Le Meridien New Orleans Debuts in the Big Easy Following $29 Million Transformation at Former W Site
NEW ORLEANS - March 9, 2015 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the debut of Le Meridien New Orleans, following a comprehensive $29 million conversion of the former W Hotel. The renovation touched all aspects of the hotel, including a redesign of all 410 guestrooms, the debut of three new food and beverage outlets, the addition of the signature Le Meridien Hub (the brand's reinterpretation of the traditional lobby), and the modernization of the porte-cochere valet entrance. The multimillion dollar renovation added 1,600 square feet of new, flexible meeting space (for a total of 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space) as well as a new landscaped palm garden incorporating large-scale artwork and outdoor seating for guests, with the ability to host private events.
"New Orleans is a world-class city that shares in our passions for culture, cuisine and the arts," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Le Meridien and Westin. "Le Meridien New Orleans unlocks the destination for our creative and curious minded travelers through unique local programming that brings to life The Crescent City's distinct flavours and rich cultural scene."
The pristinely modern hotel is comprised of 410 fully redesigned guestrooms, including 22 stunning suites; three new food and beverage outlets, including LMNO, the destination restaurant featuring New American cuisine with Cajun and Creole touches; and the addition of 1,600 square feet of flexible meeting and event space for a total of 20,000 square feet of refreshed areas within the hotel. The contemporary design of Le Meridien New Orleans incorporates artwork inspired by the cartography and geography of New Orleans as seen from an aerial perspective. The design also features patterns and textures influenced by cultural and architectural elements, creating discovery moments for guests at every turn.
Centrally located on Poydras Street, Le Meridien New Orleans 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.
"Watching our hotel undergo such a significant transition has been an exhilarating journey," said John Thompson, General Manager of Le Meridien New Orleans. "We are thrilled to unveil our beautiful new hotel and look forward to showing our guests a new perspective on the Big Easy."
About Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts
Le Meridien, 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 Meridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood's then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Meridien 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 Meridien has transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique, interactive and curated experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. Le Meridien recently opened new hotels in New Orleans (Louisiana, USA), Bangkok (Thailand), Chicago (Illinois, USA), and Tampa (Florida, USA) and will open in the next 12 months in Mahabaleshwar (India), Gandhinagar (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Charlotte (North Carolina, USA), Columbus (Ohio, USA), New Delhi (India), Thimphu (Bhutan), Paro (Bhutan), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Qingdao (China), Putrajaya (Malaysia), Leshan (China), and Indianapolis (Indiana, USA). For more information, please visit www.leMeridien.com or www.facebook.com/leMeridien. Follow @LeMeridien Hotels on Instagram and Twitter.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
