hotelmonteleoneblog

Hotel Monteleone's Mardi Gras Tweetcation Rules

2010-01-19T17:46:00Z

The Hotel Monteleone is located in the heart of the world famous New Orleans French Quarter. The city, known for its culture and cuisine, is a favorite vacation destination and welcomes millions of visitors from across the globe annually. Hotel Monteleone is inviting you to pack your bags and prepare for the trip of a lifetime.

Hotel Monteleone is offering a Tweetcation in the Big Easy to the hotel's friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter. The winner will receive:

Deluxe accommodations for a 4 day and 3 night stay at Hotel Monteleone during Mardi Gras, February 14-17, 2010
Breakfast for 2 at Le Café located in the Hotel Monteleone
10% discount at Spa Aria located in Hotel Monteleone
Dinner for 2 at the Hotel Monteleone's Hunt Room Grill
Café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde
Welcome cocktails for 2 in The Carousel Bar
Complimentary hotel parking

CONTEST INFO: Information on the contest will be available on the Hotel Monteleone's blog, www.hotelmonteleoneblog.com or via Twitter, follow hash tag #nolatweetcation

HOW TO ENTER: Simply tweet or post why you want to come to New Orleans as our guest.

RULES: To be eligible to win, contestant hopefuls must be a follower of @HotelMonteleone on Twitter or a fan of Hotel Monteleone on Facebook. The prize is non-transferable and must be redeemed within January /February 2010 coinciding with the dates selected by the hotel February 14-17 2010. If the winner fails to claim the prize in three business days, a new winner will be named. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of the contest, January 29, 2010 and notified via Facebook or Twitter. The winner must be willing to be publically named as the winner in press materials and through Facebook and Twitter. Contestants may enter as many times as desired but each entry must be an original post or tweet. No retweets or post duplications will be accepted as an entry and will be removed from the entries. The hotel accommodations are based on hotel availability and are not applicable during special events or close out events. The winner must be 21 years or older to claim the prize.

Mamma Mia! Tweetcation Give-a-way Rules

2010-01-08T22:16:55Z

Hotel Montelone's

Mamma Mia! NOLA Tweetcation

Hotel Monteleone is offering a Tweetcation in the Big Easy to the hotel's friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter. The winner will receive:

Deluxe accommodations for a 4 day and 3 night stay at Hotel Monteleone
2 tickets for Mamma Mia! playing in New Orleans at Mahalia Jackson Theater, February 2-7, 2010

Showtime to be selected by the Hotel Monteleone

Breakfast for 2 at Le Café located in the Hotel Monteleone
10% discount at Spa Aria located in Hotel Monteleone
Dinner for 2 at the Hotel Monteleone's Hunt Room Grill
Café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde
Welcome cocktails for 2 in The Carousel Bar
Complimentary hotel parking

CONTEST INFO: Information on the contest will be available on the Hotel Monteleone's blog, www.hotelmonteleoneblog.com or via Twitter, follow hash tag #nolatweetcation The winner will be announced by 5PM on Friday, January 15, 2010.

HOW TO ENTER: Simply tweet or post why you want to come to New Orleans as our guest.

RULES: To be eligible to win, contestant hopefuls must be a follower of @HotelMonteleone on Twitter or a fan of Hotel Monteleone on Facebook. The prize is non-transferable and must be redeemed within February 2010 coinciding with Mamma Mia! playing at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. If the winner fails to claim the prize in five business days, a new winner will be named. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of the one month contest and notified via Facebook or Twitter. The winner must be willing to be publically named as the winner in press materials and through Facebook and Twitter. Contestants may enter as many times as desired but each entry must be an original post or tweet. No retweets or post duplications will be accepted as an entry. The hotel accommodations are based on hotel availability and are not applicable during special events or close out events. The winner must be 21 years or older to claim the prize.

Monteleone To Continue Tweetcation Series

2010-01-08T22:13:43Z

New Orleans, La - With overwhelming success of The Hotel Monteleone's first Tweetcation, an online vacation give-a-way, the hotel has announced it will host a series of Tweetcations through out 2010.

"Our first vacation giveaway was such a hit that we are thrilled to be hosting more," says Hotel Director of Sales and Marketing Andrea Thornton, "Our Tweetcations will give people from around the country a chance to experience the city of New Orleans at its finest."

