Recent openings in the Southern U.S. include a Four Seasons in New Orleans, the first JW Marriott in North Carolina and a beach resort on Florida’s west coast.
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans
Located on the Mississippi waterfront in the New Orleans’ Central Business District, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Orleans has opened.
Offering 341 rooms and suites designed by Bill Rooney Studio, the hotel has two F&B outlets—Chandelier Bar and Miss River—with Chemin a la Mer opening this fall; 29,000 sq. ft. of event space; 24/7 fitness center conceived by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak; and The Spa. This fall, the hotel will open its crescent-shaped rooftop swimming pool with Mississippi River views.
The property also features a curated art collection of works from local artists and those inspired by the city. Set within indoor and outdoor observation decks on the hotel’s 33rd and 34th floors is a state-of-the-art cultural exhibit designed to honor the diverse cultures of New Orleans.
The hotel is also home to 92 Four Seasons Private Residences. Residents enjoy access to all hotel facilities.
Nearby attractions include the French Quarter, the Warehouse Arts District, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the Superdome and Smoothie King Center.
JW Marriott Charlotte
The JW Marriott brand has made its debut in North Carolina with the opening of JW Marriott Charlotte, located in Southern city’s Uptown neighborhood. The 381-room luxury hotel, including 34 custom suites, spans 23 stories and is owned and operated by White Lodging. It is the first property for the company in North Carolina and the third JW Marriott in its portfolio.
Inspired by Queen Charlotte, the city’s namesake, the hotel’s guestrooms and 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space offer floor-to-ceiling windows, with city, stadium and vista views of greater Charlotte. It also features The Spa by JW, a rooftop pool with city views and a 24-hour fitness center. F&B concepts include Dean’s Italian Steakhouse, Caroline’s Oyster Bar and Aura Rooftop.
The hotel is part of the Ally Charlotte Center, a pedestrian-friendly community developed by Crescent Communities with an intentional selection of indoor and outdoor dining, open spaces and urban gardens. The full city block includes 750,000 sq. ft. of office space, 30,000 sq. ft. of ground-level retail and a 12,000-sq.ft. public plaza with live oak trees relocated from Johns Island, SC.
Bellwether Beach Resort
Bellwether Beach Resort opened in St. Pete Beach, FL, as the destination’s first independent beachfront hotel in more than 10 years. Housed inside a tower that’s been a fixture on St. Pete Beach since the 1970s, the resort is owned by affiliates of Gencom and operated by Benchmark, a global hospitality company.
The resort offers 156 guestrooms and suites featuring Florida-inspired color schemes like tangerine orange and lime green. All have a private balcony and are outfitted with either one king bed or two king beds. The six penthouses offer multi-room/split-level floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows and oversized bathrooms.
Amenities include indoor and outdoor lounge areas, a beachfront pool deck, colorful cabanas on the nearby white-sand beach manned by Bellwether’s dedicated Beach Butlers and three F&B outlets, including the rotating Spinners Rooftop Grille.
