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The Roosevelt New Orleans To Celebrate Its Grand Opening in High Style Oct. 23 - 25

Monday, September 14th, 2009 | News | 3 Comments

Event Also Marks Introduction of John Besh’s Domenica Restaurant and Internationally Acclaimed Guerlain Spa

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The Roosevelt New Orleans will roll out the red carpet for a historic grand-opening gala weekend Oct. 23-25 featuring world-famous New Orleans entertainers and the introduction of John Besh’s Domenica Restaurant and the acclaimed Guerlain Spa, benefiting area non-profits.

The newest member of the Waldorf Astoria brand, the hotel follows up on its July ribbon-cutting with a weekend of festivities expected to attract up to 1,000 guests to hear New Orleans’ first family of funk, the Neville Brothers; Grammy Award-winning singer Irma Thomas; musician, composer and producer Allen Toussaint; and clarinetist Tim Laughlin.

The events will coincide with the opening of Domenica as well as the introduction of the 12,500-square-foot Guerlain Spa, which will feature 10 private treatment rooms, a fitness center, a couple’s therapy suite and more.

“Our grand-opening marks the return of a New Orleans icon that is revered by locals and visitors from around the world,” said general manager Tod Chambers. “Downtown New Orleans has what we call a ‘sense of place’ because of its history and vibrancy. Now, with the return of The Roosevelt, we’re playing a key role in our city’s future.”

The Oct. 23 and 24 events are combined into one package that includes a two-night stay at the luxurious hotel, two tickets to the events, a welcome amenity upon arrival, a Roosevelt New Orleans commemorative gift and valet parking. Entertainment includes:

* Oct. 23: The Neville Brothers in the Roosevelt Ballroom starting at 8 p.m. Included are two tickets to the performance, hors d’oeuvres and an open-bar reception.
* Oct. 24: Grammy Award-winning singer Irma Thomas and musician, composer, and producer Allen Toussaint in the Roosevelt Ballroom starting at 8 p.m. Included are two tickets to the performance, a four-course dinner, wine and a champagne toast. Black tie is required for this event.

Prices for these packaged events are $1,500 per couple for guests choosing a deluxe room and $1,750 per couple for those preferring a luxury suite.

Tickets to the Oct. 25 champagne jazz brunch in the Blue Room, open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., may be purchased at an additional cost of $75 each.

Reservations are available by calling in-house reservations at (504) 648-5380.

Couple Celebrates 65th Anniversary

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 | News | No Comments

Charles and Marian Gant returned to The Roosevelt New Orleans where they spent their honeymoon sixty-five years before. Their stay was filled with one surprise after another, making it a trip that would not soon be forgotten.

Read the whole story.

Tickets Still Available for Aug. 28 Performance of “The Kingfish” Inside The Roosevelt’s Blue Room

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 | Blue Room, News | 1 Comment

Event Includes Welcome Sazerac Cocktail, Three-Course Dinner and The Kingfish in the Blue Room Aug. 28

Two decades after its triumphant off-Broadway premiere, The Kingfish is back, with an Aug. 28 production of the one-man play depicting the life and times of famed Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long at the location he called home in New Orleans – The Roosevelt New Orleans.

Doors open for the performance Friday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. in the Blue Room. Featuring actor John “Spud” McConnell, the performance also will celebrate Long’s 116th birthday.

“It’s a phenomenal milestone for The Kingfish to be performed at The Roosevelt Hotel,” said Tod Chambers, general manager of The Roosevelt. “Long was one of the hotel’s devotees. He spent so much time here that, according to Louisiana legend, he even built a 90-mile highway, Airline Highway, directly from the state capitol in Baton Rouge to the hotel.”

In addition to the performance, the evening will consist of a three-course dinner, including red velvet birthday cake; a celebratory Sazerac cocktail; and valet parking.

McConnell has received national acclaim for his on-stage portrayals of Louisiana’s most colorful characters, including Huey P. Long (The Kingfish), Earl K. Long (Earl Long in Purgatory) and Ignatius J. Riley (A Confederacy of Dunces). His career also has taken him to Hollywood for three seasons on ABC’s hit television show Roseanne. He also can be heard weekdays on The Spud Show on WWL 870 AM.

