NEW ORLEANS— The 524-room Ritz-Carlton New Orleans has reopened following $100 million in renovations, leaving only two major hotels still closed post-Hurricane Katrina. As have other Crescent City properties, the Ritz-Carlton took the setback from the storm as an opportunity to come back stronger than ever. Upgrades include new guestroom soft goods, signature restaurant, staff uniforms, custom-built kitchen serving the entire hotel, and an additional 8,000-square feet of meeting space. In addition, the Maison Orleans, which was formerly a separate hotel within the Ritz-Carlton, is now the main hotels club level. The property also reopens as a completely non-smoking hotel. Among the citys upscale and deluxe hotels, only the Hyatt Regency and the Fairmont remain closed.
