Resilience, reinvention, and joy—it’s easy to ascribe those qualities to New Orleans, but they also apply to the Four Seasons hotel that bears the city’s name. Now, five years after the property opened, it’s an apt time to commemorate the way Four Seasons Hotel & Residences New Orleans has come to be intertwined with life in the Crescent City and its role as a luxury destination and integral part of the city’s vibrant culture of music, cuisine, and celebration.
The story begins with the historic building designed by Edward Durrell Stone in the 1960s as the World Trade Center, with a cruciform plan that nodded to the four corners of the compass and New Orleans’ place as a center of international commerce. Fifty years later the beloved landmark was empty and ripe for reimagining. The city had taken it over, but several attempts at renovation were unsuccessful, until Alan Leventhal, chief executive of Beacon Capital Partners, happened to see the building and envisioned it as a great hotel. He assembled a team that was committed to giving the building new life—and to investing substantial sums—and a bright future for the landmark was assured. Not only were the interiors transformed by designer Bill Rooney with a lightness and sophistication that invited contemporary travelers, but the building also served as a broader symbol of adaptive reuse and a catalyst for urban renewal.
Notes General Manager Esther Oh Kostecky, “Its reopening as Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans in 2021 marked an incredible moment of optimism, even as the world was navigating a global pandemic. Just weeks later, Hurricane Ida tested that optimism again.” Undaunted, however, like the city itself, the hotel soon welcomed guests anew and has continued, she adds, “to refine and elevate the guest experience without losing our sense of place.”
And that place is definitely close to the heartbeat of the city. The hotel stands just steps from the historic French Quarter, undoubtedly one of the first stops on any traveler’s itinerary. Other locals’ favorite neighborhoods are nearby waiting to be explored: Magazine Street, for example, offers plentiful boutiques, cafés, and galleries; and the Julia Street corridor is buzzing hub with its own galleries, restaurants, and cultural venues.
The adjacent riverfront area has seen astonishing growth and improvements, with a two-mile-long stretch of pedestrian paths, parks and other green space, and an event pavilion. The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium has been renovated to the tune of $34 million, a new ferry terminal has been built, and Spanish Plaza has also been upgraded.
As for the hotel itself, it includes 341 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites (and 92 private residences) in its 34 stories, along with a spa, fitness center, pool deck, and two fine dining restaurants. The decor throughout pays homage to local style and the Louisiana environment with white shiplap walls, white-oak details, and, above the beds, oversize plaster wall reliefs depicting magnolia flowers. A notable highlight is the thoughtfully curated permanent collection of contemporary paintings by New Orleans artists and others who’ve been inspired by the spirit of the city and its surroundings. In the lobby, Dawn DeDeaux’s Water Markers sculpture notes the actual water levels residents encountered after Hurricane Katrina; it’s a hauntingly beautiful marker of resilience.
Food and drink, of course, are among the attractions of a New Orleans journey, and the superb offerings at the hotel—under the direction of Executive Chef Dario Montelvere, a Robb Report culinary master—reflect the city’s heritage, from regional cuisine and local seafood to steakhouse dishes.
Meanwhile, the glamorous Chandelier Bar—named for the sparkling custom light installation of some 15,000 crystals that is the centerpiece of the hotel lobby—is the place to sip classic New Orleans libations like the Sazerac and French 75 or a signature Chandelier martini. The space also hosts jazz performances and is a popular gathering place for visitors and locals alike.
Every momentous occasion deserves a toast, and this anniversary is no exception, but rather than put limits on the partying, Oh Kostecky says, “We’re celebrating in a way that reflects the spirit of the hotel and the city through culture, creative expression, and a genuine sense of connection. We see the anniversary as a continuation of how we evolve through thoughtful programming, seasonal culinary experiences, and moments that feel distinctly rooted in New Orleans.”