“It’s a great theatre story,” McConnell said. “The Kingfish opened in New Orleans in August 1988 for the Republican National Convention, so it’s special to bring the production back to the city where it all began.”

Tickets for the dinner show, which are limited in number, are $185 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity, and can be purchased by calling The Roosevelt at (504) 648-5380.

The Roosevelt New Orleans Celebrates Official Opening with Ribbon-Cutting

Friday, July 31st, 2009 | Blue Room, News, Sazerac Bar | 2 Comments

Milestone Includes Ceremony in Typical New Orleans Style, Along with Dignitaries Present and “Past”

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At The Roosevelt’s ribbon-cutting ceremony July 30 are (left to right) former Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long (played by a local actor); principal owner Sam Friedman of Dimension Development; Alan Rose with Dimension Development; Tod Chambers, general manager of the hotel; Paul Brown, president of Global Brands and Shared Services for Hilton Hotels Corporation); Jackie Clarkson, New Orleans City Council vice president); and Stacy Head, member of the New Orleans City Council.

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Also at the ceremony were former President Teddy Roosevelt, portrayed by a local actor; Tod Chambers, hotel general manager; Paul Brown, president of Global Brands and Shared Services for Hilton Hotels Corporation; Tim Benolken, senior vice president, also of Hilton Hotels Corporation; Andy Slater, area vice president of Hilton Hotels Corporation); and former Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long, portrayed by a local actor.

To mark its official return as New Orleans’ grand-hotel and a top American luxury property, Hilton Hotels Corporation executives along with New Orleans dignitaries including two “legends” last seen at the hotel almost three-fourths of a century ago cut the ribbon today to The Roosevelt New Orleans, a downtown landmark.

“Today represents the passion and determination of the people of New Orleans, its city leaders and our ownership to preserving the past while celebrating the future of this great city and iconic hotel,” said Tod Chambers, general manager of the 116-year-old hotel. “Ecstatic, proud and a tremendous sense of accomplishment are words that come to mind.”

Following a $145-million historic restoration that returns the Roosevelt name for the first time since 1965, the hotel is the newest member of the Waldorf Astoria Brand. “The Roosevelt holds a special place in the hearts of New Orleanians and visitors from around the world. Today is definitely a day for celebration.”

Joining Chambers to cut the ribbon was Paul Brown, president of Global Brands and Shared Services for Hilton Hotels Corporation, of which the Waldorf Astoria Brand is the luxury arm.

To be part of the Waldorf Astoria Brand, a hotel must be an iconic local landmark that radiates timeless luxury, impeccable service and world-class style,” Brown said. “The Roosevelt does just that. From its classic elegance and storied venues, such as the Blue Room and the Sazerac Bar, to its incomparably rich history, The Roosevelt is archetypical example of the type of property that characterizes the Waldorf Astoria brand.

“Today’s ceremony is another important milestone in Hilton’s continuing commitment to New Orleans and to the vibrant spirit of this community.”

Other presenters were New Orleans City Council president Jacqueline Brechtel Clarkson and principal owner Sam Friedman of Dimension Development.

Taking to the podium following a downtown motorcade in a 1941 yellow convertible Cadillac coupe once owned by the Vanderbilt family were “Louisiana Gov. Huey P. Long” and “U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.” Each was portrayed by a local actor to salute the pair’s connections to the legendary hotel.

Long, a populist governor in the late 1920s and U.S. Senator in the early 1930s until his death in 1935, kept a suite at he hotel for much of his public life and was responsible for tales regarding the hotel that linger today. The name of the hotel, which opened in 1893 as the Grunewald, was changed to The Roosevelt in 1925 in honor of the former President, who also was a frequent guest and whose likeness, complete with spectacles and moustache, still marks one of the hotel’s historic entrances. The hotel bore that moniker until it was renamed the Fairmont in the mid-1960s.

Providing music for the rebirth of the hotel and of the city itself were the Rebirth Brass Band and pianist Ronnie Kole.

