MEDIA KIT
Dear Journalist,
Thank you for your interest in The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. Located in New Orleans’ Warehouse
Arts District at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
channels the vibrant energy and innovative spirit of the Big Easy in its artful, considered
accommodations.
Opened on June 1, 2015, The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is the latest incarnation of a building that
began its life in 1854 as a warehouse serving the Port of New Orleans and has served the city as the
Ambassador Hotel for the last two decades. The hotel’s light, airy design showcases the building’s
authentic warehouse architecture and, in keeping with the chandlery spirit of the building’s historic
past, provisions modern day travelers with local crafts and artisanal New Orleans products for purchase
from chandlery cases and the hotel honor bar. The chandlery element will come online later in summer
2015.
In this media kit, you’ll find background on the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery and a selection of current
press materials. If you are looking for web-ready or high-res photos of The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
they can be found at www.provenance1.com/media/oldno77
When occupancy allows, we offer discounted media rates for visiting journalists who are on assignment
for established media outlets and plan to include The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in their story.
If you have any questions about the property or would like to stay at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
please contact me directly at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Kate Buska
Public Relations Director
Provenance Hotels
direct 503.548.9399
mobile 503.686.0695
www.provenancehotels.com
AMENITIES
• 167 rooms
• 24-hour fitness center
• 24-hour room service
• Free high-speed Wi-Fi
• Pillow menus
• Spotify menus
• Spiritual menus
• Pet friendly
• Valet parking
Property Highlights:
Location:
• Renovated and opened as The Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery in 2015
• The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is located in
the Warehouse Arts District at the intersection of
Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets, just four blocks
from the French Quarter and steps from the art
galleries along Julia Street.
• Compère Lapin is opening in June featuring
a progressive menu of local New Orleans fare
influenced by Chef Nina Compton’s classic French
training, Caribbean roots and love of Italian cuisine.
• Lobby will include a street-facing gallery space
with rotating art curated by New Orleans Center
of Creative Arts featuring works by the school’s
students, faculty and alumni. This art will be
available for purchase with proceeds going to the
artist.
• Located within walking distance to the Superdome
and a short stroll from the Convention center, the
Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is ideally located for
travelers visiting New Orleans for business or leisure.
Media Contact:
Kate Buska, Public Relations Director
503-548-9399, [email protected]
THE OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY TO OPEN IN SPRING 2015 IN NEW ORLEANS
New Warehouse Arts District Hotel Rooted in Heritage, Design and Art.
December 1, 2014 – New Orleans, La. – The good times will roll this spring, when The Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery opens in the heart of New Orleans’ Warehouse Arts District. Located at the intersection of
Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets just four blocks from the French Quarter, the hotel is the latest
incarnation of a building that began its life in 1854 as a warehouse serving the Port of New Orleans and
has served the city as the Ambassador Hotel for the last two decades. With Provenance Hotels and GB
Lodging at the helm, the property is undergoing a renovation and rebranding that is expanding the room
count to 167, highlighting rustic original details – like hard wood floors and exposed brick walls – and
pairing sophisticated modern design with the culture, art and joie de vive that is uniquely New Orleans.
"New Orleans is a soulful city rooted in history and we specialize in distinctively local renovations of
historic properties. But, even more enticing than that, this is a city in the midst of an entrepreneurial
renaissance. We are honored and excited to be channeling that energy into The Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery in an artful, considered way," said Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels. "From the
edgy design to the playful only-in-New Orleans touches, the guest experience will emphasize the
innovative spirit of this amazing destination."
Built in 1854 in the heart of New Orleans’ bustling port district, the building served a coffee warehouse
before being purchased by E.J. Hart & Company who operated a chandlery, or general wholesale
business, trading in everything sailing ships needed to stock their voyages – from canvas and rope to
paper, tobacco and patent medicines. Prior to the turn of the 20th century when New Orleans
renumbered its street addresses, the building’s address was 77 Tchoupitoulas Street. In a playful nod to
this heritage, a reference to the role hotels serve in provisioning modern travelers and a tribute
neighborhood’s artistic roots, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery takes its name from this original
address. Guests will find local art and artisanal New Orleans products available for sale at the hotel.
“Our goal is for guests at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery to experience the true character of the city –
this means connecting them with not only with the city’s well-known history but also tapping into the up
and coming art and artisans that are creating history here today" said Wali. "We are confident our
guests will revel in this juxtaposition and the good times will roll when we open in the spring."
“The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will celebrate the eclectic, creative vibe of the Warehouse Arts
District by creatively integrating design, cuisine, and memorable hospitality” said Bruce Blum, President
and Co-Founder of GB Lodging.
