NEW ORLEANS - The historic headquarters of the former New Orleans Public Service, Inc., (NOPSI) is being reinvented as a luxury 217-room hotel called NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans.



Located in the city's vibrant Central Business District on the corner of Baronne and Union streets, the nine-story brick building originally opened in 1927. It will reopen as NOPSI Hotel in spring 2017 after a meticulous restoration returns each space to its previous splendor, including the building's street facades, cast iron rails and stone panels.



The NOPSI Hotel will include some of the most refined accommodations in the city - including 74 suites - a lively and regionally inspired restaurant, 10,000 square feet of architecturally significant indoor and outdoor meeting space, and a sophisticated rooftop pool and bar.



The property's developer is Building and Land Technology (BLT), a leading national real estate investor and developer. The NOPSI Hotel will be managed by acclaimed luxury hotel company Salamander Hotels & Resorts.



A high point of the building's elaborate transformation is a beautiful "Grand Hall" lobby entrance, featuring a 21-foot-high vaulted ceiling, graceful arches, ornamental columns, wood wall paneling, brass grills and terrazzo flooring.



The historic renovation also includes the conversion of the adjacent and former Dryades Building into the city's most unique meeting and event space. At 4,000 square feet, this industrially elegant space will even include a preserved 24-foot-high crane and track as part of its décor.



NOPSI is the acronym of New Orleans' former utility company and transit operator. Thousands of manhole covers still bear the NOPSI name, adding a sense of nostalgia to many of The Crescent City's streets. As befits the building's history, the hotel will provide an energetic base from which to enjoy nearby cultural attractions, festivals, restaurants and nightlife.



Conveniently situated in the heart of the Central Business District within a short walk of The French Quarter, The Warehouse District and The Garden District, the NOPSI Hotel is located near Lafayette Square and close to major attractions like the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the World War II Museum.



The renovation will retain the unique characteristics of the 128-foot-high building, which was designed by Favrot and Livaudais, a Louisiana-based architectural firm that also designed many buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The project's development team has also worked closely with Louisiana's State Historic Preservation Office to ensure the architectural integrity of the building is preserved.



"NOPSI's guests will view their New Orleans experience through the prism of this hotel, which will also serve as a true community gathering place," said Carl R. Kuehner III, CEO of Building and Land Technology (BLT), the building's owner. "We were drawn to the beauty and history of this building, and this renovation ensures the spirit of this great city is fittingly captured."



NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans becomes part of the Salamander portfolio, and specifically the company's Signature Collection, joining the luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, VA, and Henderson Beach Resort, which opens in Destin this November along Florida's Gulf Coast.



"NOPSI will offer a fun and energetic experience which complements Salamander's unique brand of service excellence and authentic approach to hospitality," said Salamander Founder and CEO Sheila C. Johnson, who is also one of America's top entrepreneurs and the co-founder of Black Entertainment Television. "NOPSI will become known as one of the finest urban hotels in America, and we look forward to introducing our clients and customers to the unique spirit of New Orleans, while also exposing new guests to the Salamander service culture that will define the NOPSI experience."



The hotel's classically designed guestrooms will provide a variety of flexible room types, ranging in size from 350 to 800 square feet. Featuring neutral colors with gold accents, they will offer luxurious and refined furnishings, local artwork and the technology demanded by today's discerning traveler. Guest bathrooms will incorporate a soothing spa-like tile design, offering the largest, most luxurious shower in the city.



The ninth floor will feature a Presidential Suite and four Spa Suites with spacious terraces that can be utilized for an extraordinary in-room spa experience, a Salamander area of specialty. With a fitness center, concierge services and 24-hour in-room dining, NOPSI is designed to attend to the need of the modern guest.



The hotel's classic lobby bar will feature a new courtyard garden, as well as a selection of hand-crafted cocktails, craft beer and thoughtfully curated wines.



NOPSI's lively restaurant and bar, which will be called "Public Service," will be located off the lobby but also provide a separate entrance onto Baronne Street. An ever-changing menu will offer classic Gulf Coast seafood, a raw bar, creative food presentations, hand-tossed pizzas and an extensive array of craft, draft and bottled beer. Guests will enjoy a vibrant atmosphere and regular live entertainment, along with a variety of seating options designed to develop a congenial atmosphere. A chef's counter featuring eight stools will overlook an open kitchen with wood-burning pizza oven and rotisserie. Seating up to 118 people, the restaurant will provide communal tables, leather banquettes and an upstairs private dining room.



