From a $763 million Capital Enchancment Plan to a $600 million headquarters lodge, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Conference Heart President and CEO Jim Prepare dinner is trying ahead to the numerous milestones that will likely be achieved over the following 5 years by the sixth largest conference middle in the USA.

The Conference Heart is within the midst of a multi-phased, Capital Enchancment Plan (CIP) consisting of $763 million in renovations and upgrades, together with a brand new energy-efficient roofing system; renovations and upgrades of 140 assembly rooms; exhibition corridor, foyer, and public area enhancements; elevated eating experiences; a transportation hub; and a pedestrian park.

Roughly $350 million has been spent up to now on the undertaking, and the undertaking is anticipated to be accomplished by 2030. In September 2025, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Corridor Authority – the Conference Heart’s board – accepted CIP funding for the following 5 years of the advance plan, which is valued at simply south of $200 million. The Conference Heart is tied for the sixth largest in the USA with 1.1 million sq. toes of exhibit area. It has produced $93.2 billion in financial impression since opening in 1985.

“We’re excited to proceed these high-level enhancements to higher our area and proceed to maintain New Orleans aggressive within the tourism business,” mentioned Prepare dinner. “The Capital Enchancment Plan is transferring alongside properly, and we’re targeted on enhancing the way in which the Conference Heart appears, feels, capabilities, and competes.”

From Halls G-J, guests can already expertise a number of upgrades, from aesthetic redesign with new carpet, décor, and expertise enhancements to intentional sustainable options, reminiscent of new low-flow rest room fixtures, LED lighting, and water bottle refill stations.

Prepare dinner mentioned a significant accomplishment of the CIP undertaking has been the shut coordination between building, engineering, and design groups and Conference Heart employees, permitting vital inside work to proceed with minimal disruption whereas the ability hosted greater than 120 occasions in 2025. “These additions and adjustments have gone on seamlessly with out interruption to our fixed occasions,” Prepare dinner mentioned.

The three way partnership of AECOM Hunt Broadmoor (Indianapolis-based AECOM Hunt and native developer Broadmoor) is the lead contractor, whereas the architects embody New Orleans-based NANO LLC and Kansas Metropolis-based Populous. Landmark Consultants serves because the proprietor’s illustration and liaison among the many Conference Heart, contractors, and designers.

“That top stage of scheduling, group, coordination, and communication reveals the resiliency of our staff and all our companions,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “It’s an enormous win for us and town, as a result of this implies now we have been capable of proceed internet hosting occasions that draw guests who patronize our resorts, eating places and small companies.”

The inside enhancements to the halls, assembly rooms, and pre-function areas will wrap up by Q3 of 2027, which will likely be adopted by enhancements to the outside. Future work in 2026 will embody enhancements to the doorway lobbies of Corridor C and Corridor G and to the ballroom of the Conference Heart. The adjustments to the ballroom and pre-function areas will use design parts to create useful areas, whereas sustaining an emphasis on sustainability, mentioned Prepare dinner.

“The adjustments to the lobbies of halls C and G, or pre-function areas, will provide extra alternatives for company of the Conference Heart to collect, eat, and luxuriate in between conferences and occasions,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “By using these areas, we’re creating extra alternatives for internet hosting distinctive occasions.”

All through the CIP undertaking, the Conference Heart has met sustainability achievements as nicely, serving to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Conference Heart earn its second consecutive LEED Gold certification, making it considered one of solely two conference facilities within the nation to attain Gold twice in a row (2022, 2025).

Prepare dinner says the Conference Heart has expanded recycling efforts, diverted a whole bunch of tons of waste from landfills, and considerably diminished power and water use via main upgrades and operational enhancements. As Louisiana’s largest LEED-certified facility, it has been acknowledged as a regional sustainability chief, together with receiving a 2025 Environmental Management Program Award from the Louisiana Division of Environmental High quality.

“These efforts reinforce the Conference Heart’s dedication to environmental stewardship whereas enhancing effectivity, visitor expertise, and competitiveness within the conferences business,” Prepare dinner mentioned. “We’re extraordinarily happy with this recognition and elite certification.”

Whereas the Capital Enchancment Plan takes place on the Conference Heart, the anticipation is rising throughout the road for the proposed headquarters lodge to be operated by Omni.

In early 2025, the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Corridor Authority accepted a headquarters lodge growth settlement and floor lease settlement with Omni Lodges & Resorts to develop an approximate $600 million lodge throughout the road from the Conference Heart. The lodge is anticipated to be accomplished by 2029.

The brand new 1,000-key lodge will embody 100,000 sq. toes of assembly area, eating places and bars, a rooftop pool deck, a spa, and a parking storage. Over the following few months, Conference Heart officers will work with companions at Omni as they search permits and approvals to maneuver ahead with Omni New Orleans. Groundbreaking of the lodge is anticipated earlier than the top of 2026.
Prepare dinner says an Omni New Orleans is a necessity for metropolis to stay aggressive.

“It should considerably enhance our competitiveness as a number metropolis, which in the end means elevated financial prosperity that comes from having bigger occasions in our metropolis. We’ll see extra alternatives for distributors, exhibitors, organizers and sponsors to develop alongside large-scale occasions with this lodge,” Prepare dinner mentioned.

Prepare dinner referenced a projected 27 extra occasions per 12 months with the headquarters lodge. Analysis reveals the lodge will generate an estimated $213.6 million yearly in financial impression, in addition to a mixed $25.2 million in annual tax income and create 1,400 jobs.

“Merely put, a brand new lodge equals new conferences, new occasions, new jobs, and new alternatives for New Orleans and Louisiana,” Prepare dinner mentioned.