Fairmont is coming back to the Crescent City after two decades away. The luxury brand, part of Accor, has opened reservations for stays from November 2nd at Fairmont New Orleans, its 19th US property.

The hotel takes over 17 floors of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-storey landmark designed in 1970 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and redeveloped by Kailas Companies. You'll find it in the Central Business District, a short walk from the French Quarter and Caesars Superdome.

Inside are 250 rooms and suites, deliberately kept to a modest count so spaces feel generously sized rather than corporate. The headline features: the highest rooftop pool in the city, with Mississippi views; a rooftop bar called Third Measure; Bleu Perdu, a poolside lounge; and a 10,000-square-foot spa. Interiors come from Rockwell Group, built around contrast - structured lines softened by saturated colour, texture and nods to the city's natural surroundings.

Food is a big part of the pitch. Fairmont has partnered with New Orleans icon Chef Emeril Lagasse and his team on several venues, including Delmonico Steakhouse in the lobby, styled with 1970s flair. The lobby itself is designed as the hotel's social heart, anchored by a central Lobby Bar pouring craft cocktails, and blurring the line between reception, lounge and cultural living room - Fairmont wants locals lingering too, not just guests checking in.

There's also serious event infrastructure. Two 4,000-square-foot ballrooms sit on the second floor, one set inside the former bank interiors with its original cypress wood ceiling and 70s-era Italian chandeliers intact. Alongside six meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, the property can host gatherings from 10 to 500 people - a clear play for weddings, galas and conferences. Fairmont Gold, the brand's hotel-within-a-hotel tier, adds an extra layer of exclusivity for those who want it.

For travellers, this fills a gap: a big-name luxury option steps from the French Quarter without being inside the tourist crush. If you collect Accor points, stays earn and redeem through the ALL Accor programme. First-look details and further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, but rooms bookable from November 2nd are live on Fairmont's site now - worth an early look if you're planning Mardi Gras season or a jazz-fest trip, when the city's best rooms go fast.

Story via Breaking Travel News.