Through out 2010 The Hotel Monteleone will host a series of Tweetcation give-a-ways centered around Broadway Across America's Mamma Mia, Wicked and Avenue Q, Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, Tales of the Cocktail, Southern Decadence and Halloween. Deluxe accommodations for the winner and a guest will be provided along with meals, tours and other surprises.

The Hotel Monteleone hosted their first social media vacation giveaway in November and named Tampa resident, Sarah Gadol, the winner. Gadol and a guest will be in New Orleans in June to redeem her Tweetcation package. In addition to deluxe accommodations at the historic Hotel Monteleone, Gadol will also receive meals at Hotel Monteleone's Le Café and Hunt Room Grill, as well as Brennan's Restaurant, Mr. B's Restaurant and Arnaud's Restaurant. Tour passes for The National World War II Museum, New Orleans Spirit Walking Tour and The Historic New Orleans Collection are also included in their trip in addition to a romantic Dinner Jazz Cruise aboard the Steamboat Natchez.

Followers of the Hotel Monteleone on Twitter and fans of the Monteleone on Facebook can enter to win this Tweetcation by tweeting or posting why they want to come to New Orleans. Applicants many enter the contest more than once but original posts and tweets must be used each time. Applicants must be 21 years or older to be eligible to win. A winner will be randomly chosen at the end of the two week contest period. For complete rules and requirements please visit, www.hotelmonteleoneblog.com. Additional rules for a specific Tweetcation may be added on Monteleone's website as each contest period approaches.

For more information on the Hotel Monteleone's Tweetcation series or on the Monteleone, please visit www.hotelmonteleoneblog.com, follow the Monteleone on Twitter @HotelMonteleone and become a fan of Hotel Monteleone on Facebook.

Hotel Monteleone's Hunt Room Grill to Serve New Year's Eve Dinner

2009-11-20T17:46:16Z

The Hotel Monteleone's famed The Hunt Room Grill will be serving a four course New Year's Eve dinner, making it the perfect start to your New Year's celebration.

The Hunt Room Grill's special menu will serve diners five elegant courses. Entrée selections include Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper, Petite Filet with Foie Gras and Mustard Seed Crusted Lamb Loin. Dinner will be served from 6:00PM-10:00PM on December 31, 2009. Dinner prices range from $65-$85 for five courses.

"The Hunt Room Grill is the perfect place to have a party with friends or a romantic dinner to celebrate the New Year," says Andrea Thornton, Hotel Monteleone's Director of Sales and Marketing.

Hotel Monteleone is located in the heart of the French Quarter. Please visit www.hotelmonteleone.com to find out more information on the Hotel, view the menu or to make reservations.

New Orleans School Choirs to Perfrom at Hotel Monteleone

2009-11-20T17:44:13Z

The Hotel will be welcoming New Orleans school choirs from across the Metro area to fill the lobby with sounds of holiday carols. Choirs are a long-standing tradition at the Hotel, which will be adorned in holiday finery for the season.

Performances will be held on weekdays from December 1 to December 17. Half hour performance times range from 9:00AM to 2:00PM. The festivities kick off on December 1 with Choirs from St. Matthew and William Hart Elementary performing.

"Having local school choirs has been a tradition of Hotel Monteleone for years," says Andrea Thornton, Hotel Monteleone's Director of Sales and Marketing. "Seeing the students so excited really gets everyone in the holiday spirit."

Please visit www.hotelmonteleone.com to find out more information on the Hotel and this event.

Hotel Monteleone's Hunt Room Grill to Serve Reveillon Dinner

2009-11-20T17:43:09Z

The Hotel Monteleone's famed The Hunt Room Grill will be serving Reveillon Dinner from December 1-25 in honor of the Christmas holidays. Reveillon Dinner, a Creole holiday tradition, has been a part of New Orleans culture since the mid-1800's.

The Hunt Room Grill's Reveillon feast will include four savory courses. Modern twists on classic New Orleans dishes will be on the holiday menu. Some dishes include Smoked Moscovy Duck Breast and Braised Grouper.

"Reveillon Dinner is such a special part of what makes New Orleans traditions so distinct," says Andrea Thornton, Hotel Monteleone's Director of Sales and Marketing. "Every element of Hotel Monteleone is infused with New Orleans culture."

