Fairmont has a new flagship, and it comes with a side of jazz. The brand just opened Fairmont New Orleans, a 17-story conversion of the former Bank of New Orleans building in the Central Business District, a short walk from the French Quarter. The opening is doubly significant: it's Fairmont's 100th hotel worldwide and its first New Orleans property in about 20 years.

The 250-room hotel leans into its banking heritage. Original sidewalks, the entry canopy, lobby floors and concrete walls on the first two floors have been restored, along with decorative bronze paneling and a local cypress ceiling on the second level. Rockwell Group handled interiors, and the lobby is the showpiece — a mirror-clad monumental stair reflecting a three-story chandelier inspired by magnolia flowers and Spanish moss, plus custom brass relief panels from Italy. Guestrooms aim for a residential feel with European-style flooring, paneled artwork and floor-to-ceiling windows; some king rooms get 'faux balconies' with café tables for that French Quarter vibe.

Food is a major draw. Fairmont partnered with hometown star Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group, bringing Delmonico Steakhouse to the city as its first location outside Las Vegas. There's also The Café by Emeril, a relaxed brasserie open for breakfast and lunch. A rooftop pool, the Bleu Perdu restaurant and the Third Measure cocktail bar were slated to follow in early December.

From December, the top two floors (29th and 30th) house Fairmont Gold, the brand's hotel-within-a-hotel concept: a private lounge, dedicated concierge, complimentary breakfast and afternoon canapés and drinks, plus a personalized arrival experience.

For travellers, this fills a real gap. New Orleans has plenty of character hotels, but a big-name luxury brand returning to the CBD — walkable to the Quarter, the Riverwalk and theSuperdome — gives visitors another polished base for festivals like Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras, when rooms sell out months ahead. With 19,000-plus square feet of event space, it's also aimed squarely at the conference crowd that keeps the city's hotel market humming. If you've been waiting for an excuse to book a New Orleans food-and-music weekend, a fresh 100th-hotel property with an Emeril restaurant attached is a solid one.