FAQS

Convention Center Headquarters Hotel – Omni New Orleans

Business FAQs 

 

The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s mission for the Convention Center is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the state, region and city.

Developing a headquarters hotel next door to the Convention Center is key to the long-term success of the tourism and hospitality industries.

 

1. What is a headquarters hotel?

A headquarters hotel is in close proximity to a convention center, and offers easy access for attendees, with large, dedicated room blocks for meeting planners, and options to host a wide range of add-on events – everything from large banquets to intimate breakout sessions. In our case, the location is right across from Hall C.

 

2. Why does New Orleans need a headquarters hotel?

A convention hotel has not been built in New Orleans since 1982. Omni New Orleans helps the region stay competitive with other cities by offering meeting planners and event organizers dedicated room blocks and event space near the Convention Center. This makes New Orleans a more competitive convention destination, creates jobs and drives greater demand for hotel rooms, restaurants and retail business throughout the city and region.

82% of meeting planners said this project would make them more likely to bring future events to New Orleans, according to an independent survey with the Professional Convention Management Association.

A panel of those same senior event professionals agreed that Omni New Orleans will significantly enhance our competitiveness and solve logistical challenges for large-scale events.

 

3. What are the specific benefits this headquarters hotel would bring to the city?

An independent study projects Omni New Orleans will have an annual economic impact of $213.6 million by year four of its operation, support 1,400 permanent jobs and generate over $15.2 million in new taxes for the city and state.

The permitting fees alone on this project are expected to deliver approximately $5 million in unencumbered new cash to the City of New Orleans.

Construction will create up to 2,500 jobs across multiple trades over a 36-month period, generating workforce opportunities and local spending. Construction and material taxes would generate an additional $11-12 million in new state tax revenue and more than $8.05 million for the city.

 

4. How will this development improve business in the city?

The competition has never been tougher when it comes to recruiting and retaining events and conventions. Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Ohio and Kentucky are adding billions in new convention, stadium and headquarters hotels to their hospitality offerings.

As New Orleans and the State of Louisiana depend on the Convention Center to remain competitive and drive revenue across Southeast Louisiana, the Omni New Orleans will strengthen the Convention Center’s competitiveness, helping retain and attract new events that bring thousands of visitors who will support local small businesses, restaurants and other establishments. You can tell when a big convention or event is in town. We seek to grow the base of business for everyone.

 

5. Do other hotels support the project?

Yes. In fact, the leadership of the hotels closest to the Convention Center, such as the Hilton Garden Inn, Eliza Jane hotel and the Hampton Inn, has all taken a public position in favor of the Omni New Orleans, as they recognize that the hotel will generate net new hotel room demand and elevate the average rates charged at existing hotels.

 

6. Who will own and operate the new headquarters hotel?

Omni Hotels & Resorts (Omni) will develop, own and operate the hotel. Unlike most brands, Omni owns and operates its properties, now over 50 in North America, many of them convention center hotels. The Convention Center owns the land on which the hotel is built and is leasing it to Omni.

 

7. What makes Omni the best partner for this project?

Omni is the preeminent company developing hotels connected to or in close proximity to convention centers and has the financial wherewithal to develop the property in New Orleans. Omni has successful projects in Nashville, Dallas, Fort Worth, Boston, Oklahoma City, San Diego and Louisville – all of which have exceeded expectations. Omni also has projects in development in Raleigh and Fort Lauderdale. Of importance to New Orleans is the attention Omni gives to incorporating the local history and culture into project design.

 

8. How was Omni selected for the project?

Omni has been part of the Authority’s development team since 2018, when the Authority first selected a developer for its upriver site.

 

9. What facilities are planned for the new hotel?

Omni New Orleans is designed to have 1,006 rooms and 100,000 square feet of ballroom, event and meeting space. It will feature several outstanding food and beverage outlets and offer amenities and services found at world-class hotels, including a rooftop pool deck.

 

10. Where will Omni New Orleans be located?

The hotel will be located directly across from the Convention Center on the property formerly known as the Sugar Mill and its adjoining parking lot. Bound by Convention Center Blvd., Andrew Higgins and South Peters with the Mississippi River Heritage Park on the upriver side of the building.

 

11. Were other sites considered?

Yes, both the parking lot between the Convention Center and the Hilton Riverside New Orleans Hotel, commonly known as the Whale Lot, and the Authority-owned 8-acre upriver site in the River District neighborhood were considered. The owners of the Whale Lot were not interested in the opportunity, and the Omni preferred the former Sugar Mill site to the River District location. Demand will eventually drive hotel development in the River District, especially as other key projects, like Shell Riverside, come online in the new neighborhood.

 

12. How will the Mississippi River Heritage Park be impacted?

After over a dozen formal and informal meetings with near neighbors and stakeholders in 2024 and 2025, Omni and Convention Center planners moved off the initial proposed location, which included a portion of the park.

