In August 2005, the New Orleans Hyatt Regency was the iconic image shown in newspapers and on television with the curtains blowing out of the broken windows after Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area. The hotel was a refuge spot for recovery crews, city officials and medical personnel. After four years of effort by the project owner, investment partners and city officials, WELBRO and their local JV partner, Donahue/Favret were finally awarded the project and began the fifteen month journey to renovate the 32-story, 1,200 room hotel. The hotel has a brand new main lobby and registration area, 200,000 square feet of renovated meeting space, four new dining venues including a new 7,600 square foot John Besh Restaurant, shops, pool, spa, fitness center and is a five minute walk to the newly named Mercedes Benz Superdome.