On its rooftop NOPSI will feature an iconic pool and bar, providing a view of the city's diverse skyline. By day, it will offer a peaceful oasis for hotel guests, serving chilled drinks and creative, healthy fare. But, after 5 p.m., the energy level increases and the bar will transform into one of New Orleans' most exclusive establishments.



In addition to retaining the crane and tracks, which once transported transformers to storage vaults for repair, the hotel's ballroom features huge arched windows and a soaring 30-foot ceiling. Epitomizing the building's historic significance, this unique design will quickly make NOPSI the premier venue for New Orleans' high-profile weddings, fundraisers and charitable balls. Six richly appointed boardrooms and breakout rooms, ranging in size from 475 to 1150 square feet, will also offer a popular destination for corporate meetings. Groups may also utilize the hotel's outdoor patio and rooftop pool terrace.



Construction and renovation work at the NOPSI Hotel site is well underway. The project is estimated to create hundreds of permanent jobs within the city once the hotel opens, employ many more during construction, and contribute millions to the local economy and tax base.



"The redevelopment of the former NOPSI building into the new NOPSI Hotel is another sign that our city's economy is growing and booming," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "This project will have a positive impact for New Orleans, creating new jobs and tax revenue and attracting further investment in our city. I applaud Building and Land Technology for its vision and investment in preserving this historic building and welcome a Salamander property and its owner Sheila Johnson to New Orleans."



NOPSI Hotel has entered into membership of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, which represents renowned properties that feature the finest accommodations coupled with attentive, engaging, and exclusive personal service.



"We're proud to welcome another exceptional property to New Orleans' growing list of hotel options, making the destination more attractive than ever before to all types of visitors," said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It's especially exciting to see a historic building used in such an exceptional fashion, and we're thrilled to reintroduce the word 'NOPSI' to our city's vocabulary."



The hotel's architect of record and general contractor is Woodward Design + Build from New Orleans, while the interior designer is Kent Interior Design from Atlanta.



For more information, visit www.NOPSIHotel.com . 

About Salamander Hotels & Resorts

Salamander Hotels & Resorts is a privately owned and operated company based in Middleburg, VA, just outside Washington, D.C. Founded by entrepreneur Sheila C. Johnson in 2005, the company has a portfolio that features a collection of three renowned Florida golf resorts including Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Reunion Resort in Orlando and Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast; the luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, a 340-acre equestrian-inspired property near Washington, D.C.; the development and management of Henderson Beach Resort, a 170-room beachfront resort in Destin, FL, opening in November 2016; and the development and management of NOPSI Hotel, New Orleans, a 217-room luxury and historic hotel opening in 2017. For additional information, call (540) 687-3710 or visit www.salamanderhotels.com . 

About Building and Land Technology

(BLT) is a privately held real estate private equity, development and property management firm. Founded in 1982, BLT is vertically integrated and has invested, developed, owned and managed over five million square feet of commercial space and over 10,000 residential units. BLT is one of the largest office landlords in Connecticut, and its office holdings include the corporate headquarters for Gen Re, GE Commercial Finance, Diageo, GE Real Estate, Xerox, GE Energy, Design Within Reach, Kayak Software, AON/Hewitt, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Structured Portfolio Management. BLT is the developer of numerous residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects, including Harbor Point, a transformative mixed-use development in Stamford, CT ( www.harborpt.com ). One of the largest redevelopments on the Eastern seaboard, Harbor Point encompasses an entire neighborhood, with a full mile of waterfront, more than 4,000 residential units, and several million square feet of commercial development. BLT's holdings include more than 100 active real estate companies, a majority interest in William Pitt Sotheby's residential brokerage firm with 28 offices and 1,100 agents, a mortgage and insurance company, and numerous private equity investments. www.bltoffice.com .

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In Case You Missed It - Recent Awards:

• New Orleans was named the number one city in the U.S. for International Visitor Growth in 2015.
  • The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Travel & Tourism Office, a section within the International Trade Administration announced a 37% increase in international visitors to New Orleans and a 36% increase in international visitors to Louisiana.
• Elle UK named New Orleans one of the "Top 5 Music Destinations in the World," August 2016.
• Travel + Leisure has named New Orleans "Number 1 City for Food in the U.S.," August 2016.