The perfect Big Easy home base for work or play, guest rooms at The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will
welcome travelers with a light, airy design that allows the building’s authentic warehouse architecture
to shine. White walls punctuated by pops of color on painted ceilings and pipes, original hardwood
floors, wall-spanning windows, wood finishes and subdued fabrics and textiles will pay homage to the
hotel's industrial past while practical amenities provide all the modern necessities plugged-in travelers
require with flat-screen TVs, docking stations and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Downstairs, the lobby will entice guests with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, industrial-inspired
tables and comfy armchairs that offer plenty of nooks in which to congregate or relax. When the hotel
opens in spring, it will feature a first floor gym and meeting room for receptions, casual get-togethers or
formal meetings. Food and beverage offerings are expected to come on line later in 2015.
For more information about The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit www.old77hotel.com or follow the
hotel on Instagram and Twitter @Old77_Hotel and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Old77Hotel.
###
About The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Located in the Warehouse Arts District – just three blocks from the French Quarter, walking distance to
the Superdome, adjacent to Harrah’s Casino, and a short stroll from the Convention Center – the 167room Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will be a melting pot of culture and history as diverse as the city of
New Orleans itself. The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery can be found online at www.old77hotel.com.
About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels develops award-winning urban boutique hotels
with a distinct and deeply integrated art story. The portfolio includes Hotel deLuxe, Hotel Lucia and
Sentinel in Portland, Ore., Hotel 1000 and Hotel Max in Seattle, Wash., Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Wash.,
and Hotel Preston in Nashville, Tenn. Provenance Hotels can be found online at
www.provenancehotels.com.
About GB Lodging, LLC
GB Lodging is a hotel investment, development and asset management firm focused on the lifestyle
segment of the hospitality industry. The firm was co-founded by real estate/finance industry
entrepreneur Allen Gross, Founder & President of GFI Capital Resources Group, parent company to GFI
Development, and Bruce Blum, a 30 year hotel industry veteran. GB Lodging’s seasoned executive team
has completed $4+ billion of hotel transactions and has decades of principal and executive level
experience throughout several hotel industry cycles. GB Lodging can be found online at
www.gblodging.com.
Media contact:
Brustman Carrino Public Relations
[email protected]
(305) 573-0658
CHEF NINA COMPTON TO OPEN COMPÈRE LAPIN AT
THE OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY IN NEW ORLEANS
New restaurant to open doors in Warehouse District June 2015
One of New Orleans’ most anticipated restaurant openings of the year has a name – Compère Lapin –
and a target opening date – June 2015. Owned and operated by Chef Nina Compton, in partnership
with Provenance Hotels, Compère Lapin will be a neighborhood restaurant, housed in the Old No. 77
Hotel & Chandlery in the Crescent City’s Warehouse Arts District. “The opening will truly be a dream
come true for me,” says Compton, who fell in love with New Orleans when she filmed there as a
contestant on BRAVO’s award-winning Top Chef (Season 11: New Orleans). “The idea for Compère Lapin
has been years in development and I couldn’t have found a better home for it than this amazing city.”
The inspiration for the name Compère Lapin [pronounced kom-pare la-pan and translated to “brother
rabbit”] goes back to Compton’s childhood in St. Lucia where she read traditional Caribbean folktales
featuring a mischievous rabbit named Compère Lapin. “Compère Lapin was a trickster, always up to
something, and stories of his adventures thrilled me as a kid,” Compton says. “When I began
researching the history of Louisiana for the restaurant, I came across the same folk tale, written in the
patois of Creole French. I knew immediately there was a synergy between where I come from and my
new home. We hope to bring the story’s same sense of fun, exploration and play to everything we’re
doing here.”
The restaurant’s look will echo the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery’s blend of rustic charm and modernity
with a progressive menu informed by the chef’s island roots, classic French training and the melting pot
that is New Orleans’ incomparable food scene. The gorgeous central bar, sure to be a new must-try
watering hole with a progressive cocktail menu (in the works, details forthcoming), spans the space,
offering great views of the open kitchen. Bookending it will be an eat-in raw bar – perfect for those
looking for a great beer, killer cocktail and fresh-from-the-sea selections – and a grab n’ go marketplace.