The grand hotel boasts 504 rooms, of which 135 are luxury suites, some named for celebrities who once visited the hotel. Other amenities include a comprehensive business center, private dining and suite butler service, an outdoor pool and courtyard, and a specialty gift shop.

The Blue Room also has been restored to its previous splendor and already is serving as a place for families and friends to enjoy good music and food and celebrate life’s special occasions. On Sunday mornings starting in October, the Blue Room will feature a grand brunch complete with delights such as mascarpone-stuffed French toast with house-made satsuma marmalade, boiled Gulf shrimp, a carving table featuring the finest roasted meats and much more.

Guests have the opportunity to enjoy a beverage in the Sazerac Bar and Restaurant, a Roosevelt landmark for decades. The Sazerac Bar serves its signature Sazerac beverage and Ramos Gin Fizz – both invented in New Orleans and made popular worldwide by The Roosevelt and by Long – among other delights. In addition to beverages that stimulate the palate, Sazerac patrons again enjoy the Art Deco-style murals by artist Paul Ninas.

The Roosevelt New Orleans also features nearly 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including three spectacular ballrooms and 23 distinctive meeting and event rooms that span two floors of the hotel.

To take advantage of any of the hotel’s offers, guests and visitors can call 1-800-WALDORF or visit www.therooseveltneworleans.com. For more information about booking any of the rooms, contact Mark Wilson at (504) 648-1200 or at mark.wilson@hilton.com.

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New Orleans Hotel Reopens Four Years After Katrina

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 | News | No Comments

New Orleans (AP) - The massive lobby, with its ornate trim, glittering Italian crystal chandeliers and mosaic floors, looks much as it did when Louisiana’s Kingfish, Gov. Huey P. Long last strolled through. Some say a box full of kickbacks and shakedown money was tucked under his arm as he made his way to his regular suite in the 1930s.

The Roosevelt Hotel has finally reopened in downtown New Orleans four years after Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to a $145 million renovation, it’s making an opulent return to its heyday, when the likes of Long, a parade of Hollywood stars and the country’s movers and shakers held court there.

The hotel was built in 1893, but the grandest period was from the 1920s and ’30s, said general manager Tod Chambers. We wanted to restore it to that era.

The Roosevelt’s renaissance is also a milestone in the city’s recovery from the August 2005 storm. Now only one major hotel, the Hyatt, remains shuttered, along with an adjacent shopping center attached to the Louisiana Superdome. The hurricane flooded 80 percent of New Orleans, crippling its vital tourist industry, but the French Quarter suffered minimal damage, and many hotels, restaurants and attractions, like the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium, reopened within months. Only a few major tourist sites remain closed, including the heavily damaged Six Flags amusement park.

But Katrina left 10 feet of water in the Roosevelt’s basement, destroying mechanical equipment, while wind-driven rain inundated most guest floors. As other hotels returned, the Fairmont, as it was then known, remained boarded up. Then in August 2007, the Roosevelt was bought by Louisiana based Dimension Development for $19 million. Dimension then brought in Hilton to renovate it and operate it as part of the company’s upscale Waldorf-Astoria portfolio.

Hilton decided to reopen the property as a 504-room, 135-suite luxury hotel under the Roosevelt name. The hotel was originally called the Grunwald, but in 1923 it became the Roosevelt, in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt. It was during the hotel’s grandest era that Long, the governor of Louisiana from 1928 to 1932 and as a U.S. senator from 1932 to 1935, was a regular guest.

Historians say every state employee who received a job from Long was expected to contribute to his campaign fund, which was kept in a locked box. Without a base of wealthy political contributors, Long reasoned this was an appropriate source of funds for his political activities.

After Long’s assassination in September 1935, the box was believed to have been stolen by one of his associates. Although legend has it that the box accompanied him on trips to the Roosevelt, Chambers said it did not show up during the renovation. A replica of the box is planned for the lobby, however.

The reopening of the Roosevelt gives New Orleans about 34,000 hotel rooms, still shy of the 39,500 in use before Katrina struck, but plenty to serve major conventions and sporting events, said Mary Beth Romig, spokeswoman for the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Another important point is the ballroom space they bring, Romig said. That’s important for conventions that want everything in one location _ their delegates, meetings, displays and awards events.

