NEW ORLEANS, La. – Kimpton Hotel Fontenot has released the full details for its 12,000+ square feet of flexible meeting, wedding, and events space to open in March 2023 in the property’s upcoming expansion.
The hotel is now accepting bookings for groups and events in 2023 with new special offers available.
The expansion of the hotel’s footprint into the historic building next door will house the new meetings and events space available to host a wide array of business and social gatherings in a central location. The new addition will also bring 33 new guestrooms and suites, as well as King, a three-meal French brasserie with outdoor patio dining.
“The adaptive reuse expansion of the hotel, designed by MARKZEFF, blends sophisticated design with a unique historical personality while bringing in state-of-the-art capabilities to help make each event a memorable success,” a media release states.
The designers incorporated elements of the original structure, built in 1844 by New Orleans architect James Gallier, throughout the meeting spaces in the new building. They’ve integrated the original brick walls and wide plank hard pine and reclaimed timber from the old building.
Upon arrival, guests ascend the custom-built handmade staircase to the event spaces on the hotel’s second floor. The stairs open into the 2,158-square-foot pre-function area for the Canray Ballroom, an ideal spot for a social hour before heading into the 5,506-square-foot Canray Ballroom itself. Able to accommodate up to 550 people for a reception, the ballroom is named after the musician the hotel is inspired by, Canray Fontenot.
Also on the second floor is the more intimate 554-square-foot Evangeline Ballroom, named after Evangeline Parish, where Canray was from, which features a large custom boardroom table made from the building’s reclaimed timber planks. A unique feature of the hotel’s expansion is the second-floor outdoor terrace overlooking Tchoupitoulas Street, appropriate for a wedding ceremony, group dining, or a reception accommodating up to 265 people.
Completing Hotel Fontenot’s new meeting spaces is Lala on the third floor with the addition of 1,017 square feet accommodating up to 100 people and a pre-function area of 779 square feet. Events and gatherings taking place in these new rooms will have access to a catering menu led by the hotel’s executive chef, Samuel Peery.
