The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority has approved two resolutions critical to moving forward with the development of a 1,000-room headquarters hotel for the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
In addition to accepting a formal letter of intent with Omni Hotels & Resorts to own and operate the headquarters hotel, the authority also voted to approve a purchase and sale agreement for property at Convention Center Boulevard and Andrew Higgins Boulevard. The site, currently operated as the Sugar Mill event venue, is immediately across the street from the convention center and is the preferred site for the new headquarters hotel.
Omni has been the authority’s selected partner since 2018 and has invested $500 million to finance the project.
“We are excited to begin negotiations with the authority, as we work together to develop the new convention center headquarter hotel in New Orleans,” said Kurt Alexander, president, Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Omni Hotels & Resorts is a recognized leader in the convention center hotel market, and we excel at developing hotels that reflect the dynamic local culture of a destination. The City of New Orleans is a premier destination and an American treasure, so we are thrilled at the prospect of creating a hotel that embodies its character and culture. Our vision is to create memorable experiences inspired by the heart and soul of a destination, and we look forward to collaborating with the authority as well as the government and business leaders of New Orleans toward this end and to further cement New Orleans’ position as a world-class convention and major-event destination.”
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said, “In case anyone needed another reason to travel to New Orleans, this is it. I am ecstatic that the authority has taken the next step to develop a new hotel for the New Orleans Convention Center. My sincere thanks goes to Omni Hotels & Resorts, the authority and all who worked to make this a reality. This hotel will bring more people and events to our state, and it gives us greater opportunity to showcase all that New Orleans has to offer.”
The hotel will be positioned to help attract events that have previously passed on New Orleans because the city lacks a modern, upscale headquarters hotel adjacent to the convention center. Having a new headquarters hotel will increase New Orleans’ destination appeal nationally and regionally, bringing opportunities for continued growth and success for the city, region and state, according to the authorities.
“Today’s votes signal the authority’s approval to move forward with a plan that will finally give New Orleans the new, dedicated headquarters hotel it deserves,” said Russell Allen, president, Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. “This is the right time, at the right place and with the right partner. Partnering with Omni Hotels & Resorts will help us transform this visionary concept into a reality and seize a unique opportunity to propel our community forward while making a lasting impact on our economic landscape.”
Consideration of a headquarters hotel began several years ago and has been closely evaluated for nearly a decade.
“The Authority’s actions take us one step closer to attracting the trade shows, conventions and events that only an adjacent headquarters hotel can,” said Michael J. Sawaya, president/CEO of the convention center. “It will introduce a new market and mean more events, bring more jobs, generate new demand for rooms for other hotels in the market and more spending at local restaurants and other businesses. Building a headquarters hotel will be transformative for New Orleans tourism and realize a vision many years in the making.”
Negotiations will continue and conclude with final agreements being ready for the authority to review and consider at the end of 2024. Design and construction will begin in 2025, with an expected opening in 2028-2029.
