Fairmont New Orleans opens 250 rooms as the brand's 100th hotel

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has opened Fairmont New Orleans, its 100th property worldwide and the brand's return to the city after two decades away. The Accor group's luxury brand welcomed its first guests in the heart of the Central Business District, within walking distance of the French Quarter and moments from Caesars Superdome.

The 250-room hotel takes up 17 storeys of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-storey landmark designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1970. It was developed by Kailas Companies and is operated by Fairmont, with more than 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Omer Acar, chief executive of Fairmont, called the milestone a moment of perfect alignment. "This is a city built on the very poetry of celebration, culture, and hospitality, setting the ultimate stage for such a historic milestone," he said. The original sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and first-floor concrete walls have been restored and refurbished.

The second floor, originally the bank's main lobby, keeps its decorative bronze panelling and local cypress ceiling, now restored. Rather than borrow from the French Quarter's colonial architecture, the property channels the glamour and optimism of the 1970s, celebrating an often-overlooked chapter in New Orleans' architectural evolution.

The design and the rooms

Interiors by Rockwell Group explore the contrasts that define New Orleans, layering mid-century references to the 1970s oil boom with saturated colour, local flora and globally influenced patterns. The lobby is conceived as a cultural living room for visitors and locals alike, a social space from morning to night.

Guests arrive beneath a mirror-clad monumental stair that reflects a chandelier shaped like a three-storey magnolia, inspired by Spanish moss. Brass relief panels made in Italy frame the check-in and concierge desks. The Lobby Bar combines handmade Italian lava-stone tiles with a floor mosaic of six marbles in a 1970s pattern.

The 250 guest rooms and suites aim for residential warmth, with eclectic finishes and layered materials meant to look gathered over years. Entry mosaics in three dimensions recall classical European floors, and large paneled artworks evoke the flora of Louisiana's bayous, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing sweeping city views.

In select king rooms, faux balconies with café tables nod to the city's porches and terraces. On the 29th and 30th floors, Fairmont Gold launches the brand's hotel-within-a-hotel experience in December, with a private lounge overlooking the Mississippi River, dedicated concierge service, complimentary breakfast and afternoon canapés.

Emeril Lagasse leads the dining

The hotel debuts its dining in partnership with Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group. Delmonico Steakhouse marks the concept's first location outside Las Vegas, bringing the chef's grand American steakhouse to the city that has long inspired his career. It opens for dinner with Creekstone Farms prime cuts dry-aged in-house.

Japanese Wagyu, premium seafood and an oyster and caviar program complete the menu. "I'm thrilled to bring Delmonico Steakhouse to New Orleans alongside The Café by Emeril, creating two distinct dining experiences," Lagasse said, adding that the team is proud to be part of Fairmont's return to the city.

The Café by Emeril, open for breakfast and lunch, offers a brasserie-style take on French classics with Creole accents and Southern influence. From chicory-laced coffee to lunch favourites, it flows into the lobby as a gathering place. Eric Overstreet, the general manager, said the hotel was designed to feel distinctly of New Orleans.

In early December the property adds a rooftop pool with Bleu Perdu, opening directly onto the pool terrace 31 floors above the city with bistro dining, cabanas, lush foliage and Bevolo gas lanterns. A dedicated area for live performances is beside panoramic views of the city and the Mississippi River.

Third Measure, an intimate late-night cocktail bar developed with Neal Bodenheimer, founder of New Orleans' acclaimed Cure, draws on forgotten cocktail traditions of the city and its musical heritage. Wardrobe-inspired double doors open into a space with a white marble bar, pearlescent railings and a custom Lasvit chandelier.

Wellness and what comes next

A 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness centre opens in early December with three private treatment rooms, a couples' suite, dry sauna, steam room and relaxation lounges, including a sauna overlooking the New Orleans skyline. A dedicated Dressing Room offers a social preparation space for bridal parties and debutantes.

The fitness studio is outfitted with Matrix Onyx equipment and offers personalised training. Loft suites on the upper level feature double-height windows toward Caesars Superdome, lofted primary bedrooms with glass railings and wet bars with hammered brass sinks. Fairmont's Wellness Without Walls program connects guests with outdoor experiences across the destination.

Those include self-guided walks that pair art galleries with kayaking and pedal boating, and self-led Run The River outings beside the Mississippi in Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park. ALL Accor member guests can borrow complimentary Nike Lending Gear throughout their stay.

Nine primary event venues range from intimate gatherings of 10 to celebrations of up to 500 guests, including two ballrooms of roughly 4,000 square feet each, six meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, plus three dedicated foyers. The ballrooms keep the building's local cypress wood ceiling, with custom chandeliers designed to look as if they have always belonged.

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1. CPP-Luxury Fairmont New Orleans is now officially open, marking 100th property !

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Image: Fairmont New Orleans