Hotel Mazarin to Open in French Quarter after Extensive Overhaul

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor

The New Orleans Hotel Collection recently announced the opening of its newest boutique hotel, Hotel Mazarin, in the heart of the vibrant French Quarter. Situated at 730 Bienville St., the hotel will officially open on Dec. 28, 2011, in the building once known as the Saint Louis Hotel.

The 102-room Hotel Mazarin underwent a comprehensive multimillion-dollar renovation that resulted in an upscale facility, boasting amenities such as a private courtyard with a Renaissance-inspired fountain, a fitness center, a business center and a signature hotel bar.

The hotel will be named in honor of Cardinal Jules Mazarin – a 17th-century, Italian-born pontiff, advisor to the French Crown, collector of fine wines and wealth and Machiavellian diplomat, according to a Hotel Interactive story.

“We are excited to offer such a beautifully distinctive hotel that presents an atmosphere of cultural sophistication, elegance and service for our guests,” said hotel owner Joseph Jaeger Jr., managing member of 730 Bienville L.L.C., in a press release. “Hotel Mazarin will provide a desirable, stylish destination for travelers, surrounded by the French Quarter’s world-renowned entertainment, dining, shopping and historic attractions.”

In other commercial news, the New Orleans City Business reports important progress on the development of Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Regional Academy, a 114,300-square-foot facility to be located in the Churchill Business and Technology Park in Avondale.

The $27 million project is slated to be complete by fall 2013 and will include three major classroom buildings, an auditorium, a cafeteria, robotics and biotech laboratories and an 11,000-square-foot event center. It will provide education for high school students interested in developing careers in science and technology.

New Orleans-based Walton Construction might start working on the project if its bid is accepted.