New Orleans Celebrates the City’s Snow and Great Rates at The Ritz

Christmas Day 2004 was the last time that it snowed in New Orleans. Today, the city came to a standstill as a light rainfall turned to a bountiful snowfall across the entire metropolitan area. 

From the French Quarter and downtown area to the suburbs, snow blanketed the Big Easy. With more snow in the immediate future and holiday room rates at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans as low as $149, it’s time to vacation in New Orleans. Value-added room packages start at $179.  In case the snow isn’t falling when you arrive, there is a life-size gingerbread mansion in the lobby, a forty-foot Christmas tree in the Courtyard and miles of lights, garlands, ribbons and wreaths that would bring a smile to Scrooge’s face.

Guests have to walk through the gingerbread mansion to traverse the lobby and access the front desk as well as the restaurant and lounges.  It is a scaled replica of a Garden District mansion that the hotel’s master carpenter found on historic St. Charles Avenue.  “Mighty” Joe Young sketched the house and worked with Executive Pastry Chef Simone Fleming.  It took four months of preparation to put it together with the assistance of four engineers and six pastry chefs.  Papa Noel (Cajun version of Santa Claus) can be found inside the gingerbread mansion, reading to the children and listening to their wish list.

Four (4) six foot tall nutcracker soldiers guard the entrance to The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, which is decorated with four (4) twelve foot wreaths and one hundred feet of garland. The hotel is housed within a turn of the century Beaux Arts building that was formerly a department store and the exterior is framed in white lights, outlining the beauty of the fourteen-story facade.  Step inside the first floor to see Santa Claus’ sleigh, with his initials “SC”, and a winter wonderland display.  Another three hundred (300) feet of richly appointed garland accents the hotel’s historic crown molding throughout the hotel. 

On the hotel’s third floor lobby level, dozens of individual Christmas trees of varying sizes and in an array of colors decorate the front desk, restaurants and lounges while a forty-foot version can be found in the hotel’s French Quarter style courtyard.  Decorate in blue and gold, the colors of Ritz-Carlton, the tree is a focal point for the holidays.  With a giant illuminated star on top, five hundred and forty (540) gold and cobalt blue ornaments and fifty (50) oversized gold-trimmed cobalt blue ribbons, the tree is the perfect backdrop for holiday photos. 

Reserving a room at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans allows guests to immerse themselves in the season for as little as $149.  From a forty-foot Christmas tree laden with ribbons, bows and ornaments to a gingerbread mansion, Papa Noel Children’s Teas, Le Reveillion Dinner and a New Year’s Eve Bash, the hotel is a holiday destination for locals and visitors alike. Yes Virginia, it is snowing in New Orleans! 

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is situated on world famous Canal Street on the edge of the French Quarter. The hotel offers a sense of place, incorporating the best that New Orleans has to offer from classic culinary creations and libations to live jazz.  Originally opening in 2000, the hotel was shuttered for fifteen months post-Katrina to undergo a $150M historic renovation and restoration. 

Since reopening in December of 2006, the hotel has garnered dozens of accolades and it has reclaimed its title as the Crown Jewel of the Crescent City.  The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New Orleans (Ritz-Carlton, Maison Orleans and Iberville Suites) continue to garner accolades.  The three-hotels-in-one complex features 757 rooms, one restaurant, two lounges, free live entertainment and a spa.  The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is located at 921 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70122. 

For additional information, please go to www.ritzcarlton.com or call (800) 241-3333.