NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority is moving forward with the development of a 1,000-room headquarters hotel for the Louisiana convention center.
In addition to accepting a formal letter of intent with Omni Hotels & Resorts to own and operate the headquarters hotel, the Authority recently 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.
According to a news release, the hotel will be strategically 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,” a news release states.
“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. This is the right time, at the right place, and with the right partner,” says Russell Allen, Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority president. “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.”
Since several years ago, a headquarters hotel has been under serious consideration by officials.
“The Authority’s actions take us one step closer to attracting the trade shows, conventions, and events that only an adjacent headquarters hotel can,” says Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center president and CEO. “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 increase 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.”
Omni has been the Authority’s selected partner since 2018 and has seven similar properties it has developed in other cities. The company will be investing $500 million to finance the project.
According to the news release, the project will support approximately 1,100 permanent jobs, generate roughly $282 million in annual impact on the local economy, and add a combined $24 million in annual tax revenue for the city and the state.
Design and construction are scheduled to begin in 2025, with an expected opening in 2028–2029.
