Vol. I · Venues · New Orleans, LA

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

The largest hotel in New Orleans, on the banks of the Mississippi at the foot of Poydras Street with direct indoor access to the Morial Convention Center.

Hilton Honors convention hotel on the Mississippi River at the foot of Poydras Street. 1,622 guest rooms (largest in New Orleans), 137,923 sq ft of meeting space across 55 rooms, a 26,894 sq ft Grand Ballroom (3,089 theater / 2,200 banquet), and direct indoor access to the Morial Convention Center via the Riverwalk.

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Maximum capacity: 5,000 attendees in the largest configuration.

At a glance

Max capacity: 5,000
Bookable spaces: 8
Total event square feet: 131,184
Last renovation: 2025
Nearest airport: MSY · Domestic hub
Hotel brand affiliation: Hilton Hotels (Hilton Honors)

/ capacities

Capacities by configuration

Exhibit Space (aggregate)68,946 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Exhibit	5,000

Grand Ballroom26,894 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	3,089
Classroom	3,083
Reception standing	3,000
Banquet rounds	2,200
U-shape	1,674

Grand Salon24,139 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	2,773
Classroom	2,766
Banquet rounds	2,000
U-shape	1,503

Grand Ballroom A6,667 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	766
Classroom	758
Banquet rounds	560
U-shape	411
Hollow square	120

Commerce1,450 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	167
Classroom	158
Banquet rounds	110

Chart A1,092 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Classroom	147
Theater	130
Banquet rounds	76

Ascot/Newberry1,100 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	146
Classroom	138
Banquet rounds	100

Chequers896 sq ft

Configuration	Maximum
Theater	67
Banquet rounds	40

/ technology

Technology

Built-in AV: Standard Hilton convention services audio-visual program. Encore (formerly PSAV) typically the preferred partner. Specific projector lumens, screen sizes, microphone counts, and AV staff inclusion not published.

Confidence: Specifications gated; request a proposal

/ amenities

Facilities and amenities

Catering: In-house catering; On-site catering integrated with Hilton convention services; Drago's Seafood Restaurant supports private events.
Kitchen tier: Full prep kitchen
Bar service: Available; Bar service across all event spaces; Public Belt bar with live music.
Accessibility: ADA compliance per Hilton brand standard; specific ADA room count and hearing-loop coverage to be confirmed.
Sustainability: Hilton brand-level sustainability programs (Travel with Purpose); property-specific certifications to confirm.

/ staff

Staff and service

Dedicated event manager: Yes
AV staff on call: Yes
Notes: Standard Hilton convention services program. Day-of staffing ratios, banquet-captain count, and language coverage to be confirmed.

/ lodging

Where to stay

Hilton Honors

Hilton New Orleans Riverside (host)
On-property; 29-story tower (341 ft); largest hotel in New Orleans by room capacity.
0 min walk · 1,622 rms

/ dining

Where to eat

Drago's Seafood Restaurant
New Orleans seafood; famous charbroiled oysters · Lobby-level. Private dining capacity to confirm.
0 min
Public Belt
Bar with live music · Lobby-level bar.
0 min

/ getting there

Getting there

Nearest airport: MSY · Domestic hub

Hilton New Orleans Riverside sits at 2 Poydras Street on the banks of the Mississippi River, 13 miles from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), a domestic hub. The hotel has direct indoor access to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center via the Riverwalk Outlet Mall. The Canal Street Streetcar terminates two blocks north; the Mississippi Riverfront Streetcar runs at the property's doorstep. The French Quarter is roughly half a mile northeast.

/ setting

Setting and surroundings

Hilton New Orleans Riverside is a 29-story, 341-foot tower at 2 Poydras Street in New Orleans' Central Business District, opened August 15, 1977 as the New Orleans Hilton. Local developer Lester Kabacoff partnered with Hilton Hotels Corporation in the mid-1970s to secure development rights at the foot of Poydras Street along the Mississippi River. The hotel is one of New Orleans' "big four" historic convention hotels alongside the New Orleans Marriott, Hyatt Regency New Orleans, and Sheraton New Orleans. Cvent records 2025 as the most recent renovation year (Wikipedia's older entry records 2015; sales-team reconciliation needed). The hotel runs 1,622 guest rooms, the largest hotel in New Orleans by room capacity. The function inventory totals 137,923 square feet of meeting space across 55 rooms, with 68,946 sq ft of dedicated exhibit space. The largest space is the Grand Ballroom at 26,894 sq ft, configurable for 3,089 theater, 2,200 banquet, 3,083 classroom, and 1,674 U-shape. The Grand Salon adds a second-largest 24,139 sq ft hall (2,773 theater, 2,000 banquet, 2,766 classroom, 1,503 U-shape). Component rooms include Grand Ballroom A (6,667 sq ft, 766 theater, 560 banquet, 758 classroom, 411 U-shape, 120 hollow square), Commerce (1,450 sq ft, 167 theater), Ascot/Newberry (1,100 sq ft, 146 theater), Chart A (1,092 sq ft, 130 theater), and Chequers (896 sq ft, 67 theater). Cvent reports 55 total rooms; the remaining ~45 are not extracted in this research pass. The hotel has direct indoor access to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center via the connected Riverwalk Outlet Mall, materially expanding move-in options for large-format events that span hotel and convention-center halls. On-site dining covers Drago's Seafood Restaurant (New Orleans seafood, famous charbroiled oysters) and Public Belt (bar with live music). Additional outlets include lobby coffee, pool bar, and room service. The closest commercial airport is Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), a domestic hub 13 miles southwest. The Mississippi Riverfront Streetcar runs at the property's doorstep; the Canal Street Streetcar terminates two blocks north; the French Quarter is roughly half a mile northeast.

/ contracts

Contracts and pricing

Rate sheet: RFP-driven (not published)
F&B minimums: Published meeting rate sheet not exposed publicly; Hilton convention properties typically run F&B minimums tied to room block.
Outside vendors: Hilton convention properties commonly designate Encore (formerly PSAV) as preferred audio-visual partner with associated waiver-fee policies for outside vendors. Confirm with sales.

/ operations

Operations and logistics

Move-in / move-out: Setup and teardown windows to be confirmed. The Riverwalk Outlet Mall connection to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center materially expands move-in options for large-format events spanning hotel and convention-center halls.

/ safety

Safety and risk

Fire suppression: Specification gated; ask sales team.
Venue insurance: Specification gated; ask sales team.

/ reputation

Reputation and notable events

Notable events hosted

Mid-1970s riverfront revitalization anchor · 1977 · Opened August 15, 1977 as the New Orleans Hilton; partnership between local developer Lester Kabacoff and Hilton Hotels Corporation

Awards

Largest hotel in New Orleans by room capacity (1,622 rooms) · wikipedia; cvent.com
One of New Orleans' "big four" convention hotels (with NO Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Sheraton) · wikipedia
Direct indoor connection to New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center via the Riverwalk Outlet Mall · venue marketing referenced in toursgonewild.com

/ map

Map

Hilton New Orleans Riverside
2 Poydras Street · New Orleans, LA · 70130

29.94660, -90.06410

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/ next step

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