Hyatt Rency Superdome ??

[seadog]

Anyone know what will happen to the Hyatt Regency Superdome? Is it going to be reopened? I was sure it would have happened by now. What is happening?

[indywaiter]

The opening date has been pushed back numerous times. I have heard as late as 2009. Judging by the way it looked I would be shocked if they are open by jazzfest.

[swag]

Yes, not opening anytime soon, certainly not for Fest '08.

I did find this recent article, headlined "New Orleans Hotel Deals Show Confidence in City":

In late December 2007, Chicago-based Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. sold the 1,184-room Hyatt Regency New Orleans at 500 Poydras St. to New Orleans buyer, Poydras Properties Hotel Holdings Co. LLC for $32 million. Two weeks later, Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. of Dallas closed on its sale of the 494-room JW Marriott New Orleans at 614 Canal St. to an unidentified buyer for $67.5 million. The hotels are a half mile apart, with the Hyatt Regency still shuttered due to damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
...
Lallani says the JW Marriott's buyer is likely taking a long-term view of New Orleans and believes in the future of the area. The same could be said of the Hyatt transaction. "If the buyer purchased it at what might considered a reasonable price, and is prepared to be there for the long haul, the deal could make sense," she adds.
http://www.globest.com/news/1074_1074/neworleans/167503-1.html

[AtPontchartrain]

Yes, not opening anytime soon, certainly not for Fest '08.

I did find this recent article, headlined "New Orleans Hotel Deals Show Confidence in City":


http://www.globest.com/news/1074_1074/neworleans/167503-1.htm

I was curious about that, and when I checked the Hyatt's buyer, Poydras Hotel Properties Holding with the La Secretary of State, it turned out to be a non-Louisiana LLC with its principal office in Arkansas "in care of" Compass Financial of Little Rock. An Ark. search for Poydras Hotel Properties Holding turns up nothing. Wouldn't it be funny if it turned out one day to be a giant Sam's Club??!!

[Voodoohead]

I got curious and ended up calling the Hyatt New Orleans and got a recorded message for their Sales Dept. They were saying they wouldn't open until Spring 2009 - sucks :(

[NolaGirl79]

I work for the Hyatt Corporation's offices in St Petersburg, FL. We don't even have an estimated time on when this property will re-open. I really want to transfer to New Orleans next year, but I don't see the Regency being ready anytime soon.