Please visit www.hotelmonteleone.com to find out more information on the Hotel, view the menu or to make reservations.

Hotel Monteleone to Hold Tweetcation Sweepstakes

2009-10-12T19:06:47Z

Hotel Monteleone is offering a Tweetcation in the Big Easy to the hotel's friends on Facebook and followers on Twitter. The winner will receive:

Deluxe accommodations for a 5 day and 4 night stay at Hotel Monteleone
Complimentary breakfast at Le Café located in the Hotel Monteleone
R&R in the luxury spa located in Hotel Monteleone
Dinner at the Hotel Monteleone's Hunt Room Grill
Breakfast at Brennan's Restaurant
Dinner at Mr. B's Restaurant
Sunday Brunch at Arnaud's Restaurant
Complimentary cocktails in The Carousel Bar
Complimentary hotel parking or airfare provided
Complimentary passes to The Historic New Orleans Collection, www.hnoc.org, as well as a $25 gift certificate for The Shop at The Collection
Complimentary passes to The National World War II Museum
A complimentary romantic Dinner Jazz Cruise aboard the famed Steamboat Natchez from New Orleans Steamboat & Gray Line Tours
Complimentary passes to the city's Original Walking Tour or Ghost & Spirits Walking Tour

CONTEST INFO: Information on the contest will be available on the Hotel Monteleone's blog, www.hotelmonteleoneblog.com , or via Twitter, follow hash tag #nolatweetcation.

HOW TO ENTER: Simply tweet or post why you want to come to New Orleans as our guest.

RULES: To be eligible to win, contestant hopefuls must be a follower of @HotelMonteleone on Twitter or a fan of Hotel Monteleone on Facebook. The prize is non-transferable and must be redeemed within six months of being named the winner. If the winner fails to claim the prize in five business days, a new winner will be named. A winner will be randomly selected at the end of the one month contest and notified via Facebook or Twitter. Contestants may enter as many times as desired but each entry must be an original post or tweet. No Retweets or post duplications will be accepted as an entry. The hotel accommodations are based on hotel availability, and are not applicable during special events or close out events. The winner must be 21 years or older to claim the prize.

We've got some FRIENDLY ghosts...

2009-08-27T15:41:45Z

As we begin to move out of summer and on towards Fall, it's always fun to explore some of the ghost stories that feature the Hotel Motneleone.

Recently we were paid a visit by the Travelocity Gnome and it seems that while he was here he might have been visited by some ghosts that we didn't previously know about.

The fact is, ghost stories have been roaming around the Hotel Monteleone for years, but any of the stories that have been told tend to be stories of friendly ghosts who are nice to the guests. When you're here, you can take our free guest audio tour and hear a couple of those stories and explore them for yourself.

The first takes place on the 14th floor (which, like most hotels is actually the 13th floor). It's the story of Little Maurice.

Another story that has been documented on several occasions is of Red the Engineer. Red has been known to watch out for folks in Le Cafe and even to check the doors on a semi-regular basis. There are many who work around the restaurant who can attest to Red's friendly check of the doors, and every once in a while we even get reports from folks who say they felt like Red was watching over them while they were enjoying their Bayou Breakfast.

If you feel like playfully exploring some of our more ethereal visitors. or perhaps even pretending to engage with some of your own, you might consider dropping in for the Haunted Halloween Weekend coming up this October.

Who knows... you might even be joined by a few unseen players.

It's all in the GNOME-nclature

2009-08-11T17:46:47Z

The Travelocity Gnome is on the road and headed east from San Diego. Where he stops is up to you!

We, of course, want him to stop right here in New Orleans, spend the night at The Hotel Monteleone, take in the Riverfront, The Quarter, and end the evening in The Carousel Bar. Let's face it... We know how to show a gnome a good time!

So please...

Let the gnome know what YOU think of The Crescent City, and The Hotel Monteleone. Go to http://votetravelocity.com and vote for the gnome to come to New Orleans!

Give Our Regards To Broadway!

2009-07-23T14:51:55Z

The Hotel Monteleone is pleased to have been named the Official New Orleans Hotel of the Broadway Across America series. The announcement was recently made by Kirk Feldmann, President of Arts Center Entertainment, in partnership with Broadway Across America and New Orleans Theatre Association.

