The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, which underwent 15 months and $150 million in renovations and restoration after Hurricane Katrina, is continuing to reinvent and refine its renowned hospitality offering on Canal Street.
The property, actually a three-in-one hotel complex more properly known as the Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans, comprises the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans proper; the Ritz-Carlton Club, Maison Orleans; and the Iberville Suites.
All together, the hotel boasts 757 rooms, a restaurant, two lounges, free live entertainment and a spa.
Now, the hotel restaurant and one lounge have been reimagined and renamed; a new, unique and "only-in-New-Orleans" type of concierge service introduced; and spa offerings have been reconfigured.
Honoring local luminaries
First, the former Melange Restaurant has been transformed into M Bistro, named for the hotel's executive chef of seven years, Matt Murphy. Murphy, a longtime proponent of organic, fresh produce from farmers markets, returned to work at the Ritz-Carlton after a serious illness had placed him in a coma for nearly two months, according to hotel spokeswoman Char Thian.
"The entire hospitality community ... of New Orleans rallied to his aid," she said. "When he returned, it seemed only natural to rename the restaurant after him and to create a menu that was truly a reflection of his personality as a chef.
"When he first began with us, he would always go to the farmers markets and purchase fresh produce," Thian added. "He maintained those relationships over the years, and now those farmers have a place on the menu in M Bistro."
The first restaurant to open, or reopen, in New Orleans this year, M Bistro now features a menu of "fresh, organic, seasonal, local and farm-to-table" meats, seafood and produce from farmers in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
In keeping with that ecofriendly theme, M Bistro also claims to be the only Big Easy eatery with a compost program in place.
Concurrently, a lounge adjacent to M Bistro, formerly known as On Trois or simply the Lobby Lounge, was renamed the Davenport Lounge in honor of the hotel's headline entertainer, Jeremy Davenport.
A trumpeter and singer who has performed with Harry Connick Jr. and also fronts his own band, Davenport specializes in standards that draw crowds to the lounge every weekend. "The Davenport Lounge began as a Thursday night promotion and the name stuck," said Thian.
Only in New Orleans
In a "Why didn't anyone else think of that?" move, the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans has introduced a Recovery Concierge service for guests who have lingered a little too long in neighboring bars along Bourbon Street.
Russell, the hotel's Recovery Concierge, offers hung-over guests so-called "Cure Royals" (actually, Kir Royals) along with a selection of other remedies on weekends.
According to Thian, the service, while unique to and in New Orleans, is typical of the Ritz-Carlton's creative service ethic.
"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. is known for unique services, including South Beach's Tanning Butler and Cancun's Guacamologist, so why wouldn't New Orleans have a Recovery Concierge?" she said.
Guests can also repair to and at the Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans, which has streamlined its menu for 2010 along with its sister spas chainwide while retaining treatments inspired by the city, such as the Voodoo Love Massage, Essence of Magnolia Massage and Cafe Au Lait Scrub.
In addition, the spa has added an Apothecary Bar, from which spa-goers can select herbs and essential oils to "enhance the healing effects of their spa services."
"Assistant Spa Director Daisye Dykes came up with the idea of the Apothecary Bar, which has been wildly popular," said Thian. "It allows guests to interact with their massage therapist while addressing their specific massage/health needs."
Rating a stay
Nightly rates start at $249 for deluxe accommodations at the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans; $349 at the Ritz-Carlton Club, Maison Orleans; and $149 at the Iberville Suites.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans also offer year-round nightly package rates such as Bring Back the Big Easy, at $239 a night; the B&B (Bachelor & Bachelorette) Getaway, at $259; Paris Without the Jetlag, priced at $279; and Crescent City Comeback, from $1,100.
For additional information, visit www.ritzcarlton.com or call (800) 241-3333.
