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International House mixes business and pleasure

Historic bank and trade center re-born as boutique hotel

By Angela Wibking

Long before someone coined the term global economy, New Orleans was a center for international trade. A major port, the Big Easy has always done big business with companies around the world. In fact, the world’s first international trade center was founded in the city in an elegant Beaux-Arts style building on Camp Street in the city’s Central Business District. Originally built in 1906 to house a local bank, the former trade center has recently been reborn as a boutique hotel that’s hip enough for the arts crowd but classic (and functional) enough for the business traveler.

Of course, in New Orleans the line between business and pleasure is a fine one, so honeymooners in search of a trendy retreat, corporate types needing a Big Easy hotel base and leisure travelers of all types and ages mingle happily at International House.  

The 119-room, 3-suite hotel is the brainchild of New Orleans developer Sean Cummings and architect Brooks Graham, who unveiled their $11 million venture in September 1998. In a distinct departure from the look of most New Orleans hotels, Cummings and Graham have chosen to express the style of the city today, rather than that of 100 years ago. The contemporary approach is apparent as soon as you enter the lobby. While the ceilings rise to original lofty heights of 23 feet and ornate pilasters flank the entrance to what is now Loa, the hotel’s bar, the furnishings and front desk are as current as the headlines in this morning’s “Times-Picayune” (the city’s daily newspaper). Intimate groupings of sleek, but comfortable, modern furniture are arranged on the marble and inset oak floors. The front desk is highlighted by a woven forged steel design that suggests a field of wild Louisiana iris while also paying homage to the city’s famous wrought iron found on balconies of buildings throughout the French Quarter.

The color palette in the public spaces, as well as the rooms, is one of rich cream, glossy black, deep caramel, cool taupe and pale moss green. Soothing but never bland, it’s a look that’s attracting a young business and leisure travel crowd, many clad in the same trendy colors reflected in the décor. In a further expression of local style, all the furnishings and design elements come from area craftsmen. Even the flowers are local: native Louisiana wildflowers and foliage are used exclusively throughout the hotel. If you visit the hotel in the summer months, the public spaces take on a lighter look because, as is the custom in the Deep South, heavier rugs are replaced with sisal ones and natural cotton slipcovers are placed on the upholstered chairs and sofas for an airy appeal.

In yet another unique reflection of the hotel’s contemporary approach, seven New Orleans traditions and rituals are observed in the lobby throughout the year. Among these are All Saints Day, Twelfth Night, Carnival and St. Joseph’s Day. Through fascinating and colorful displays, guests at the hotel learn a little about how New Orleanians celebrate these special days and seasons.

The hotel is also home to one of the top new restaurants in the city -- Lemon Grass, where chef Minh Bui’s innovative contemporary Vietnamese/French cuisine has earned rave reviews and a loyal local following. Soft-shelled crab (fried with a delectable glaze), served with a trio of mashed potatoes (sweet, Idaho and jicama), tender dumplings and a fabulous white chocolate raspberry cheesecake are just a few items of note on the menu. Dining at Lemon Grass is reason enough to stay at International House but the hotel’s plush and spacious guestrooms are another plus.  

Rooms at International House average 300 square feet each and feature two-line speakerphones with voice mail and data port. Headboards of the king-size beds are covered in soft taupe velvet and the bed itself is draped in a spread the color of the moss hanging from the live oak trees around the city. Original black-and-white photos of New Orleans jazz greats and fresh wildflowers in simple antique glass bottles adorn the room, Baths feature spacious showers or oversized tubs with Aveda bath amentities. A CD player by the bed comes complete with jazz recordings to put one in a Big Easy state of mind. A fitness room, valet parking, 24-hour concierge, and room service are other touches any traveler will appreciate.

Outside the hotel, the city awaits. The convention center and other business destinations are close at hand. The French Quarter is a two block walk down Camp Street. The Riverwalk area along the banks of the Mississippi with the Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah’s Casino and other attractions is also within walking distance. Hop on a streetcar and within minutes you are uptown in the Garden District, filled with elaborate mansions and homes, or at the delightful zoo in Audubon Park. Wherever your business or pleasure takes you in New Orleans, it’s nice to know the hotel you come back to at night is as special as the city itself.

For a more detailed look at International House, visit their web site at www.ihhotel.com. For more information or reservations, call (800)633-5770 or (504)553-9550.

Photos courtesy of International House

Story should be listed under Destinations-U.S.-Louisiana-New Orleans. Also list under Luxury Hotels, Heritage Travel and Business Travel.

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