AC by Marriott Imports European Sophistication to North America

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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Marriott International, Inc. has recently announced the opening of the AC Hotel New Orleans Bourbon, celebrating the official entrée of AC Hotels by Marriott into North America. Originally founded in 1998 by renowned Spanish hotelier Antonio Catalan, AC Hotels is one of the most well-known hotel brands in Spain. Following its success in Europe, a joint venture was formed with Marriott International in 2011 establishing AC Hotels by Marriott as a lifestyle brand within the company’s global portfolio.Opened in November, the new AC Hotel New Orleans Bourbon rests on Carondelet Street on the cusp of the French Quarter in the city’s historic cotton exchange building. The iconic building is a National Historic Landmark which first opened in 1871 as a centralized forum for the trade of cotton. Gracious and chic, many of the 220 hotel rooms offer stunning views of the city. The hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with NewcrestImage, a Texas-based hotel development, construction and management company.

AC Hotels by Marriott is the antidote to this modern age of multi-tasking and over-stimulation with its purposeful European design, which edits away the superfluous in order to create moments of pause for travellers.

Each new AC Hotels location will feature signature amenities and culinary elements including the AC Lounge experience, the AC Library and the AC Kitchen.

The AC Lounge experience is inspired by the idea of “draft and craft,” a place within the hotel where guests can work during the day and relax after hours with a perfectly made cocktail and thoughtfully curated menu of small bites ordered right from the bartender. The AC Lounge will also offer wines on tap and craft beers unique to the area. The AC Library provides a quiet space to linger and be inspired.

Open uniquely for breakfast, the AC Kitchen is grounded in the idea of a European home, welcoming guests with buttery croissants and breakfast delights including an artisan slicer allows for guests to experience a taste of Europe each morning with Iberico inspired artisanal Prosciutto Americain. The kitchen will also feature AC Hotels by Marriott signature Iced Coffee.

Daniel Fountain / 10.12.2014

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

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Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

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