The playful menu at Compère Lapin will combine the robust, big flavors from Compton’s Caribbean
upbringing with her love for French and Italian cuisine, while highlighting the beauty of the Gulf and
Louisiana’s indigenous ingredients. For an idea of what Chef Nina has in store come June, menu items,
still in development, follow:




Conch croquettes with pickled pineapple tartar sauce
Crispy pig ears with smoked aioli
Orecchiette with pork cheeks and arugula
Banana zeppoles with salted rum caramel
Compton’s Compère Lapin
Page 2
The opening of the restaurant will come on the heels of the Old NO. 77 Hotel & Chandlery’s spring
opening. Provenance Hotels, which owns and operates the hotel, is no stranger to facilitating projects by
top culinary talent. The company is fresh off recent successes, most notable partnering with James
Beard Award-winner and Iron Chef America champion Vitaly Paley, who opened Imperial at Hotel Lucia
in Portland and James Beard Award-winner Jason Wilson who opened Miller’s Guild at Hotel Max in
Seattle. The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is located at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette
Streets, just blocks from the French Quarter and steps from the art galleries along Julia Street. In
keeping with the neighborhood’s artistic roots, the hotel’s guestrooms feature art from students of the
New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).
Prior to her star turn on Top Chef and partnership with Provenance Hotels, Compton, a St. Lucia native
and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, served as chef de cuisine at
Scarpetta at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, where she worked with celebrity chef and restauranteur Scott
Conant.
For more information about Compère Lapin, visit www.comperelapin.com or follow the restaurant on
Instagram and Twitter @CompereLapin and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Compere-Lapin. Stay
tuned to www.old77hotel.com/nina for updates on all things Compère Lapin.
###
About The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Located in the Warehouse Arts District – just three blocks from the French Quarter, walking distance to the
Superdome, adjacent to Harrah’s Casino, and a short stroll from the Convention Center – the 167-room Old No. 77
Hotel & Chandlery will be a melting pot of culture and history as diverse as the city of New Orleans itself. The Old
No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery can be found online at www.old77hotel.com.
About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels develops award-winning urban boutique hotels with a distinct
and deeply integrated art story. The portfolio includes Hotel deLuxe, Hotel Lucia and Sentinel in Portland, Ore.,
Hotel 1000, Hotel Max and Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle, Wash., Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Wash., Hotel Preston in
Nashville, Tenn. and the soon-to-open Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans. Provenance Hotels can be
found online at www.provenancehotels.com.
Media contact:
Brustman Carrino Public Relations
[email protected]
(305) 573-0658
RICHARD GOMEZ TO HELM BAR AT HIGHLY ANTICIPATED COMPÈRE LAPIN
Chef Nina Compton’s new restaurant to open doors in Warehouse District June 2015
With the appointment of Richard Gomez as head bartender, New Orleans’ most anticipated new restaurant, Compère
Lapin, is poised to become the Warehouse District’s go-to watering hole and a must-stop destination for cocktail
aficionados visiting the Big Easy. When they met, Chef Nina Compton knew immediately that Gomez was the right fit to
helm the bar at her first restaurant – the two clicked instantly over a shared vision and passion for the hospitality
industry. “Nina’s approach in the kitchen is special and unique, something New Orleanians will love,” said Gomez. “I’m
excited to build a bar program that’s just as distinctive – to me, a cocktail is much more than just a set of ingredients.
Every drink should tell a story.”
Gomez and his mixology career were both born in New Orleans. Tending bar was initially a hobby and means for Gomez
to make extra money but it quickly evolved into a vocation and passion. Gomez’s talent for the art of craft cocktails was
vital to the successful re-opening of New Orleans institution, Commander’s Palace, after Hurricane Katrina. Gomez went
on to hone his skills at Cure, one of the most critically acclaimed cocktail destinations in New Orleans – and the country
– where he developed his signature style and innovative recipes. In addition to these impressive positions behind the
bar, Gomez was tapped by the world-renown spirits company Diageo as their first-ever World Class U.S. Ambassador
and holds accreditations from the Beverage Alcohol Resource (BAR) Educational Program in New York City.
The beverage program at Compère Lapin will take inspiration from Gomez’s well-rounded knowledge of cocktail making
and Chef Compton’s St. Lucian background and be designed to complement the restaurant’s playful menu. Gomez plans
to balance the meld of bold Caribbean flavors and the French and Italian influences that will be found in the cuisine with
a lineup of thoughtful but unpretentious cocktails. Like the fare, the libations will highlight the bounty of the Gulf’s
indigenous ingredients as well as pay homage to New Orleans’ rich cocktail heritage. Hewing to his personal philosophy
to “spread the gospel of cocktails,” Gomez’s New Orleanian roots and vast knowledge are sure to guarantee each drink
will tell a story all its own.
Compère Lapin is expected to open June 2015 inside The Old No 77. Hotel & Chandlery.
