NEW ORLEANS, LA, August 27, 2008. As one of the anchors of Canal Street, the city’s premier corridor and the downtown New Orleans hospitality industry, The Astor Crowne Plaza is continuing in the revitalization efforts of the city with a multi-million dollar renovation program that will beautify, improve and restore one of the city’s major hotels.

“This commitment to enhance the luster of The Astor Crowne Plaza’s guestrooms and meeting space confirms our faith in the future of one of America’s favorite cities and its importance as a convention destination,” said Todd Raburn, Regional Vice President of Operations for Prism Hotels & Resorts.

Built in 2002, the Astor Crowne Plaza is a grand hotel with 707 rooms including 28 spacious suites, strategically located at the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets. Conveniently situated in the heart of downtown and at the French Quarter’s edge, the address also serves as home to the award-winning Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House restaurant, one of the most popular dining establishments in New Orleans. Part of the collection of InterContinental Hotels Group PLC and managed by Dallas-based Prism Hotels & Resorts, the hotel offers 30,000 square feet of meeting space, outdoor balconies overlooking Bourbon, Canal and Iberville streets, as well as 10,500 square feet of ground floor retail space on Canal Street.

With the theme, “We’re Polishing the Crowne of New Orleans,” the renovation began at the end of July and continues through November 2008. It is the first since the hotel’s opening. Upon arrival, staff bearing theme buttons and signage throughout the property creates awareness of the work in progress; however, guests will be isolated from the project areas and will be unaware that a renovation is in progress.

The Designer
Lisa Condon, ASID, LA Registered Interior Designer, established Lisambiance Design, LLC in New Orleans, LA in 1983. Under her leadership, it has grown into a successful and thriving full service interior design firm. Her design approach has led to the dramatic enhancement of interiors that have been featured in Architectural Digest and Hotels and continue to promote the success of some of the hospitality industry’s famed destinations in New Orleans and around the country.

Public Spaces
The lobby’s grand corridor will undergo a new look with new furnishings re-upholstered in a floral palette of greens, citron and earth tones, keeping the traditional flare, yet adding modern components.

Guest Rooms
The renovation of guestrooms will be “all about Astor Crowne Plaza comfort,” including the existing Sleep Advantage™ standard bedding with pillow top mattresses, luxurious linens and duvets. All guestrooms and suites will be reinvented with new furnishings, wall coverings, drapes, and furniture in keeping with the hotel’s traditional style but with a sleeker appeal in a combination of rich soothing colors, textures and styles.
Custom-designed lighting will be added to desks and nightstands for better illumination, and enhanced wireless internet access will be installed to provide better speed and reliability.

Executive Lounge/Fitness Center
The Executive Lounge on the hotel’s club level floor will undergo a transformation that will double its size and provide privileged guests a view of the city’s comings and goings along famed Bourbon Street while enjoying breakfast service, all day snacks, beverages and evening cocktails. As well, the Fitness Center will expand to twice its size with new flooring, wall coverings, three new flat screen TVs and new equipment that includes life cycles, aerobic equipment and a free weight universal set.

Meeting Rooms
The exciting news for the hotel is the addition of three new meeting rooms with 700 sq. ft. each on the 2nd floor mezzanine level which will expand the facilities to 32,000 sq. ft. Classic is the theme for all meeting space, which will include new wall coverings, carpeting, and furnishings. All meeting rooms and ballrooms will have custom designed carpeting with traditional hues of blacks, reds, gold and touches of tan. Valenced drapery in rich colors and tassel tiebacks will carry out the Old World charm of the hotel for which it is known and will welcome meeting attendees out to the balconies offering unmatched views of Canal Street, Iberville Street, and Bourbon Street.