METAIRIE, La.—Nearly 10 years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana Coast, Al Copeland Investments breathes new life into Jefferson Parish with the $16.4 million renovation and unveiling of Copeland Tower, home of the newly converted Best Western Plus Landmark Hotel & Suites. The hotel, which opened a portion of the property just 13 days following Hurricane Katrina, celebrated its grand reveal earlier this month with business and civic leaders, brand executives, and loyal guests.
“The Landmark has long served as a landmark in the Jefferson Parish landscape,” said Jefferson Parish President John Young. “Now, 10 years after Hurricane Katrina, we are so grateful for the tremendous investment, courtesy of Al Copeland Investments, which reinvigorated the property by incorporating beautiful facilities for meetings, conferences, and events, along with exciting new amenities that give the Best Western Plus Landmark Hotel & Suites even more star power to attract and accommodate businesses, residents, and visitors to Jefferson Parish for years to come.”
The investment added 95 condo-style suites, increasing the hotel’s inventory to 251 guestrooms and bringing the total number of hotel rooms in the New Orleans metro area to nearly 39,000, up 10,000 from 2005.
“Several years ago, our team launched extensive market research. Based on our findings we were able to determine that the rooms should be transformed into suites in order to offer an upscale, extended-stay option centrally located between the airport and downtown New Orleans,” said Gary Weissert, president of the Best Western Plus Landmark Hotel & Suites. “With that, we converted every two rooms into one. The Landmark is one of the only hotels in the area to offer these facilities, and we feel as though we are thoughtfully designed to suit the needs of any business or leisure traveler.”
The 750-square-foot suites include a full-service kitchen with cooktop, dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave. The separate living room has a queen sofa/sleeper, 47-inch wall mounted LED TV, activity table for two, and complimentary hardwired and wireless internet service. With only eight suites per floor, the property provides added privacy and comfort. Other hotel amenities include a full-service restaurant, fitness room, business center, outdoor swimming pool, and complimentary parking.
Along with the suites addition, the 17-story tower renovation includes meeting and conference facilities on the 16th floor and now houses the Al Copeland Investments Corporate Headquarters. Al Copeland Investments, established by the late Al Copeland Sr.—the restaurateur who founded Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken—owns and operates a wide variety of concepts including restaurants, hotels, a food processing company, and comedy clubs throughout the Southeastern United States.
“Having an existing property undergo such a substantial renovation is an important renewal to the community in which our company and family has been a part of for over four decades,” said Al Copeland Jr., chairman of the board and CEO of Al Copeland Investments, parent company of the Landmark Hotel.
The hotel now has over 15,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. This additional capacity allows guests to book seated, standing, convention, theater, classroom, and banquet style events for any occasion.
Wow, I must salute to them for renovating and constructing again the hotel because it is a landmark hotel. Though they invested for it, there’s still the advantage and positive outcome for the renovation like bigger space for any occasions, additional functions and many more. This renovation remarks the new hope of the hotel.