April | CS On The Road | By D. Fran Morley

ConventionSouth Explores Harrah’ New Orleans Casino & Hotel

Editor’s Note: This is a first-hand account of the author’s experiences.

Harrah’s Southern Gem Shines Brighter With New Hotel

Taking a chance on Harrah’s New Orleans Casino and Hotel is as close to a sure bet as one can get in the gaming and meetings world, as I learned during a press visit late last fall.

Construction on the 450-room hotel that opened in September 2006 began prior to Hurricane Katrina and resumed shortly afterwards, emphasizing Harrah’s commitment to rebuild the city, said Jim Hoskins, senior vice president and general manager. “We’re committed to the continuing recovery of the city’s tourism industry, and with this hotel, we can bring even more Harrah’s customers from across the nation to New Orleans than ever before.”

Connected by an underground walkway to the casino, the hotel is just blocks from the riverfront, the trendy Warehouse/Arts District, the city’s newly renovated and reopened convention center and all that the French Quarter offers. The guest room tower soars 26 stories over the city, but the lower levels of the building were designed to incorporate existing historic structures. The hotel’s jazz club, 528 by Todd English, named for its address, is housed in a building that dates from 1852 and is protected by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The city’s rich history and heritage are celebrated inside the hotel as well, combining elegance and luxury with local ambiance, thanks to artwork from many of the area’s notable artists and photographers. Guests are greeted by a massive wall of embedded cast glass by artist Gene Koss and John T. Scott’s woodblock portrait of jazz great Louis Armstrong. Richard Sexton’s stunning photographs of the city decorate the guest rooms.

The hotel’s generously sized guest rooms made me feel like a high roller, and I particularly enjoyed the luxurious oversized bathroom with deep, marble bath, huge towels, and the thoughtful addition of bath salts. But as we toured the hotel, I saw how the ‘other half’ lives on the 26th floor. The 10 ‘super suites’ on the top floor have amazing views of the downtown and riverfront and 24-hour private butler service, and two come complete with baby grand pianos. Sweet!

The casino and hotel’s generous meeting space includes the 4,032-square-foot Vieux Carre Ballroom, the spacious Fulton Street meeting rooms, and a smaller conference room and executive boardroom.
We dined at as many of Harrah’s restaurants as we could, enjoying the innovative continental cuisine at Chef Todd English’s newest restaurant, Riche, located inside the hotel; the fresh-brewed lagers, ales and stouts at the Gordon Biersch Brewery, which overlooks the Fulton Street Promenade; and the Asian-fusion creations at Bambu, just inside the Canal Street entrance to the Casino and close to the Starbuck’s, no doubt a handy spot when late night players need a boost. Other eateries include the popular Besh Steakhouse and the abundant Buffet, which features a new Italian Pizza Kitchen and chocolate dipping fountain. Both are inside the casino.

Speaking of players, Harrah’s Casino New Orleans has 115,000 square feet of gaming fun, with over 2,000 slots and 92 gaming tables, plus a separate 23-table poker room. The weekend of our visit, a huge Texas Hold’em tournament was just wrapping up, adding to the already palpable excitement on the gaming floor that has a wide variety of beautifully decorated themed and entertainment areas. In addition to its own slots and table games, Masquerade has an impressive lounge with ice bar, soaring high-tech video tower and cool featured dancers. The Theater at Harrah’s is a multi-million dollar 500-seat venue that boasts regularly scheduled live entertainment and is available for special events.

While Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel and Casino can be a one-stop destination, the city has much to offer, of course. Almost all of the museums and attractions are open and several of the city’s signature eateries—including Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s, Mother’s and Emeril’s—are once again creating amazing food. The new and improved Saks Fifth Avenue (now a flagship store for the upscale marketer) opened at The Shops at Canal Place just before Thanksgiving.

The area’s only land-based casino, Harrah’s was selected by readers of Casino Players magazine as “Best Casino” for the past three years. I found nothing during my visit to this exciting New Orleans venue, now paired with a world-class hotel, to make me think otherwise.