MIAMI—Virgin Hotels plans to open and operate a new hotel in the Warehouse District of New Orleans. Expected to break ground in April 2017 and open its doors in early 2019, Virgin Hotels New Orleans will be developed by Dallas-based Gatehouse Capital.
Raul Leal, CEO of Virgin Hotels, commented, “New Orleans is an incredibly special city and one Virgin Hotels has had an eye on from the beginning. The history, the food, the music, the spirit—they all work together to make it a one-of-a-kind destination for both business and leisure travelers. We’re excited to bring the Virgin experience to the Big Easy because it’s a perfect fit in terms of our values and our emphasis on creating unique and immersive experiences for our guests.”
The new-build hotel will be located in the city’s Warehouse District at 550 Baronne St., which sits directly next to the Central Business District and is home to a growing number of new restaurants, galleries and shops. It will have 225 chambers, the brand’s flagship space, The Commons Club, a rooftop pool and lounge, gym, and dedicated meeting and event spaces.
Gatehouse Capital has chosen RTKL Architects, Mathes Brierre Architects and Broadmoor Construction to complete the hotel. Virgin Hotels’ VP of Design Teddy Mayer has also tapped a local design firm to bring an authentic New Orleans flair to the project, according to the brand.
“Gatehouse Capital, whom we are currently working with to develop our Virgin Hotels Dallas property, is an outstanding example of a partner that understands the Virgin vision and can help bring it to life,” said Leal.
Added Marty Collins, CEO of Gatehouse Capital: “This is the second Virgin Hotel development within our lifestyle platform, and we hope to announce others in the very near future. We look forward to being an even more significant part of Virgin Hotel’s brand expansion.”