NEW ORLEANS—Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. unveiled designs for Le Méridien New Orleans, which will mark the return of the French-born brand to the Crescent City at the end of the year.
Formerly the W New Orleans, the property has now transitioned to the Hotel New Orleans Downtown for the remainder of its $29-million renovation.
Managed by Starwood Hotels, the Hotel New Orleans Downtown will remain open and fully operational as well as a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program until Le Méridien debuts this winter.
Le Méridien New Orleans will offer 410 fully renovated guestrooms and corridors, as well as a fully redesigned lobby, incorporating the signature Le Méridien Hub, a new destination restaurant and bar, and re-concepted second floor flexible meeting space. The hotel will continue to feature amenities such as the fitness facility, rooftop pool and more than 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space.
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, according to the company. Design element and patterns within the hotel draw from the architectural features of the city, including the wrought iron work seen throughout the Big Easy. Cultural references from the Mardi Gras parade route are also layered into the design.
Wallcoverings along the guestroom corridors have been inspired by the cartography of New Orleans with hidden quotes about the city incorporated into the custom pattern. The guestroom entry is wrapped in a graphic design that represents crowd densities along the Mardi Gras route. Other design elements include a drafting height desk; a soaring headboard that draws from the profiles of moldings found throughout the city; and cool neutral tones with subtle touches of accent colors.
Le Méridien New Orleans will feature the signature Le Méridien Hub, which consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; a sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART program, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to Le Méridien-affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague.
Located on Poydras Street, the hotel is adjacent to the Arts District. Nearby attractions include Harrah’s Casino, the Warehouse District, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans Museum of Art, Riverwalk Shopping and the French Market.