Luxury Travel Advisor - November 2007 - (Page 27) ing room with a fireplace and balcony that affords sweeping views of the city and the Mississippi River. Guests can request the services of the hotel’s chef for a fee. Adjoining the suite is a room for security, entourage or family members. In addition to the Ritz-Carlton Suite, the 15th floor has only eight other guest rooms; numbers 1502, 1504 and 1506 have small balconies. When a group books these with the suite, the entire floor can be keyed off for total privacy. Among the hotel’s other accommodations are Executive Suites with one bedroom and one and a half baths; Junior Suites with one bedroom and bath; and, on the 14th floor, 11 large rooms (750 square feet) that have an open-room floor plan and are furnished with two king beds, making them perfect for families. Those with the best view are 1417, the only suite, and 1419, 1421, 1423, 1425, 1427, 1429 and 1431. The second hotel, Maison Orleans, is actually the Ritz-Carlton’s Club Level, which opened in August after major renovations. The hotel-within-a-hotel has a private key-access elevator and five daily complimentary food presentations. The Maison Orleans Suite is the Club’s only suite. Large and with a separate foyer, it is a favorite of celebrities and CEOs for its privacy and residential appeal. The third member of the Ritz-Carlton complex, the Iberville Suites, is the best-kept secret in New Orleans. Located in the historic Maison Blanche Building, Iberville Suites’ décor consists of antiques, fresh flowers, great art and rich fabrics throughout, and retains the turn-of-the-century Art Nouveau elegance of the original building. The kitchen at Mélange, the Ritz-Carlton’s main restaurant, has a chef ’s table, available for up to six guests, and the Wine Room seats up to 12 and can be used for dinners, meetings or family gatherings. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, celebrity entertainer Jeremy Davenport, a protégé of Harry Connick, Jr. and one of People magazine’s “Top 50 Bachelors,” performs at Mélange in a supper-club atmosphere. Reservations for any of these venues are recommended. The recently expanded two-story, 22-room spa features Ritz-Carlton’s new Prada Spa treatment line. The spa, directed by Wayne Morris (wayne.morris@ritzcarlton.com; 504-5241331, ext. 2400) provides a New Orleans vibe with a Marie Laveau Voodoo Love Massage. Request massage therapist Daisye Dykes, and book all treatments in advance. Heading the Ritz-Carlton operation for all three units is General Manager Myra de Gersdorff (myra.degersdorff@ ritzcarlton.com; 504-524-1331, ext. 14102), who is readily accessible to VIPs. Luxury travel advisors may also contact Kerrison Hawks, travel industry sales manager (kerrison.hawks@ ritzcarlton.com; 504-670-2937), or Senior Concierge Claudette Breve (claudette.breve@ritzcarl ton.com; 504-670-2874), whose team can handle any request, from private dinners in the penthouse to a break-the-bank private plane and helicopter to go charterboat fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. If you want to arrange a traditional New Orleans wedding, complete with jazz music and authentic New Orleans cuisine, Catering Director and Wedding Coordinator Amy Odinet (amy.odinet@ ritzcarlton.com; 504-670-2837) can make that happen, too. In our book, this hotel’s concierge staff is as good as it gets. Check with the hotel for major events, such as Mardi Gras, Saints home football games and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest), when the city brims with people and activity. We say your Gen Y clients will love the newly renovated International House Hotel (www.ihhotel.com). (Note: This urban-chic boutique hotel is the polar opposite of The Ritz-Carlton.) Located at the edge of the Central Business District, two blocks from Canal Street and the French Quarter, the hotel occupies a century-old Beaux Art building. Step inside and its cool, 21stcentury New Orleans décor is infused with echoes of the past, reflecting the many cultures that have influenced this extraordinary city: African-drum side tables, large black-and-white photographs of jazz greats on the walls, huge French-style gilded mirrors, crystal chandeliers, antique Italian sconces, wrought-iron bedside table with cruciform feet and a candlelight bar, Ioa—the name for Voodoo deities—are among the eclectic mix. Guest rooms average 300 to 375 square feet. Topping the selection—and the most requested—are the 10 Corner Superiors (208, 308, etc.), popular for their spaciousness and two windowed sides. We also recommend the MASION ORLEANS bedrooms feature demi- canopied beds and ornate upholstery. November 2007 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 27 http://www.ihhotel.com
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