Virgin Hotels makes playful debut in the Big Easy

Created by a team that includes Mathes Brierre Architects, CallisonRTKL Architects and Logan Killen Interiors, Virgin Hotels New Orleans is full of eye-catching works from local artists.

Virgin Hotels makes playful debut in the Big Easy

by | 01 Sep 2021 | Design

Created by a team that includes Mathes Brierre Architects, CallisonRTKL Architects and Logan Killen Interiors, Virgin Hotels New Orleans is full of eye-catching works from local artists.

Fun references to Louisiana’s largest city distinguish this new Virgin Hotels property in New Orleans’ art-loving Warehouse District.

Local inspiration

Virgin Hotels New Orleans has been developed by Buccini/Pollin Group, which worked alongside Mathes Brierre Architects, CallisonRTKL Architects and Broadmoor Construction on the project, while Logan Killen Interiors designed the interiors in line with the hotel brand’s focus on localised design.

Guests can expect welcoming interiors encompassing historic details and local touches, including references to New Orleans’ art deco history. Moreover, a Southern residential feel is combined with tropical architectural motifs and Virgin’s signature fun and smart design style, with the work of local artists featuring prominently throughout.

Public areas within the hotel include the 13th-floor bar Dreamboat; rooftop Pool Club; flagship restaurant, bar and lounge Commons Club; and Funny Library Coffee Shop.

“We’re excited to officially open our doors in New Orleans,” said James Bermingham, chief executive officer of Virgin Hotels. “This beautiful, new hotel will offer the distinctive Virgin experience travellers know and love, from our inviting Chambers to our dynamic food and beverage offerings.”

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, added: “Each of our hotels embraces the local flavour of the cities they are in, and Virgin Hotels New Orleans is certainly a fun one. The city’s welcoming spirit, exciting entertainment and incredible culinary scene are all things we are excited to bring to life through our hotel. We look forward to becoming a gathering place for the entire community and a destination for both locals and visitors alike.”

A new social hub

The hotel’s 238 guestrooms range from 294 to 1,097 sq ft in size, from Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites to the property’s Penthouse Suite and Richard’s Penthouse Suite with views over downtown New Orleans. Local inspiration is woven throughout, pairing heritage with modern luxury.

The Chambers boast an ergonomically designed lounge bed and red Smeg minifridge stocked with street-priced food and drink. Additional amenities include a HDTV, yoga mat and café worktable.

Virgin Hotels New Orleans’ culinary offering is led by celebrated executive chef Alex Harrell who brings a modernist approach to classic Southern cuisine. Guests can sample his culinary creations in Commons Club, which is designed to feel like a members-only social club with a bar, indoor dining area and intimate lounge, as well as The Pool Club and Dreamboat.

The hotel’s first-floor Funny Library Coffee Shop, meanwhile, provides a communal space with games and curated books where guests and locals can enjoy La Colombe coffee. Completing the offering, the property has a 24-hour fitness centre and 5,000 sq ft of event space.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

Learn more

Related Articles

Hyatt Regency Cambridge new renovation by Campbell House

Hyatt Regency Cambridge new renovation by Campbell House

The design takes cues from the traditional, scholarly atmosphere of the nearby universities and combines this aesthetic with industrial details and eclectic furniture to create a playful environment for students, business travelers, and families alike.   Situated on...

Virgin Hotels previews second UK site

Virgin Hotels previews second UK site

Imagery courtesy of Virgin Hotels. Virgin Hotels has given a sneak peek at its upcoming Glasgow development ahead of its opening in December this year. Virgin Hotels Glasgow is the second site for the brand in the UK and will feature 240 Chambers spanning across 15...

Six Senses to open highly anticipated Swiss resort this December

Six Senses to open highly anticipated Swiss resort this December

Imagery © Six Senses. Six Senses Crans-Montana is on track for making its debut, just in time for the 2022-23 winter season, at the end of the year. The year-round slope-side property promises to combine vitality, serenity and adventure in a space featuring luxury...

Design concept: Shiroiya Hotel

Design concept: Shiroiya Hotel

Imagery © Katsumasa Tanaka. This week’s TOPHOTELDESIGN exclusive places the focus on industrial-chic Shiroiya Hotel featuring a man-made grassy hill. The 2020-completed hotel in Japan is the result of a collaborative design effort between several architecture and...

Boutique brand rebuilds historic houses for Japanese luxury resort

Boutique brand rebuilds historic houses for Japanese luxury resort

Imagery courtesy of The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts. The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts is relocating 19th century traditional kominka Japanese houses for a new luxury resort in Hokkaido. The Pavilions Niseko Resort will launch in Q4 2024, and the build includes...

Design showcase: Top 5 corridor designs

Design showcase: Top 5 corridor designs

This week’s collaboration with TOPHOTELDESIGN highlights the hotel hallways which make moving from one area to the next a fascinating exploration. We have chosen five properties which focus on the journey as well as the destination. These corridors not only lead to...

ABOUT THE CHAIN

 

Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand combining heartfelt service, straightforward value and seamless, personalised hotel experiences with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is known for.

RELATED ARTICLES