Hyatt Regency New Orleans

'''Hyatt Regency New Orleans''', located at 500 Poydras Plaza in the [[Central Business District, New Orleans|Central Business District]] of [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], is a 31-story, {{convert|361|ft|m|0|sing=on}}-tall. It has 1,193 guest rooms, including 95 suites. It is part of a complex of connected buildings, which includes the [[Louisiana Superdome]], [[1250 Poydras Plaza]], [[Entergy Tower]], and the [[Benson Tower (New Orleans)|Benson Tower]]. Originally opened in 1976, it was designed by [[Welton Becket and Associates]]. ==Hurricane Katrina damage== The structure received heavy damage during [[Hurricane Katrina]] in August 2005 and remained closed for six years afterwards. The previous hotel owners, Chicago-based Strategic Hotels and Resorts Inc., along with other investors announced in early 2006 a plan to redevelop the area around the Superdome (including the adjacent hotel) into a performance art park called the "National Jazz Center". The plan, designed in concept by Pritzker Award-winning architect [[Thom Mayne]], was later abandoned. Poydras Properties Hotel Holdings acquired the Hyatt from Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. for $32 million in 2007. On February 20, 2009, the State Bond Commission approved $225 million in special low-cost bonds to help renovate the Hyatt Regency. Hyatt issued a statement in August 2010 announcing a redevelopment effort carrying a price tag of $275 million. The redesign of the 31-story building, just next door to the Louisiana Superdome, calls for {{convert|200,000|sqft|m2}} of meeting and exhibition space, two restaurants, two bars, and a coffee bar. The hotel reopened on October 19, 2011. == External links == * [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=hyattregencyneworleans-neworleans-la-usa Hyatt Regency New Orleans] on Emporis.com {{New Orleans skyscrapers}} {{coord missing|Louisiana}}