New Orleans is a city rooted in history and tradition. The past and present unite to create an unforgettable experience. The Pontchartrain Hotel adds to this charm. The hotel, built in the 1920's, is home to a number of culturally significant events. Tennessee Williams worked on A Street Car Named Desire while staying at the hotel. Walt Disney, Rita Hayworth, Gerald Ford, and others chose to stay there. Even the New Orleans Saints signed their articles of incorporation in the hotel's ground-level bar, The Bayou Bar.
History remains at the heart of the Pontchartrain. Yet the hotel also pays homage to the present and looks forward to the future. Patrons need only to enter the Living Room to see a painting by Ashley Longshore of Lil' Wayne, a clash with the conservative, ornate, and antique furniture of the past.
In 2014, Cooper Manning and his firm, AJ Capital Parnters, approached ERG Enterprises to invest in the Pontchartrain. We knew the investment opportunity matched our philosophy, which is to finance properties that are differentiated. For us, we seek assets that are unique down to every detail and aspect, which the Pontchartrain epitomizes. The Pontchartrain stands out among its neighbors on Saint Charles as one of the few skyscrapers, which affords a remarkable view.
In 2018, the Pontchartrain was named by Condé Nast as the #1 hotel in the US. In 2019, it was recognized by USA Today as having the nation’s “Best Hotel Restaurant.” In 2020, it won the third consecutive Readers' Choice Award from Condé Nast, continuing a legacy of industry-defining hospitality. The Pontchartrain is anything but a place to go to sleep. It’s a destination to stay awake, a living, breathing experience, one that continues to give back to New Orleans residents and tourists alike. It’s also a testament that history can lead to innovation.