The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority has approved a headquarters hotel development agreement and ground lease agreement with Omni Hotels & Resorts to develop a 1,000-room headquarters hotel. These agreements allow Omni to move forward with development as owner and operator of Omni New Orleans across the street from the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The hotel is anticipated to open in 2029.
“Today marks a significant milestone for New Orleans and Louisiana,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. “Omni’s investment demonstrates the confidence national businesses have in New Orleans and our state and reinforces that we are open and ready for new opportunities. This hotel will draw new meetings, conventions and business travelers to the region, benefiting hospitality-related businesses and creating more jobs for residents. It’s a gamechanger for the tourism industry that powers New Orleans, and I look forward to seeing Omni New Orleans become a landmark for hospitality and a symbol of growth in Louisiana.”
Omni has been in discussions with the Authority since 2018, when a development consortium including Omni was selected to develop a headquarters hotel to anchor the $557-million convention center renovation and upgrade. As the discussions evolved, Omni stepped up and offered to guaranty all of the private capital needed to ensure that the project is completed this go around. In May 2024, the Authority accepted a formal letter of intent with Omni to own and operate the hotel.
This will be Omni’s second hotel in New Orleans. The company has operated the historic Omni Royal Orleans for decades but just recently acquired the building in 2021.
The programming of the new hotel will include 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, several restaurants and bars, a rooftop pool deck, a destination spa, a parking garage and an upgrade to the adjacent Mississippi River Heritage Park.
“Today’s votes showcase the power of thoughtful development—how it can drive our state’s hospitality and tourism industry forward and benefit the local community at the same time,” said Russ Allen, Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority president. “Omni is the best partner to bring this project to fruition and finally give New Orleans the new, dedicated headquarters hotel it needs.”
Omni New Orleans will be located across Convention Center Boulevard at the site currently known as the Sugar Mill event venue.
“Today’s vote is an exciting moment for this project, and Omni New Orleans will be a fitting addition to the cityscape that underscores the unique hospitality you can only find in this city,” said Kurt Alexander, president, Omni Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to engaging with city officials, our neighbors in the Warehouse District, as well as other community stakeholders to create a destination that everyone is proud of and that reflects the amazing culture of New Orleans. We will continue to share additional details as the project progresses.”
With the ground lease and development agreements approved, Omni will follow the process of acquiring the necessary permits required by the City of New Orleans. Hotel design will continue throughout 2025, and construction is expected to start in 2026. Once complete, the hotel will support approximately 1,400 permanent jobs across all sectors, generate roughly $213.6 million in annual impact on the local economy and add a combined $15.2 million in annual tax revenue for the city and the state.
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