceiling. The same tower also houses the 216-room Element New Orleans Downtown, which opened in February.

Food is a big part of the pitch. Chef Emeril Lagasse is behind two restaurants that opened with the hotel, Delmonico Steakhouse, the concept’s first location outside Las Vegas, and The Café by Emeril. More arrives in early December, including the Bleu Perdu bistro and the Third Measure cocktail bar from Cure founder Neal Bodenheimer.

Some amenities are still to come. A rooftop pool and terrace, a 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and the Fairmont Gold club level on floors 29 and 30 are all slated for December. The property also offers more than 19,000 square feet of meeting space across nine venues, so expect early stays to feel like a hotel still finishing its opening list.

Sources: Asian Hospitality