The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority has approved the development of an Omni hotel across the street from the convention center.
Omni will own and operate the 1,000-room Omni New Orleans, which is expected to open in 2029.
The authority has been in discussions with Omni since 2018, when a $557 million renovation and upgrade of the convention center was approved.
"As the discussions evolved, Omni stepped up and offered to guaranty all of the private capital needed to ensure that the hotel is completed," the authority said.
Plans call for 100,000 square feet of meeting space, several restaurants and bars, a rooftop pool deck, a destination spa, a parking garage and an upgrade to the adjacent Mississippi River Heritage Park.
"All of the amenities will be thoughtfully designed to complement the neighborhood fabric of the Warehouse District," the authority said.
The authority said New Orleans loses convention business to other cities because it lacks a modern, upscale hotel adjacent the convention center. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the hotel a "gamechanger for the tourism industry that powers New Orleans."
With a ground lease and development agreement approved, Omni's next step is acquiring the necessary permits required by the city of New Orleans. Hotel design will continue throughout 2025, and construction is expected to start in 2026.
Meanwhile, the convention center upgrade and renovation is ongoing. That multi-phase project is expected to be completed in 2029.