When it re-opens in downtown New Orleans on Oct. 19, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans will have two new ballrooms, each totaling 25,000 square feet, hotel officials announced last month.
The hotel, which has been closed since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, is currently undergoing a $275 million redesign and revitalization. Upon completion, it will have 1,193 all-new guest rooms and 200,000 square feet of meeting space — double the amount it had prior to Katrina — including 64 meeting and banquet rooms, 21 executive-level meeting rooms, seven permanent boardrooms and more than 80,000 square feet of exhibition space, highlighted by a new 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
The ballrooms, The Celestin Ballroom and The Empire Ballroom, are both evocative of New Orleans' cityscape and culture. The Empire Ballroom, for instance, is named for the city's historic Empire Theater. Along with six chandeliers made of Italian hand-blown glass teardrops, its signature elements include floor-to-ceiling glass windows; access to a private, outdoor terrace; and a dramatic floating staircase that leads to a 10,000-square-foot pre-function space adjacent to the ballroom.
The Celestin Ballroom, meanwhile, is named after famed American jazz musician Oscar "Papa" Celestin. Featuring custom woodwork and beveled mirrors, not to mention 12 crystal chandeliers, it was inspired by French damask and New Orleans' entwined streetways.
Both The Celestin and Empire Ballrooms can host events up to 3,000 guests.
"We have achieved a truly spectacular transformation at Hyatt Regency New Orleans, and at the center of it all is our amazing Empire Ballroom, which is unlike anything you will find in the city or likely the region," said General Manager Michael Smith. "With our sleek, contemporary design, incredible culinary offerings and unmatched level of service, we will set a new standard as the leading events destination in New Orleans."