New Orleans' Windsor Court completes $15-million update

New Orleans' Windsor Court Hotel unveiled a $15-million property renovation, slated to be completed by early October of this year. In addition to modernizations for all 316 guestrooms and suites, and the grand opening of Waterman Poolside Bar, the undertaking encompasses a refresh to public spaces, including hallways, elevator landings, the Club Level Lounge and La Chinoiserie, the 3,700-square-foot ballroom on the hotel’s top floor.

“This project was rooted in our desire to stay true to our old-world British elegance and classic luxury décor without having any feeling of being dated or antiquated,” Ralph Mahana, GM of the Windsor Court, said in a statement. “By updating and upgrading our furnishings, color palette and bathrooms, our guest rooms and corridors are brighter, more vibrant and refreshing – yet they maintain the charm, style and elegance for which our hotel is known.”

The renovation also added the Waterman Poolside Bar, which overlooks the property’s 65-foot saltwater pool. Located steps away from the facility’s fitness center and spa, the rooftop eatery first opened to hotel and spa guests in April and will open to the public via Resort Pass in mid-July. The cabana-style bar offers skyline views, four large-screen TVs and fans to keep things cool during the summer.

Changes to the rooms and suites include new furniture—living and dining room chairs, custom-designed coffee tables, re-upholstered leather head boards with reading lights, full-length dressing mirrors, Tempur-Pedic sleeper sofas and residential style bedside tables with charging stations—complimented by a color scheme from Benjamin Moore. New entryway flooring, fresh room and bath accessories from Restoration Hardware and Arteriors, upgraded bathtubs with Botticino Fiorito marble surrounds and glass door shower enclosures to replace outdated shower curtains round out the room updates.

“We also used this opportunity to upgrade the functionality of our guest rooms and suites,” Mahana said in a statement. “All lights were replaced with LED bulbs, rooms are now equipped with far more readily accessible outlets and USB ports, and new lamps from Restoration Hardware allow for better lighting in our living areas.”

In the hotel's suites, which already include fully-stocked minibars, additional mini refrigerators were installed to accommodate personal items, medicines and leftovers from dining outings.

On the 23rd floor in La Chinoiserie, new carpeting, drapery, paint and foyer furniture highlight the cosmetic reboot, while some minor architectural changes to the alcove ceilings make it appear even larger.

The renovations, which began earlier this year, were a collaborative effort, with Metairie, La.-based contractor Broadmoor helming the construction. Moncur Design Associates spearheaded the revamp of the Club Level Lounge and 23rd floor ballroom, and Flick Mars led the redesign of the guest rooms and corridors. The 2018 makeover comes on the heels of a much larger, $22 million hotel restoration in 2012, which included new décor in all guestrooms, refurbishments in the food and beverage outlets and other public spaces, and the addition of The Spa at Windsor Court.