The first major hotel project in New Orleans in decades is set to take another step forward today.
The New Orleans City Council is set for a final vote on clearing the way for the 1,000-room, 27-floor hotel to be built on Convention Center Boulevard.
City councilmember Lesli Harris tells WWL-TV it will mean jobs for local workers.
"This is a huge investment in the city," said Harris "$500 million just to build the Omni with at least $129 million in local commitment for labor."
The Omni Hotel will be the "headquarters" hotel of the Morial Convention Center. Other convention cities like Nashville and Atlanta have headquarters hotels for their convention centers, and convention center officials say having one here will help it compete for major convention business.
"I think if we have this new hotel we will attract additional people who will work there and I think that's why it's so important that we get this built," said Harris.
Tourism officials also say adding another thousand hotel rooms to the city will help it in its effort to bring the Super Bowl back to town in 2031.
New Orleans council to vote today on proposed high-rise hotel in Warehouse District
Council votes today on first large hotel construction in New Orleans since 1982
Rendering from MCC
