From K E Smith: After reading reviews of the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans's Garden District, I feel compelled to relate my family's recent experience with this hotel. From the moment I made the reservations for a block of rooms in June 2006 for our daughter's June 23, 2007 wedding, through to the actual wedding week in New Orleans, The Pontchartrain treated my family and guests to a unique, memorable stay. Diane Norton and later, Louise Richardson, Director of Sales and Marketing, met every need, question, and concern as my husband and I coordinated the wedding.
We chose The Pontchartrain because of its European feel and character and its proximity to the church where our daughter was married. The suite we stayed in was clean, spacious, and well appointed as were the other suites and rooms of our guests. Because I had read some recent negative reviews about the hotel, I was determined to view as many of our guests' rooms (number of rooms reserved for the wedding -- 34) as possible to see if these reviews had merit.
I did find some peeling paint but only in areas where it would be logical -- around the air conditioning unit and in the bathrooms -- areas with added moisture combined with New Orleans's humidity. Again, I found the rooms to be clean, well appointed, and with many of the original architectural details from when the hotel was built in 1927. Many of the rooms are named after notable celebrities who stayed there for extended periods of time. This is definitely not a "cookie-cutter" hotel where each room is identical to the room next to it.
The Pontchartrain Hotel, as well as other hotels, restaurants, and businesses, are managing well after Hurricane Katrina, but also dealing with many of the post-Katrina concerns. Those concerns are insurance settlements and competition for building supplies, qualified contractors, experienced laborers, and trained staff for these venues. It will be some time before New Orleans fully recovers from Hurricane Katrina and is able to make the necessary renovations.
In addition to Ms. Norton and Ms. Richardson, I would like also to credit Forrest at the front desk, Calvin - valet parking and porter, and Yvette from the Café Pontchartrain. These individuals and the hotel itself, made our visit even more memorable. :):):)