For more information about Compère Lapin, visit www.comperelapin.com or follow the restaurant on Instagram and
Twitter @CompereLapin and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Compere-Lapin. Stay tuned to www.old77hotel.com/nina
for updates on all things Compère Lapin.
###
About The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Located in the Warehouse Arts District – just three blocks from the French Quarter, walking distance to the Superdome, adjacent to
Harrah’s Casino, and a short stroll from the Convention Center – the 167-room Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will be a melting pot of
culture and history as diverse as the city of New Orleans itself. The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery can be found online at
www.old77hotel.com.
Media Contact:
Kate Buska, Public Relations Director
503-548-9399, [email protected]
OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY INVITES TRAVELERS TO “KICK IT OFF WITH A KICK”
FROM OLD NEW ORLEANS RUM THIS SUMMER IN NEW ORLEANS
Warehouse Arts District Hotel opens April 30 with a Gingeroo-spiked 25%-off launch package.
April 21, 2015 – NEW ORLEANS – The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery opens in the heart of New Orleans’
Warehouse Arts District at the end of this month and, to mark the occasion, the art-and-artisan-loving
hotel has teamed up with Old New Orleans Rum, the most iconic spirit in the nation’s most spirited city,
to offer a “Kick It Off With A Kick” package that pairs savings of 25% on room rates with two celebratory
glasses of the distillery’s famed Gingeroo – a spicy bottled rum cocktail that is perfect for balmy summer
nights in the Big Easy. The package can be booked on the hotel’s website now for stays between April 30
and September 30, 2015. “Kick It Off With A Kick” rates start at $139 per night, plus tax.
Located at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets just four blocks from the French
Quarter, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is the newest property from Provenance Hotels, a collection
of independent lifestyle hotels that are known for their unique, deeply-embedded art collections,
commitment to local partnerships and collaborations with best in class culinary talent. The building that
houses the hotel was built in 1854 as a warehouse serving the Port of New Orleans. Guests of the Old
No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will find rustic original details – like hard wood floors and exposed brick walls
– paired with a light, airy, modern design that allows the building’s historic architecture to shine.
In addition to forging partnerships with local companies like Old New Orleans Rum, the Old No. 77 Hotel
& Chandlery looked to the community when seeking to find the story behind its signature art collection.
Inspired by the passion, dedication and talent of the students, faculty and alumni of the New Orleans
Center for the Creative Arts, the city’s most-respected arts education institution, the Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery features works by students from the school’s upper level visual arts program and copies of its
annual publication featuring poetry, fiction and essays by the school’s creative writing students in all
guestrooms. Future plans call for the addition of a lobby gallery space with rotating art curated by
NOCCA featuring works by the school’s students, faculty and alumni.
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery’s commitment to New Orleans is also evident in the hotels’ choice of
restaurant partner. In June 2015, Chef Nina Compton, the runner-up and fan favorite from BRAVO’s Top
Chef (Season 11: New Orleans), will open Compère Lapin at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. The
much-anticipated restaurant is her first solo venture and was inspired by her love the city. It will feature
a playful menu featuring the robust, big flavors of Compton’s Caribbean upbringing, the French and
Italian cuisine she has mastered and the unique flavors indigenous to her adopted hometown.
For more information about The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit www.old77hotel.com or follow the
hotel on Instagram and Twitter @Old77_Hotel and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Old77Hotel.
###
Media Contact:
Kate Buska, Public Relations Director
503-548-9399, [email protected]
OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY PARTNERS WITH
NEW ORLEANS CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
Warehouse Arts District hotel will feature work by students of the iconic New Orleans art school
and be home to a gallery showcasing art by students, alumni and faculty.
February 24, 2015 – New Orleans, La. – The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, New Orleans’ most
anticipated new hotel, and the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), the city’s innovative
and iconic arts education institution, are joining forces to create a travel and art experience that – like
the city of New Orleans itself – is real, rooted, unconventional and utterly unique in the world.
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is the newest member of Provenance Hotels, a company with a
passion for creating hotels that feature thoughtfully integrated art collations designed to inform and
enhance guests’ experience of a destination. Celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year, NOCCA is a
regional, pre-professional arts school founded by artists, educators and community activists that offers
intensive instruction in culinary arts, dance, media arts: filmmaking and audio production, music,
theatre arts, visual arts, and creative writing. It boasts a faculty rich with working artists and an
illustrious roster of alumni that includes Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Terence
Blanchard and many more.
