Media Contact:
Margaret Taylor
Peter Mayer New Orleans
+1 504-378-6602
taylorm@peteramayer.com  

 

NEW ORLEANS - October 1, 2014 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) continues its $29 million transformation of Le Méridien New Orleans, marking recent construction milestones as the French-born brand prepares to return to the Crescent City by end of year.

 

All 410 guestrooms, including 22 suites and respective corridors have completed their renovations, offering every hotel guest the opportunity to stay in brand new, completely redesigned rooms. The current phase of construction also includes the beginning of the lobby transformation to Le Méridien HubTM, which reinterprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place and further builds on the brand's award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture. A coffeehouse environment by day and a wine-inspired setting by night, Le Méridien HubTM will feature the Longitude bar where guests can sip on carefully brewed cups of illy® coffee by the Master Barista, engage over Le Méridien Sparkling cocktails and indulge in signature éclairs. It will serve grab and go breakfast items along with a full lunch and dinner menu that will allow guests to explore innovative pairings of local flavors and aromas.

 

The second phase of the transformation, scheduled to be completed this December, will also include the opening of the soon-to-be-announced destination restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, an expansion of the second floor meeting space with the addition of 1,600 square feet of flexible space and a refresh of the current meeting space. Enhanced lighting and sound features, updated table settings, new carpet, wallpaper and décor are all part of the refresh that will elevate the overall meeting and event experience for guests.

 

The final phase of the transformation will include a renovation of the front desk, the porte-cochere and the bamboo garden that will incorporate an art component and outdoor seating for guests and private events.

 

"Current hotel guests are able to experience a taste of the overall transformation to Le Méridien New Orleans by staying in our newly completed, redesigned rooms. We are anxiously waiting for the unveiling of the additional phases of construction throughout the balance of 2014. This brand is a perfect fit for New Orleans and there is much more yet to be revealed," states General Manager John Thompson.

 

Designed by New York-based Meyer Davis, the inspiration for the hotel's design incorporates the mid-century aesthetic of Le Méridien layered with contextual influences from the city of New Orleans. Design elements and patterns within the hotel draw from the architectural features of the city, including the iconic wrought iron work seen throughout the Big Easy. Cultural references from the Mardi Gras parade route to quotes from one of the city's most famous sons - Louis Armstrong - layer the design with a lens that is both uniquely Le Méridien and specific to New Orleans.

 

Located on Poydras Street, the hotel is adjacent to the Arts District and just a few blocks from the jazz clubs, restaurants and night clubs of the world-famous French Quarter. Nearby attractions include Harrah's Casino, the Warehouse District, Contemporary Arts Center, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Outlet Collection at Riverwalk and the French Market.

Reservations are now being accepted for December 2014 and beyond. For more information, visit www.lemeridienneworleanshotel.com. A current social media sweepstakes offers the chance to win a 2 night stay at the hotel with a winner selected at the end of every month in 2014. Learn more about the promotion and become a fan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LeMeridienNOLA. Follow the hotel on Twitter and Instagram @LeMeridienNola.

 

 

About Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts
Le Méridien , the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by nearly 100 properties in more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With more than 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood's then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation and redefined brand strategy. Through creation of the LM100 artist community, Le Méridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Tampa (Florida, USA), Cairo, Bali, Atlanta, Dallas, Istanbul, Oran (Algeria), Zhengzhou (China), Arlington (Virginia, USA) and Santa Monica, (California, USA), and will open in the next 12 months in Bangkok, Chicago, New Orleans, Mahabaleshwar (India), Gandhinagar (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Charlotte (North Carolina, USA) and Indianapolis (Indiana, USA). For more information, please visit www.leMéridien .com or www.facebook.com/leMéridien. Follow @LeMéridien Hotels on Instagram and Twitter.

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