  • 	Dooky Chase's Restaurant

    The Best Cities for Food in the U.S. list is a part of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2016. Results are conducted by readers of the magazine, website and social media.
  • New Orleans was also ranked "No. 7 City in the World" and No. 2 among "The Best Cities in the U.S." in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2016.
• Condé Nast Traveler ranked New Orleans number nine on the list of "Friendliest Cities in the U.S.", August 2016.
• New Orleans was named one of "2016's Top Labor Day Destinations" by HotelPlanner.com, August 2016.
• New Orleans restaurant, N7, named in "Top 10 Best New Restaurants in America" by Bon Appétit, August 2016.
   

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS­

• New Orleans has been selected to host the 66^th NBA All-Star Game 2017 for the third time in 10 years. The game will be played on Sunday, February 19^th at the Smoothie King Center.
• Allegiant Air has announced non-stop flights from Concord, NC to New Orleans with fares as low as $45 beginning on November 18, 2016.
• GLO Airlines has announced its fifth non-stop flight destination from New Orleans to Huntsville, AL beginning on September 30, 2016.
  • This new flight to Huntsville, AL will be offered three days a week on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
• The Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans has announced their 40^th Anniversary Season offerings, including the Performing and Visual Arts Season that will highlight interdisciplinary; spirit of forward-thinking dreamers.
  • The CAC 40^th season began in August and will continue through June 30, 2017.
     

UPCOMING EVENTS AND DEVELOPMENTS

• The inaugural New Orleans Daiquiri Season is set to take over New Orleans for the month of September.
  • Formerly the New Orleans Daiquiri Festival, the Tales of the Cocktail team is bringing back the festival as a season with 30 days of special events and tastings across New Orleans.
• Southern Decadence, the largest LGBT event in New Orleans, returns to New Orleans' French Quarter for its 45^th year August 31-September 5 for a weekend of parties, concerts, parades and revelry.
  • New Orleans is a major destination for LGBT travelers, affirming the history of diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness in welcoming all.
• Louisiana Seafood Festival will welcome a weekend full of seafood, live music, celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, an arts village, family activities and more to the City Park Festival Grounds September 2-4.
  • This festival celebrates the fresh and flavorful bounty of seafood in Louisiana.
  • Advance tickets are $8 per day or $22 for a weekend pass. Tickets will increase to $10 per day at the gate, with proceeds extending support to flood victims in Louisiana. 
     
• Jazz in the Park returns to Armstrong Park on September 8^th offering much more than a live concert series, with local music, artwork and lots of food vendors.
  • Jazz in the Park will occur every Thursday from 4-8 p.m. through November 3, 2016.
• The 4^th Annual Downriver Festival will celebrate "Oysters & the Future of Our Coast" along the Mississippi River with live music, cooking demonstrations, presentations and panels on Saturday, September 10^th from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. at the Old U.S. Mint and the French Market.
• Throughout the week of September 12-18, Restaurant Week New Orleans, formerly "We Live to Eat Restaurant Week,"  offers discounted menus across the city.
  • Restaurant Week New Orleans offers lunch menus for $20 or less, as well as dinner and brunch menus for $39 or less.
• The 8^th annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival will host parties, discussion panels, burlesque workshops and the Queen of Burlesque competition September 15-18.
• The inaugural Fried Chicken Festival will take place on September 25^th in Lafayette Square with over 20 restaurants offering their take on the celebrated southern staple.
  • The festival will celebrate National Chicken Finger Day from 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. with family-friendly activities, live music throughout the day and of course, lots of fried chicken.
  • Vendors will compete to win the title in the Best Fried Chicken Contest, judged by local and national food experts.
• Festivals will continue through October with some big names and local favorites:
  • Hosted by the Contemporary Arts Center, Art for Arts' Sake will welcome over 30,000 guests to stroll the Warehouse District art galleries, gift shops and exhibits along Julia Street and Magazine Street on October 1^st.
  • Tremé Fall Festival returns October 1-2 for the second-annual celebration of this cherished New Orleans neighborhood through live music, food, arts, building projects, free health screenings and tours of St. Augustine Church and more.
  • Oscar®-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival, presented by the New Orleans Film Society, returns for its 27^th year October 12-20.
    • The New Orleans Film Festival received more than 4,000 submissions from 115 different countries and will be showcasing a lineup of 200 films.
  • The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival will bring local and regional art vendors, live music and lots of great barbecue with an emphasis on Louisiana cuisine to Lafayette Square October 14-16.
  • New Orleans' official Halloween Parade, the Krewe of Boo will roll Saturday, October 22 from the Marigny Neighborhood to Downtown New Orleans.
  • October 23^rd will mark the 10^th annual Oak Street Po-Boy Festival with live music, local merchants and more than 50 vendors offering their best po-boy.
  • Halloween weekend brings the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience October 28-30, with an impressive lineup of artists including G-Eazy, Band of Horses, Kevin Gates, Mutemath and more.