Recognizing a shared passion for the arts and a unique opportunity to showcase the work being done at
NOCCA, Provenance Hotels and the school have partnered on a collaboration unprecedented in the
hospitality industry. When the hotel opens in the heart of the New Orleans’ Warehouse Arts District in
April, the NOCCA story will be woven into the fabric of the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in the form of
visual and written art created by the school’s students and ongoing events showcasing their talents.
“New Orleans is a city that is rooted in the arts – NOCCA’s longstanding success is a testament to that
fact. We make it a priority to incorporate art that tells a story into all of our hotels and partnering with
NOCCA and making their story the story we tell at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is an incredible
privilege,” said Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels. “We are excited to showcase the work of
their very talented students at the hotel and are looking forward to collaborating with NOCCA for many
years to come. This is a partnership that we expect to grow in innumerable exciting ways.”
“It is an honor to partner with Provenance Hotels to celebrate and recognize the creations of emerging
artists,” said Kyle Wedberg, President and CEO of NOCCA. “We are proud to welcome Provenance and
collaborate with them here in New Orleans. Our partnership gives our students a chance to shine and
their guests the opportunity to know the work of NOCCA and its students, especially in the disciplines of
Visual Arts and Creative Writing.”
Student painters, printmakers, photographers, designers, collage and graphic artists from NOCCA’s
upper level visual arts program were invited by Provenance Hotels to submit works to be featured in the
guestrooms at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. Works by six students were selected to be reproduced
and displayed in the hotel. They include Tombstone by Savana Jonau, Parking Lot Girl by Kane Huynh,
Heart Break Hotel by Gabrielle Cantelli, Daisy Deuces by Amanda Wilkes, Taking Back What Is Hers by
Armand deLaureal and Trumpets for Eyes, Fur Man and The Study by Monica Catalanotto.
In addition to this visual art, all guestrooms will feature copies of UMBRA, an annual publication created
by NOCCA’s creative writing students. From poetry to fiction to essays, the writing in UMBRA is filled
with the emotions, humor and diverse perspectives of NOCCA’s students. Guests can read UMBRA
during their visit and purchase copies at the hotel. When guests buy a copy, their purchase supports
NOCCA’s creative writing program and future editions of the publication.
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is located at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets,
just four blocks from the French Quarter and steps from the art galleries along Julia Street. In keeping
with the neighborhood’s artistic roots, the hotel’s lobby will include a street-facing gallery space with
rotating art curated by NOCCA featuring works by the school’s students, faculty and alumni. This art will
be available for purchase with proceeds going to the artist. New works will be rotated in on a schedule
that coincides with the Julia Street gallery rotation and the gallery at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
will serve as a NOCCA outpost in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District.
For more information about The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit www.old77hotel.com or follow the
hotel on Instagram and Twitter @Old77_Hotel and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Old77Hotel.
###
About The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Located in the Warehouse Arts District – just three blocks from the French Quarter, walking distance to the
Superdome, adjacent to Harrah’s Casino, and a short stroll from the Convention Center – the 167-room Old No. 77
Hotel & Chandlery will be a melting pot of culture and history as diverse as the city of New Orleans itself. The Old
No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery can be found online at www.old77hotel.com.
About the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) is Louisiana’s arts conservatory for high school students. NOCCA
offers students from across the state tuition-free arts instruction in Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Dance, Media
Arts (Filmmaking and Audio Production), Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts. For more information on the
school’s attendance options including full-day Academics and Arts instruction, please visit www.nocca.com.
About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels develops award-winning urban boutique hotels with a distinct
and deeply integrated art story. The portfolio includes Hotel deLuxe, Hotel Lucia and Sentinel in Portland, Ore.,
Hotel 1000, Hotel Max and Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle, Wash., Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Wash., and Hotel Preston
in Nashville, Tenn. Provenance Hotels can be found online at www.provenancehotels.com.
Media Contact:
Kate Buska, Public Relations Director
503-548-9399, [email protected]
EXECUTIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED TO LEAD NEW ORLEANS’ OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY
Hotel slated to open in spring 2015 hires General Manager and Director of Sales.
January 6, 2015 – NEW ORLEANS, La. – Provenance Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of
John Price as General Manager and Keith Normand as Director of Sales for the Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery. Located in New Orleans’ Arts District at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette
Streets, just four blocks from the French Quarter, the 167-room hotel is slated to open in spring 2015.
