New Orleans Buzz: Starwood Revamps Its Luxury Hotels

For those who are eager for fresh looks in the Big Easy, Starwood is scheduled to open a Meridien hotel this coming fall after renovating the W New Orleans. The conversion is set to kick off in April and the project should be complete by the end of the fourth quarter.   

Le Méridien New Orleans will have 410 guestrooms (all of which will undergo renovation) as well as a rooftop pool and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting facilities. The hotel’s restaurant and lounge, along with all other public areas, will also be updated and refurbished.

There's plenty of buzz beyond Starwood, of course. In January, the Saint Hotel (a member of the Autograph Collection) updated five suites that make up the entire second floor of the property and include two “master suites.” Designed by the property’s owner, Mark Wyant and his wife Lorenda, the suites include touches like Murano glass chandeliers and clawfoot bathtubs in each bathroom. Cool tech touch: Each suite has at least two 60-inch TVs, and several have hidden TVs that rise out of the furniture. (It's convenient to have them out of the way when not needed.)