[StBernard] Historic New Orleans Hotel Joins Wyndham Brand Family

[Westley Annis]

Historic New Orleans Hotel Joins Wyndham Brand Family

November 10, 2008

The former Chateau Sonesta hotel, owned by New Orleans-based HRI Lodging,
has joined Wyndham Hotels and Resorts as part of its historic portfolio,
Wyndham announced last month. The pre-Civil War structure, which was built
in 1849 and was New Orleans' D.H. Holmes department store for more than 140
years, was converted into a hotel in 1995 and will now be known as Chateau
Bourbon, A Wyndham Historic Hotel.

"Wyndham historic properties elegantly blend their historic integrity,
unique architectural features and ambience with the contemporary creature
comforts today's travelers expect," Wyndham President Peter Strebel said in
a statement. "We are honored to welcome the Chateau Bourbon Hotel to our
distinguished family of celebrated historic hotels."

The ninth historic property in Wyndham's portfolio, the 251-room Chateau
Bourbon Hotel is located in New Orleans' famed French Quarter district,
where it offers two on-site restaurants, a heated outdoor pool, a 24-hour
business center and 10,000 square feet of function space, including 10
meeting and banquet rooms for up to 320 attendees.

Among the property's historic features are 12-foot guestroom ceilings, a
courtyard with exposed beams from the D.H. Holmes era and a lounge adorned
by alabaster pillars from the original D.H. Holmes soda fountain.

As the Chateau's new parent company, Wyndham is planning several upgrades
for the property, including enhancements to guestrooms as well as public
spaces.

Said HRI Lodging President Honore Aschaffenburg, "Our goal is to restore the
Chateau Bourbon, A Wyndham Historic Hotel back to its status as one of the
finest hotels in the French Quarter through our affiliation with the Wyndham
brand, which has a sterling reputation in the lodging industry for
supportive and valuable partnerships with hotels in historic buildings."