NOPSI Hotel Set to Open in Spring 2017 in New Orleans

Salamander Hotels & Resorts continues its expansion with a new hotel slated to open in New Orleans this spring. The Middleburg, VA-based hospitality company—originally launched by billionaire Sheila Johnson, a co-founder of BET—is set to unveil NOPSI in the historic headquarters of the New Orleans Public Service, Inc (the hotel’s name is the acronym for the city’s historic utility company).

Dating from 1927, the brick building on the corner of Baronne and Union streets will soon house 217 luxury guest rooms (including 74 suites) decorated with local artwork and equipped with all the latest technology. Top digs: The Presidential Suite on the 9th floor, and the four Spa Suites with terraces.

Facilities will include a fitness center, a rooftop pool and bar, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Public Service restaurant with a menu featuring Gulf Coast seafood, a raw bar, hand-fired pizzas and rotisserie items.

New Orleans is currently in Mardi Gras season, which kicked off on January 6th with King’s Day and will continue through Mardi Gras Day on Tuesday, February 28th.

Carnival Season usually draws one million people to the streets of New Orleans, generating more than $840 million for the local economy each year.

Want some little-known Mardi Gras facts?

The Krewe of Rex chose the colors of Mardi Gras in 1872, with purple representing justice, gold representing power and green representing faith.

More than 500,000 king cakes are sold each year in New Orleans between January 6th and Fat Tuesday, and another 50,000 are shipped out-of-state via overnight courier.

Many krewes are known for their unique handmade throws, such as the Krewe of Zulu’s coconuts and the Krewe of Muses’ shoes.

Renowned Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy's Mardi Gras Guide App, a smartphone and tablet version of his popular guide, is available for download and includes parade routes, a calendar, schedules of non-parading events and more.

Laissez les bon temps roulez!