The hotels of New Orleans have welcomed countless visitors in a history
stretching back to the eighteenth century. From humble boardinghouse
beginnings to the grand hotels of the nineteenth century and through to
the modern properties that stand today, hotel life in New Orleans has
reflected the city's own story. From political scandal and celebrity
intrigue to events that shaped the landscape of the entire country, the
story of New Orleans's hotels is an endlessly engaging one. Travel
writer Paul Oswell checks into the great hotels of the past and the
present, telling the story of the properties that stood the test of
time, as well as those that didn't. Using city records, newspaper
archives, vintage travel guides and anecdotal stories in the best New
Orleans tradition, he brings each one to life and in the process fleshes
out the story of the city's hospitality industry and, by extension, its
lively, fascinating history.