New Orleans is anxiously awaiting the debut this summer of the Roosevelt Hotel (504.648.1200; www.therooseveltneworleans.com) a 504-room Waldorf Astoria property. A legendary hotel and hot spot that first opened in 1893, the Roosevelt has undergone a $145 million renovation to recapture its grand old past. Amenities include 60,000 square feet of event space, including three grand ballrooms, a luxury Guerlain spa and a restaurant overseen by award-winning chef John Besh.
Lucky groups are already getting a taste of another top chef’s newest creations at Calcasieu (504.588.2188; www.calcasieurooms.com), a private dining facility owned by Donald Link, a James Beard winner. Located in a renovated warehouse just two blocks from the convention center, Link provides exquisite Louisiana cuisine to groups of up to 275.
In January 2009, Mardi Gras World (504.362.8211; www.mardigrasworld.com) opened a spectacular “only-in-New Orleans” venue right next to the convention center. Run by Blaine Kern, one of the city’s most important Mardi Gras float builders, the multispace venue features a grand ballroom housing several full-size Mardi Gras floats, a spacious dock overlooking the Mississippi River and facilities to host everything from float-building contests to gala dinners. It can currently handle up to 3,000 guests, but additional expansion is in the works.
One of the most unusual venues to open recently is the Venusian Gardens (504.943.7446; www.venusiangardens.com). Located in an 1854 church in the newly hip Faubourg Marigny, the venue serves as the studio and gallery for light and neon artist Eric Ehlenberger. Groups of up to 250 can enjoy a traditional New Orleans-style party under luminous jellyfish dangling from a spectacular 40-foot cypress ceiling. An expansive balcony overlooking Japanese gardens is in the works.
The New Orleans CVB has paired with the convention center to offer Extraordinary Experiences (504.566.5011; www.nocvb.com) to meetings planners, designed to reduce costs and simplify event bookings in New Orleans. Through 2013, groups booking events with at least 1,000 hotel rooms will be able to enjoy complimentary perks, including convention center space, food and beverage, and site inspections.