The 23-story Windsor Court Hotel, a New Orleans fixture since it was built in the 1980s, has long been the city's price-leader and is both a AAA Four Diamond and Forbes five-star property.
To keep up with its status, and with the times, the hotel, located in the city's Central Business District, underwent a $22 million refurbishment this year that touched almost every part of this traditionally luxury property.
"This is the first time in 13 years we've completed a restoration of this significance at the Windsor Court," said General Manager David Teich.
Most notably, the hotel was given its first spa in its 28-year history. In May, the 4,500-square-foot Spa at Windsor Court opened with 10 treatment rooms, including a couples treatment room, a sauna and salon facilities.
The hotel eliminated four rooms and some offices to make space for the spa, which is located next to a refreshed fitness center and outdoor pool.
All 316 of the hotel's guestrooms and suites, as well as its Club Level lounge, were given new upholstery, linens and updated furnishings. Rooms were repainted robin's egg blue. Much of the furniture was swapped out of the spacious rooms, but some original, custom-designed pieces, and the marble vanities in the bathroom, were kept.
The rooms have upgraded amenities, like Frette linens and Molton Brown bath products, and all junior suites were given a butler's pantry with a wet bar where there used to be kitchenettes.
The refurbished Club Lounge, for guests staying on the top four floors, has a dedicated concierge and now features enhanced services, such as an extended continental breakfast featuring fresh fruit, pastries, quiche, yogurt and toast, and an afternoon English tea offering sandwiches, scones, sparkling wine, sherry and tea. In the evening, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres are served.
The lounge's outdoor terraces offer expansive views of the Mississippi River and the French Quarter. There is a $155 Club Lounge premium over the hotel's other rooms.
In the public areas, the Grill Room restaurant was refreshed with new upholstery and carpeting, along with its adjacent Polo Club Lounge.
The Grill Room restaurant, with fresh local seafood and farm-raised meats, offers a five-course tasting menu. Along with the Polo Club Lounge, it is a popular Saturday-night spot among locals and visitors for its live Jazz Supper Saturdays, which packs both venues.
The lobby was given a new cocktail bar in January, featuring creative drinks like the Beet & Co., with beet juice and pisco, and a selection of "Boozy Shakes," including one called the Dutch Assault made of Bols Genever, chocolate ice cream and salt.
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