NEW ENERGY AND RHYTHM UNVEILED AT W NEW ORLEANS – FRENCH QUARTER
Infused with Intrigue of the Crescent City, W New Orleans – French Quarter is One of 11 W Hotels to Undergo Cutting-Edge Renovations W New Orleans – French Quarter today unveiled a full scale property renovation that melds the enigmatic charms and sultry soul of New Orleans into one vibrant destination. Located in the heart of the Big Easy’s most renowned neighborhood, the hotel has recently transformed the look of all 97 of its guest rooms as well as the Living Room (W’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), Studio meeting spaces, allcorridors and the outdoor Courtyard. W New Orleans - French Quarter has also expanded its offerings, adding SWEAT,a state-of-the-art fitness center and a new signature restaurant,SoBou, which is a contemporary Creole concept from the Commander’s Family of Restaurants that brings together the inventive cuisine and cocktail culture unique to the city.
“When W New Orleans – French Quarter opened more than 12 years ago, it created a new scene in our vibrant city,” said James Wroblewski, general manager for W New Orleans-French Quarter. “As the W brand continues to evolve, opening new hotels from Paris to Milan, Bangkok to Singapore, we are committed to creating a consistent, cutting-edge experience for our jetset guests. The renovation is critical to enhancing the overall guest experience while also drawing in localswith a very personalized touch.”
W New Orleans – French Quarter Redesign
Nemaworkshop, an interior design and architecture firm based in New York City, redesigned the guest rooms of W New Orleans – French Quarterto reflect the artistic energy and the intrigue of jazz and tarot in the Crescent City. Each room boasts a palate of clean lines and modern blacks and whites mixed with vibrant gold tones and rich primary colors relevant to the room design motif. Inspired by the liveliness of Big Easy music, the jazz design features vibrant golden yellow walls, white lacquered furniture, and an oversized floor-to-ceiling brass image modeled after the bell of a horn. The property’s tarot designed rooms channel the mystic spirit of the city with décor inspired by New Orleans’s voodoo queen Marie Laveau. The walls feature a deep blue color as well as an oversized mural representing a woman reading tarot cards. Guests can also spot depictions of Laveau throughout the property. The revamped look includes redesigned hallways, lift foyer, and the Living Room, which features new check-in desks for the hotel’s welcome agents, as well as direct access to SoBou.
“The new design definitely has a little fun with the city’s spiritual side,” states Anurag Nema, principal at nemaworkshop. “You may see Marie’s eyes following you on the guest room number placard, or you may recognize her headdress on a directional sign. If you look up while you’re standing in the lift landing, you’ll notice tiny, pin-like lights, playing off voodoo pins.”
In addition to the décor, in-room technology has also been enhanced with new 40” Plasma TVs and the addition of a “jackpack,” offering the ability to stream movies, photos, presentations, etc. from portable devices directly onto the TVs.
Befitting to the hotel’s French Quarter location, the Courtyard serves as a vital centerpiece for guests to enjoy a celebration such as a wedding or to simply escape the heat. The Courtyard exudes tranquility with a tiered water fountain, vine-covered walls and verdant foliage. Enclosed by a charming wrought-iron gate, the intimate WET pool offers a cool reprievecomplete with cabanas offering privacy and relaxation.The brand new, state-of-the-art SWEAT fitness facility offers cardiovascular fitness and personal training programs using free and machine weights from Technogym.
SoBou – a “Spirited” Creole Experience
As part of the $9 million refresh, W New Orleans - French Quarter welcomes SoBou (also designed by nemaworkshop), a Louisiana street food-inspired restaurant and lounge from the Commander’s Family of Restaurants. SoBou—the name of which is the contraction, “South of Bourbon Street”— offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and the regionally sourced menu, created by Executive Chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez, features inspired small plates to pair with drinks of any stripe—from classic cocktails to local craft brews.
Sobou captures the idea of mixology as it relates to not only cocktails, but also Jazz and the dark arts. Each of the spaces in Sobou has a distinctive interpretation of the concept of mixology: the entry and front dining space recall an apothecary where floor-to-ceiling walls are clad in bottles; illuminated display cases house a collection of vintage tools, shakers, and glasses from the Museum of the American Cocktail; and in the main dining space, a one-way glass installation showcases glowing bottles that multiply into infinity. A pair of large brass light fixtures recalling the end of a brass horn also illuminate the space. Adjacent to the curving brass bar is a modern beer garden where in there are self-service enomatic wine machines and beer taps built directly into the tables. Above each table hangs a rectangular brass light fixture inside of which are portraits of women’s eyes. Thus while the exterior of the shades are a direct reference to brass and its role in Jazz, the interior of these pendants suggest a concurrent yet alternative underground movement in the city of New Orleans.
The transformation of W New Orleans – French Quarter is part of a comprehensive renovation strategy to update the W brand’s North American portfolio. W recently announced plans to reinvigorate more than 10 of its hotel properties within the next 18 months, tapping into the industry’s brightest rising visionaries to collaborate with the W brand’s award-winning design team on redesigns. AsW expandsits global footprint abroad –opening new hotels from Bangkok to Singapore, Milan to Verbier –the W brand is committed to providing a consistent, cutting-edge experience for guests. The ambitious renovation schedule is focused on many of the W brand’s early hotels in key markets such as New York City, Seattle, Chicago, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, among others.