As General Manager of the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, Price will oversee operations, revenue
generation, cost and quality management and capital planning to ensure the hotel reaches its maximum
potential in the competitive New Orleans market. Price most recently served as Vice President of
Lifestyle Hotels at Spire Hospitality overseeing four independent hotels in New Orleans, Boca Raton, Fla.
and Lake Placid, NY. Price has extensive experience in the lifestyle sector, having served as general
manager at Sax Chicago – A Thompson Hotel in Chicago, Ill., Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco,
Calif., the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago and the House of Blues Hotel, A Loews Hotel in Chicago.
Normand, a native of New Orleans with strong ties to the community, will manage the marketing and
sales of the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery as Director of Sales. He most recently served as Director of
Sales & Marketing at the Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue and, prior to that post, was Director of
Sales & Marketing role at two other New Orleans properties, the Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites.
“We are excited to have John and Keith leading the team at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery,” said
Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels. “With their combined lifestyle hotel expertise and deep
knowledge of New Orleans, I am confident they will ensure a successful launch of the property and help
us to create an entirely unique hotel in one of the most exciting, inspiring destinations in the country.”
The perfect home base for work or play in the Big Easy, guest rooms at The Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery will welcome travelers with a light, airy design that allows the building’s authentic warehouse
architecture to shine. The décor will pay homage to the hotel's industrial past while practical amenities
provide all the modern necessities plugged-in travelers require. Downstairs, the lobby will offer plenty of
nooks in which to congregate or relax and, when the hotel opens in spring, it will feature a first floor
gym and meeting room. Food and beverage offerings are expected to come on line later in 2015.
For more information about The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit www.old77hotel.com or follow the
hotel on Instagram and Twitter @Old77_Hotel and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Old77Hotel.
###
Media contact:
Brustman Carrino Public Relations
[email protected]
(305) 573-0658
CHEF NINA COMPTON TO OPEN HER FIRST RESTAURANT AT THE OLD NO. 77 HOTEL & CHANDLERY IN NEW ORLEANS
Star chef will tap into the city’s culinary heritage to deliver big flavors in the Big Easy
Chef Nina Compton, one of the nation’s most exciting rising star chefs, will open her first restaurant in
New Orleans in summer 2015 at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. The soon-to-debut Warehouse Arts
District hotel is the latest from Provenance Hotels, a company with a passion for partnering with
talented chefs. Compton, a St. Lucia native trained in the French tradition at the Culinary Institute of
America in Hyde Park, New York, most recently served as chef de cuisine at Scarpetta at Fontainebleau
Miami Beach, where she worked with celebrity chef and restauranteur Scott Conant to create a
masterful Italian menu that drew raves from cognoscenti far and wide. As owner and executive chef of
the yet-to-be named restaurant at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, she will channel the delectable
diversity of her culinary background while incorporating the rich food traditions for which her newlyadopted home of New Orleans is rightly famous.
The move to New Orleans marks a triumphant return for Compton who fell in love with the city during
the filming of BRAVO’s award-winning Top Chef (Season 11: New Orleans). “There is a certain magic I
found in New Orleans,” says the chef. Over the course of the show, Compton’s talent, determination
and hard work earned her the admiration of the judges and her fellow contestants. She took the runnerup spot while her warm, engaging personality made her the season’s fan favorite. It was a journey that
played out in front of millions and, ultimately, has come full-circle. “As I worked on concepts for my
restaurant and looked at locations, I kept getting drawn to New Orleans. When the opportunity to
partner with Provenance Hotels and do it here arose, it was kismet. It’s a one-a-kind-place with amazing
indigenous products and an international influence in all artistic aspects. I’m very excited to be working
in a city this vibrant, unique and iconic and to do it with a partner that is as dedicated as I am to
honoring New Orleans’ traditions and history,” she reveals.
Compton’s concept for her first restaurant is something the chef has been pondering for years. As she
notes, “Good chefs are always dreaming and planning.” The partnership with Provenance Hotels and her
recent relocation to New Orleans has resulted in a surge of creativity as she continues to refine her new
restaurant’s direction. “I’ve had an amazing time making the rounds here in New Orleans,” she says.
“Beyond all the great restaurants and bars, I’ve been hitting the local farmers markets and meeting with
tons of purveyors, from fisherman to coffee roasters. My inspirations are eclectic but when it comes to
ingredients, I definitely want to spotlight as much local product as possible.”
Provenance Hotels is no stranger to facilitating projects by top culinary talent. The company is fresh off
recent successes, most notable partnering with James Beard Award-winner and Iron Chef America
champion Vitaly Paley, who opened Imperial at Hotel Lucia in Portland and James Beard Award-winner
Jason Wilson who opened Miller’s Guild at Hotel Max in Seattle.
