The proposed New Orleans Convention Center headquarters hotel received state bond commission approval Thursday.
New Orleans & Company President Walt Leger III said this will strengthen the city's ability to compete for major meetings, conventions and other events.
"Meeting planners have consistently told us that a headquarters hotel is an important piece of the infrastructure New Orleans needs to remain a leading destination for meetings, conventions and events," said Leger. "Cities across the country continue to invest aggressively in their convention districts, hotels and visitor infrastructure, and this project will strengthen New Orleans’ ability to compete."
The Morial New Orleans Convention Center will commit $200 million toward the hotels' construction, by Dallas-based hotel company Omni Resorts.
The hotel, currently projected for 1,000 rooms at a cost of $600 million, will be built across Convention Center Blvd. from the convention center's Hall C, between John Churchill Chase St., S. Peters St., and Andrew Higgins Blvd.
Developers want to break ground on the project soon, during the Mississippi River's low water season, with an opening date potentially in 2030.
