Fairmont New Orleans recently opened, marking the much-anticipated return of the brand to Crescent City after two decades and marking Fairmont’s 100th hotel globally. In the Central Business District, within walking distance of the French Quarter, the new hotel boasts 250 thoughtfully designed guestrooms and suites; destination dining in partnership with Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group; and more than 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said, “Celebrating Fairmont’s landmark 100th hotel in New Orleans is a moment of perfect alignment. This is a city built on the very poetry of celebration, culture, and hospitality, setting the ultimate stage for such a historic milestone. After two decades away, returning to New Orleans feels like a joyful homecoming. This magnificent property is designed to be a vibrant social epicenter, a sanctuary where the city’s rich heritage meets a sophisticated, contemporary energy. Through meticulous design, spirited gastronomy, and exceptional spaces created for connection, we are not just opening a hotel; we are welcoming the soulful spirit of New Orleans back into the global Fairmont family for our next great chapter.”

Fairmont New Orleans occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building, with the original sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and concrete walls on the first and second floors restored and refurbished, as well as the second floor’s decorative bronze paneling and local cypress ceiling.

Interior design by Rockwell Group explores the contrasts that define New Orleans. The hotel’s lobby welcomes both visitors and New Orleanians with a mirror-clad monumental stair that reflects a three-story magnolia flower and Spanish moss-inspired chandelier; custom brass relief panels from Italy; and Lobby Bar’s handmade Italian lava-stone tiles with a floor mosaic composed of six marbles.

Fairmont New Orleans’ guestrooms and suites boast residential warmth; eclectic finishes; curated furnishings; layered materials; classical European flooring; large, paneled artwork; and floor-to-ceiling windows. Select king rooms offer “faux balconies” with café tables. On the 29th and 30th floors, Fairmont Gold will elevate the stay through Fairmont’s signature hotel-within-a-hotel experience, once unveiled in December, with a dedicated private lounge, concierge service, complimentary breakfast and afternoon canapés, beverages, and a personalized arrival and check-in experience.

Fairmont New Orleans also launched a culinary partnership with Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group, bringing Delmonico Steakhouse to New Orleans as its first location outside of Las Vegas. Open for breakfast and lunch, The Café by Emeril offers a more relaxed, brasserie-style experience. Other dining and drinking venues set to open in early December include the property’s rooftop pool and Bleu Perdu, along with Third Measure cocktail bar.