Compton/Provenance
Bashar Wali, president of Provenance Hotels, sums up their excitement about the partnership by saying
“We are honored and delighted to help spur Nina’s return to New Orleans so she can realize her destiny
and create what we are confident will be one of the city’s best new restaurants.”
Opening this spring, the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is located at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and
Lafayette Streets, just blocks from the French Quarter and steps from the art galleries along Julia Street.
In keeping with the neighborhood’s artistic roots, the hotel’s guestrooms feature art from students of
the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA).
For more information about The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, visit www.old77hotel.com or follow the
hotel on Instagram and Twitter @Old77_Hotel and Facebook at www.facebook.com/Old77Hotel.
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About The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
Located in the Warehouse Arts District – just three blocks from the French Quarter, walking distance to the
Superdome, adjacent to Harrah’s Casino, and a short stroll from the Convention Center – the 167-room Old No. 77
Hotel & Chandlery will be a melting pot of culture and history as diverse as the city of New Orleans itself. The Old
No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery can be found online at www.old77hotel.com.
About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels develops award-winning urban boutique hotels with a distinct
and deeply integrated art story. The portfolio includes Hotel deLuxe, Hotel Lucia and Sentinel in Portland, Ore.,
Hotel 1000, Hotel Max and Roosevelt Hotel in Seattle, Wash., Hotel Murano in Tacoma, Wash., Hotel Preston in
Nashville, Tenn. and the soon-to-open Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans. Provenance Hotels can be
found online at www.provenancehotels.com.
Media Contact:
Kate Buska, Public Relations Director
503-548-9399, [email protected]
FACT SHEET
535 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, LA
Phone: 504.527.5271
Fax 504.599.2107
www.old77hotel.com
https://www.facebook.com/old77hotel
https://twitter.com/old77_hotel
https://instagram.com/old77_hotel/
LOCATION
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is a 167-room hotel in New Orleans' Warehouse Arts District. Located
at the intersection of Tchoupitoulas and Lafayette Streets, just four blocks from the French Quarter, it is
the latest incarnation of a building that began its life as a warehouse serving the Port of New Orleans.
DATE OPENED
April 30, 2015
HISTORY
Built in 1854, the building that now houses the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery first served the port of
New Orleans as a coffee warehouse before being purchased by E.J. Hart & Company who operated a
chandlery, or general wholesale business, trading in everything sailing ships needed to stock their
voyages – from canvas and rope to paper, tobacco and patent medicines. Today, the Old No. 77 Hotel &
Chandlery takes its name from the building’s original address, 77 Tchoupitoulas Street, and, in a playful
nod to its historic warehouse roots, will serve to provision modern day travelers by bringing the flavors
of New Orleans into the hotel with locally curated art, artisanal goods and food and beverages.
ART COLLECTION
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery and New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), the city’s
foremost innovative and iconic arts education institution, have partnered to curate a travel and art
experience in the Warehouse Arts District that is rooted in the real culture of New Orleans.
NOCCA is a regional, pre-professional arts school founded by artists, educators and community activists
that offers intensive instruction in culinary arts, dance, media arts: filmmaking and audio production,
music, theatre arts, visual arts, and creative writing. Its story is woven into the fabric of the Old No. 77
Hotel & Chandlery in the form of visual and written art created by the school’s students and ongoing
events activated at the hotel showcasing their talents.
Works by six students from NOCCA’s upper level visual arts programs were selected to be reproduced
and displayed in the hotel and guestrooms. They include Tombstone and Blooming Ideas by Savana
Jonau, Parking Lot Girl by Kane Huynh, Heart Break Hotel by Gabrielle Cantelli, Daisy Deuces and
Intellectual Butterflies by Amanda Wilkes, Taking Back What Is Hers by Armand deLaureal and Trumpets
for Eyes, Fur Man and The Study by Monica Catalanotto.
In addition to visual art displayed in the guestrooms and public spaces, all guestrooms feature copies of
UMBRA, an annual publication created by NOCCA’s creative writing students. From poetry to fiction to
essays, the writing in UMBRA is filled with the diverse perspectives of NOCCA’s students.
Coming online later in summer 2015 will be a gallery space with rotating art curated by NOCCA featuring
works by the school’s students, faculty and alumni. Gallery art will be available for purchase with
proceeds going to the artist. New works will be rotated in on a schedule that coincides with the Julia
Street gallery rotation and the gallery at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will serve as a NOCCA outpost
in the heart of the Warehouse Arts District.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Guestrooms at the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery welcome travelers with a light, airy design that allows
the building’s authentic warehouse architecture to shine. White walls punctuated by pops of color on
painted ceilings and pipes, original hardwood floors, wall-spanning windows, wood finishes, and
subdued fabrics and textiles will pay homage to the hotel's industrial past while practical amenities
provide all the modern necessities plugged-in travelers require with flat-screen TVs, docking stations,
Tivoli clock radios and complimentary Wi-Fi.
