Photos of the Hurricane Katrina-battered Hyatt Regency New Orleans still have the power to shock: smashed windows, ragged curtains flapping in the wind, an American flag at the entrance blowing in shreds.
Now, in just a few short weeks, a glamorous and completely rebuilt Hyatt Regency New Orleans will reopen following a $275 million, multi-year renovation. The 32-story hotel, which throws open its doors Oct. 19, will offer nearly 1,200 guest rooms, 200,000 square feet of meeting space and a number of ambitious restaurants operating under the eye of an internationally known chef, Eric Damidot. The hotel anchors a busy sports and entertainment district and is just blocks from the historic French Quarter.
“We’re bigger and better than ever,” said Michael Smith, general manager both now and at the time of the hurricane, and a leader of the renovation. “This hotel has gone through a complete transformation.”