For a full list of festivals, click here.

RESTAURANTS

• Chef Emeril Lagasse's newest restaurant in New Orleans, Meril, will open its doors on September 24^th.
  • Meril is the first new restaurant in New Orleans for Chef Emeril Lagasse in almost two decades.
  • Chef Will Avelar will be at the helm in the kitchen. He most recently served as sous chef at Emeril's Delmonico.
  • It is named after the celebrity chef's daughter and will have a menu inspired by meals Lagasse enjoys cooking at home for his family, dishes he's enjoyed while traveling as well as inspiration from years of experience.
  • The restaurant is located in the New Orleans Warehouse District and will be open daily for lunch and dinner.
     

AIRPORT

• Construction has begun on a new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, set to debut in 2018.
• This $826 million project will feature 30 gates, a 2,000-car parking garage, a central utility plant and a ground transportation staging area.
• The new terminal is projected to have a $3.2 billion annual economic impact on tourism in New Orleans.
• The airport has also added a variety of new flights:
  • Allegiant (One new twice-weekly departure to Concord Regional Airport beginning November 18, 2016)
  • GLO Airlines (Three times weekly departure to Huntsville International Airport beginning on September 30, 2016)
  • Condor (One new twice-weekly departure to Frankfurt, Germany, beginning May 3, 2017)
  • Allegiant (One new twice-weekly departure to Tulsa International Airport, May 26, 2016)
  • GLO (Two new seasonal weekly departures to Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, June 24-September 5, 2016)
  • JetBlue (One new daily departure to Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, beginning September 29, 2016)
  • Branson AirExpress (Return of seasonal air service four times weekly to Branson Airport, May 26-August 14, 2016)
• Condor will begin seasonal nonstop flights from Frankfurt, Germany to New Orleans twice weekly on May 3, 2017.
  • This will be New Orleans' first nonstop flight to Europe since the 1980s and will connect New Orleans passengers to more than 120 other cities in the Eastern hemisphere through Condor's partner airlines.
  • Flights will depart on Wednesdays and Sundays on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 259 seats.
  • The flight is estimated to bring nearly 10,000 people to New Orleans annually.
     

MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS

• American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine Annual Meeting | September 13-25
  • This annual meeting is the premier event for Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic medicine professionals; it will host guest speakers, workshops and educational sessions focusing on all realms of electrodiagnosis neuromuscular diseases and neuromuscular ultrasound.
  • Projected attendance: 1,200
• ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. ServiceMaster Experience | September 14-17
  • For the first time, the inaugural ServiceMaster Experience will bring all cleaning, home maintenance, pest control and lawn fertilization brands together to showcase services through a state-of-the-art, interactive mobile exhibit.
  • Projected attendance: 1,400
• Water Environment Federation (WEFTEC) | September 24-28
  • WEFTEC is North America's largest meeting of its kind, offering water quality professionals from around the globe the opportunity to learn water quality education and training.
  • Projected attendance: 18,000
     

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The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is a nationally accredited, 1,100- member destination marketing organization and the largest and most successful private economic development corporation in Louisiana. The CVB and its members influence thousands of decision-makers and millions of visitors to choose New Orleans through direct sales, marketing, public relations, branding and visitor services at our New Orleans headquarters and offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago and four foreign countries. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB celebrates its 56th anniversary in 2016.

For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com, follow us on Twitter (@NewOrleansCVB), 'like' us on Facebook (Visit New Orleans) and follow us on Instagram (VisitNewOrleans).

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