Instead, the park will not be built on, as the building will complement the park and the park will complement the building. Omni is discussing how best to partner with the City of New Orleans to maintain the park, so it remains a premier public space in New Orleans.

This aligns with the Convention Center’s broader investment in preserving public spaces, including its $9 million contribution to the new Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park along the riverfront of the French Quarter and Bywater.

 

13. Is parking a part of the design?

The hotel design includes an integrated 350-space on-site garage, which will be supported by the existing 1,000-car parking garage located across the street, far exceeding what would be expected for a 1,000-room hotel.

Also, the designers maximized space to allow valet cars to move directly into the garage, keeping them off Convention Center Boulevard.

 

14. What about pipes and drainage?

Omni is funding, at its own expense, the replacement of major sewer and drainage lines surrounding the hotel site. As a result, the Warehouse District will benefit from some of the most modern subsurface infrastructure in the city upon the hotel’s completion.

This will complement the River District infrastructure improvements that are expected to provide broader benefits across the entire riverfront area.

 

15. Why does it need to be so tall?

The height is essential to deliver the full headquarters hotel program. It provides the necessary mix of rooms, ballrooms and meeting space that makes the project truly transformational, while maintaining our commitment to keeping parking intact and avoiding expanding the footprint into the park or encroaching on Andrew Higgins Boulevard.

 

16. How will the hotel be financed?

This type and size of economic development often involves a public-private partnership. In this case, the current estimate for the project is $600 million. Omni will fund the hotel with 100% equity and guarantee construction completion and all costs associated with the development that exceed the Convention Center’s governing board’s $80 million investment to support the project and its purchase of the site for $21 million.

 

17. Will there be controls in the development agreement to allow the Convention Center to optimize use of the hotel?

Yes, among them is a “room-block agreement” committing 80% of the room block to use by events in the Convention Center up to a pre-determined number of months out from the event. This is critical to attracting new Conventions and events. Our convention sales team is already marketing the hotel as part of planning for 2030 and beyond to great interest, and we expect the Omni New Orleans to result in up to 27 new events and conventions annually.

In addition, the Convention Center’s governing board has invested $101 million in the project, which will provide a return through a profit-sharing arrangement between Omni and the board.

 

18. Where do labor and union groups fit into the project?

We expect the construction of the building to cost more than $400 million. Over 40% of the expected trades needed to build the Omni New Orleans are unions. That translates into $190 million in union work that will not happen if the hotel doesn’t go forward.

Omni is open to the free and fair organization of elections for any future workforce upon the building’s opening and is committed to following established labor practices.

The vast majority of jobs created by the Omni New Orleans will grow the hospitality industry, opening new pathways and opportunities for workers.

 

19. Who is the general contractor? Will local contractors be able to participate in the project?

Brasfield & Gorrie has been selected by Omni Hotels & Resorts and its parent company, TRT Holdings, to be the general contractor. This will be the eighth Omni headquarters hotel they will have constructed nationwide. Brasfield & Gorrie held a subcontractor symposium on April 14, 2026, attended by 200 local and regional firms and contractors.

Those interested in learning more can contact Brasfield & Gorrie at [INSERT NAME and EMAIL].

You can also visit the contractor’s website for Omni New Orleans at [INSERT LINK].

 

20. What has happened and what happens next?

The Authority approved the principal hotel development documents on January 29, 2025, which provided Omni the necessary clearance to proceed with design of the hotel and initiate the public process for obtaining zoning approval, a height variance and public building permits from the City of New Orleans.

The Convention Center and Omni representatives held seven meetings from April 2025 to early January 2026 with community leaders, small business owners and the City of New Orleans, culminating in a Neighborhood Participation Program (NPP) meeting on January 15, 2026. Over 450 people attended these meetings.

The NPP meeting started the City approval process for zoning, a height variance and public building permits from the City of New Orleans, which is underway.

The project secured approval from the Historic District Landmarks Commission (HDLC) on March 11, 2026, for demolition of the Sugar Mill and a small triangular building, previously used as a tire warehouse, both located on the proposed site.

The City Planning Commission Advisory Committee, on April 8, 2026, approved [INSERT MORE INFO]. The City Planning Commission approved the proposed zoning requests on April 14, 2026.

The demolition and zoning requests will go to the City Council for approval later this year.

Construction is expected to last 3 years and begin in late 2026, pending zoning approvals and permits.

The hotel is anticipated to open in 2030.

 

21. Bottom line: How does the HQ hotel impact the future of New Orleans?

The City of New Orleans has struggled to attract major investment over the past decade. Opportunity and Omni’s belief in the city and tate as a market is a testament to hard work paying off, from Governor Landry to Mayor Moreno, down to the 440 employees of the Convention Center, who consistently put on the top shows in the world.

New Orleans is a great American city, and great cities don’t stand still. They invest, they compete and they lead.

This project will spur economic momentum, job creation and investment across the region, as New Orleans and the State of Louisiana demonstrate that we are Built to Host.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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