In a playful nod to the building’s heritage as a purveyor of trade goods to the city’s port district, The Old
No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery will provision modern travelers with local crafts and artisanal New Orleans
products for purchase from chandlery cases and the hotel honor bar. The chandlery element will come
online later in summer 2015.
Downstairs, the lobby will entice guests with exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, industrial-inspired
tables and comfy armchairs that offer plenty of nooks in which to congregate or relax. When the hotel
features a first floor gym and meeting room for receptions, casual get-togethers or formal meetings.
GUEST ROOM AMENITIES
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100% Egyptian Cotton Mascioni Linen imported from Italy
Aquaplush pillows
Simmons Beautyrest Black Napa mattresses
Lather vegan aromatherapy bath amenities
Plush bathrobes
Free high-speed wireless Internet
Safes large enough for laptop computers
Wall outlet/USB charging ports above bedside tables and in desktop
Tivoli Bluetooth clock radios
LCD flat panel televisions
Honor bar stocked with locally sourced items like Swamp Pop, Zappos Chips, Sucre chocolate,
Zydeco power bars, New Orleans Famous Pralines and NOLA Brewing company beer
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Rooms stocked with 200 ml. bottles of regionally-distilled spirits like Cathead Vodka and Old
New Orleans Rum
Irons and ironing boards
Hairdryers
GUEST SERVICES
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Pet friendly rooms and amenities ($45* per stay)
Spotify Menu
Pillow Menu
Spiritual Menu
24-hour fitness center
Laundry services
Overnight Valet Parking ($32* per night)
*Pricing subject to change.
FOOD & DRINK
Tout La, located in the lobby, opens in May and offers expertly crafted coffee, pastries and adult
beverage options like mimosas for perking up your morning in New Orleans. Also available are grab-andgo options for a quick bite before heading out on the town. Tout La will be open daily from 7 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
In June 2015, Compère Lapin, a neighborhood restaurant headed by Chef Nina Compton, will open at
the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery. The opening marks a triumphant return to New Orleans for Compton
who fell in love with the city during the filming of BRAVO’s Top Chef Season 11: New Orleans. Over the
course of the show, she earned the admiration of the judges and her fellow contestants, taking the
runner-up spot in the winner’s circle and being voted the season’s fan favorite. It was a journey that
played out in front of millions and, now, it comes full-circle at Compère Lapin.
The inspiration for the name Compère Lapin [pronounced kom-pare la-pan and translated to “brother
rabbit”] comes from Compton’s childhood in St. Lucia where she read traditional Caribbean folktales
featuring a mischievous rabbit named Compère Lapin. Drawing on the story’s themes of exploration and
play, the restaurant will feature an inventive menu that mixes the flavors of New Orleans, with those of
Compton’s Caribbean roots, her French culinary training and deep experience with Italian cuisine.
The beverage program at Compère Lapin will be helmed by Ricky Gomez, a native of New Orleans who
helped re-open the New Orleans institution, Commander’s Palace, after Hurricane Katrina. Gomez also
honed his skills at Cure, one of the most critically acclaimed cocktail destinations in New Orleans – and
the country – and was tapped by the world-renown spirits company Diageo as their first-ever World
Class U.S. Ambassador. The beverage program at Compère Lapin will complement the restaurant’s
playful menu with a lineup of thoughtful but unpretentious cocktails that highlight the bounty of the
Gulf’s indigenous ingredients as well as pay homage to New Orleans’ rich cocktail heritage.
Breakfast, lunch and room service will launch later in summer 2015.
DESIGN TEAM
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Developer — Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas
Contractor — Woodward Construction, New Orleans
Interiors — Parts & Labor Design, New York
OWNERSHIP
The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery is owned by GB Lodging of New York; Provenance Hotels of Portland,
Ore.; and Woodbine Development Corporation of Dallas.
OPERATOR
Provenance Hotels
EXECUTIVE TEAM
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John Price, General Manager
Keith Normand, Director of Sales
Holly Landry, Controller
Patrick Wilson, Guest Services
Joshua Courrege, Chief Engineer
Geraldine Lewis, Housekeeping
instagram.com/old77_hotel
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Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery
535 Tchoupitoulas Street
PR Director
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
Kate Buska
(504) 527-5271
503.548.9399
www.Old77Hotel.com
[email protected]