Greater New Orleans Area
NewOrleansAndCo; @NewOrleansAndCo
Famous for its “joie de vivre, or “joy of life,” approach to life, New Orleans still takes its event-hosting responsibilities very seriously.
“New Orleans is built to host. We have a walkable downtown with four million square feet of event space, more than 26,000 hotel rooms, and one-of-a-kind cultural experiences,” says Stephanie Turner, senior vice president of convention sales & strategies for the city’s CVB, New Orleans & Company. “We don’t rest on our laurels,” she adds. “With every event, whether it is a large-scale, complex convention or a small gathering, we work to raise the bar and outdo ourselves.”
Approximately $2 billion in investments in New Orleans hospitality infrastructure are either completed, underway, or planned. LEED Gold-certified New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center—the sixth-largest convention center in the country—continues a $557 million interior, exterior, and infrastructure renovation and modernizations to all 140 meeting rooms and public spaces and the addition of numerous amenities, including a 7.5-acre pedestrian park. Caesars Superdome finished a $560 million renovation just before Super Bowl LIX in early 2025, now boasting 80,000 square feet of premium event space and 165,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Smoothie King Center’s arena can accommodate up to 17,500 seated guests. The venue also has premium areas ideal for smaller events. Less than one mile from the convention center, The Fillmore New Orleans can host events of up to 2,000 people. The elegant Orpheum Theater, located across the street from the 504-room Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, also offers space for banquets, receptions, and meetings.
Other downtown hotel options include the 1,193-room Hyatt Regency New Orleans, with 200,000 square feet of event space, and the 1,100-room Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, which has 105,996 square feet of event space. The 285-room Loews New Orleans Hotel features 17,000 square feet of function and additional outdoor space at the adjacent landmark Piazza D’Italia, which can host up to 400 people. Located across from the National World War II Museum, the 230-room Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton has 230 guest rooms and can host events of up to 650 people.
Several New Orleans hotels are undergoing updates and transformations. Hilton New Orleans Riverside, which has more than 130,000 square feet of function space, is currently renovating its 1,140 guest rooms in phases. The project does not interrupt bookings and is estimated to wrap up in 2026. The hotel also plans to update its largest meeting spaces next year. Marriott New Orleans is undergoing a 1,333-room renovation, scheduled for completion by July 2026. Caesars Entertainment invested $435 million to rebrand Harrah’s Casino, opening a new 340-room hotel tower late last year. A new 250-room Fairmont New Orleans is expected to open this fall; it will feature 20,000 square feet of function space. Also opening this fall is an Element by Marriott, with approximately 200 extended-stay rooms. Construction of a new 1,000-room Omni Hotel, located across from the convention center, is underway. It is scheduled to open in late 2029 with 100,000 square feet of meeting space. The 332-room New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District recently unveiled a new event space, The Gallery. Located on the first floor, adjacent to the lobby, the 740-square-foot room is a showcase for a curated art collection by New Orleans artist Becky Fos. In addition to housing Fos’ artwork, The Gallery is now accepting reservations for private events. The modern event room can hold up to 50 guests for seated events or up to 75 for receptions. The hotel also offers 24,000 square feet of flexible space in its adjacent Next Gen event space.