The hotel has 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the 20,000-square-foot Roosevelt Ballroom, 12,000-square-foot Crescent City Ballroom and the 7,000-square-foot Waldorf Astoria Ballroom.

As important, Romig said, is the return of the iconic Blue Room _ Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Rosemary Clooney, Marlene Dietrich and Sonny and Cher all performed there.

The Blue Room, which reopens in late July with a concert by jazz clarinetist Pete Fountain, and the Sazerac Bar, have been Roosevelt landmarks for decades.

We went there after my high school prom, Romig said. There have been so many weddings there, so many special events. The hotel holds a very special place in local hearts.

A huge Christmas display, which fills the block-long lobby, is also going to return, complete with masses of trees, lights and choirs.

One of the delights of the restoration, Chambers said, was finding architectural details hidden by past renovations, including ornate plaster work under dropped ceilings and mosaic tile set in intricate patterns under heavy duty industrial blue carpeting.

And in the Sazerac Bar, the Art Deco murals by artist Paul Ninas are again on display.

Ninas, a pioneer modernist, moved to New Orleans in 1932 and painted the murals shortly thereafter.

One of the great delights of New Orleans is to get a Sazerac cocktail, which was invented in New Orleans, and gaze at those paintings, said William Fagaly, curator of African art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Everybody in New Orleans is looking forward to doing that again.

Winding of the Clock Ceremony

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 | News | No Comments

Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, served as the celebrity clock winder at The Roosevelt New Orleans. The ceremony, held every Thursday at 4 p.m., bestows the honor of winding The Roosevelt’s historic French clock located in the lobby of the hotel to a local celebrity or key member of the community.

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First Wedding Cake!

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 | News | No Comments

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Executive pastry chef Robert Plouffe and his team stand by their masterpiece. The cake was constructed for the hotel’s first wedding party June 27. (Pictured from left to right: Santto Cheramie, Debbie Hyde and Chef Robert Plouffe)

Interview with General Manager Tod Chambers

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 | News | No Comments

Travel Talk Radio chats with The Roosevelt New Orleans general manager Tod Chambers about the hotel’s restoration and opening. The interview covers everything from the hotel renovation to the lighting of the Roosevelt sign.

Listen to the full interview!

Return of Entertainment to the Sazerac Bar and Blue Room

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 | Blue Room, News, Sazerac Bar | 2 Comments

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After nearly 50 years, The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel is again claiming its spot as a top music destination in the city and around the world.

Starting in July, guests can enjoy the fresh and imaginative sounds of jazz clarinetist Tim Laughlin inside the legendary Sazerac Bar. Laughlin will bring a sound and style that is uniquely his own, contrasting the classic style with which he grew up with the contemporary influences of others. Performance dates are July 9–11, 16–18 and 23–25, with shows beginning at 8 p.m. nightly.

On July 31, legendary clarinetist Pete Fountain will take the stage at the Blue Room with Laughlin. Together they will bring back the kind of star entertainment that once made the Blue Room one of America’s premier night clubs and supper clubs. The event will include a champagne reception and dinner starting at 7 p.m., with music to follow.

The grand hotel returns with 504 rooms, of which 135 are luxury suites; the legendary Blue Room; the Sazerac Bar and Restaurant, John Besh’s Domenica Restaurant and Teddy’s Cafe; state-of-the-art meeting and convention rooms; and a 12,000-square-foot, world-class Guerlain Spa and fitness center.

Other amenities designed to position The Roosevelt New Orleans as a destination favored by travelers include a comprehensive business center, private dining and suite butler service, an outdoor pool and courtyard, and a specialty gift shop.

Free Coffee and Doughnuts for New Orleans Taxi Drivers

Monday, June 29th, 2009 | News | No Comments

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To publicize its July 1 opening, The Roosevelt New Orleans passed out doughnuts and coffee to almost 500 taxi drivers recently at New Orleans International Airport, along with Roosevelt-branded packs of fare receipts to give to their fares. Hotel management was on hand to pass out the food while answering questions. The drivers, of course, were quite pleased with the event and echoed their excitement for the reopening of the hotel.