The Broadway Across America Series will return to New Orleans this fall, after a four year absence since Hurricane Katrina, with the opening of five award-winning shows: Cats, The Color Purple, Mamma Mia!, Wicked, and Avenue Q.

This opportunity emphasizes our dedication to, and enthusiasm for, the theater's return to New Orleans, and we're overjoyed to be a part of this exciting comeback. The return of Broadway to New Orleans symbolizes yet another step toward normalcy, as the arts continue to grow and flourish in the city.

As the official hotel, Hotel Monteleone will be offering special exclusive packages for those customers attending a Broadway show. For ticket packages, check the Hotel website.

The Broadway Across America season runs from October 2009 to June 2010 at the newly restored Mahalia Jackson Theatre in Louis Armstrong Park, kicking off with the celebrated, smash hit Cats from October 27 to November 1. Cats, the longest continuously touring Broadway musical in history, holds a special place in New Orleans' theater culture by being the first Broadway Across America play to run in the city; the show will be returning to the city as a special engagement in order to celebrate Broadway's triumphant return. Cats will then be followed by Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple, running from December 1-6; Mamma Mia! from February 2-7; the worldwide phenomenon Wicked from March 24-April 11; and concluding with the Tony-winning Avenue Q - June 8-14. For tickets, log onto www.broadwayacrossamerica.com.

We'll have more details as show dates get closer.

Vive La France!

2009-07-14T21:50:40Z

It's Bastille Day! Time to celebrate all things France and there's a great post on the Examiner.com that offers up "Top 10 Ways to Satisfy Your French Cravings in New Orleans." Read it here.

While you're in a french mode why not check out the Carousel Bar Blog where bartender MArvin Allen is whipping up the new drink Cognac Summit.

A little bit further down the blog you can even find the recipe, or better yet, just step into the Hotel Monteleone, grab a chair at The Carousel and order one up to celebrate.

And They're Off!!!

2009-07-08T14:41:22Z

Welcome Home everybody! Tales of the Cocktail 2009 is here.

As I type this, preparations are frantically taking place for the first event of Tales 2009, starting in just 20 minutes

The Cocktail Fresh Market in the Queen Anne Parlor and on Mezzanine A will be running all day, from 10:00am - 5:30pm. In addition, Toast to Tales takes place upstairs in the Riverview Room when the new official, prize winning Monteleone Cocktail is officially unveiled and presented to the world to enjoy. You'll find more on The Monteleone, including the recipe, here.

There's lots more to come so keep checking back here and at the Carousel Bar Blog and leave us comments to let us know what YOU are doing at Tales of the Cocktail 2009.

The Joint is Jumpin'

2009-06-27T17:14:55Z

To a lot of people, summertime is the slow time in New Orleans, but at The Hotel Monteleone we just keep rolling along. The perfect example is this very week ahead of us.

Beginning Sunday June 28, we welcome the annual convention of The Society for Human Resource Management and in between meetings the folks of SHRM will be taking a spin around The Carousel Bar, lounging by the rooftop pool and relaxing in the luscious ease of Spa Aria.

Folks who want to keep up on Twitter, or surf the internet can do so anywhere in the hotel with our newly installed, up to date Free WiFi system. Like some folks on Twitter have said, The Carousel Bar can now be your office away from the office. What could be better?

Folks attending SHRM can also keep up on updates for the convention and activities at Hotel Monteleone by checking the hashtag #SHRM on Twitter.

But that's not all... The summer's just getting started! By the end of the week we will be welcoming the 15th Anniversary celebration of The Essence Festival. In between great concerts, informative seminars and exciting events, you'll find The Carousel Bar jumping with activity and The Hotel Monteleone positively ALIVE with activity. It's a great event - the kind that can only happen in New Orleans - and The Hotel Monteleone is your front row seat for all the great French Quarter celebration that goes along with this amazing international event.

You can follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #ESSENCE to keep abreast of all the information on the Festival and related activities at the Hotel Monteleone.

Of course, as soon as The Essence Festival is over we head full speed into the 7th Annual Tales of The Cocktail with more food, fun, education, fraternization and... oh yeah, cocktails, than you can shake a swizzle stick at.

We'll be live blogging (and of course Tweeting) the whole event so keep tabs on us with the hashtag #totc09

Of course in the midst of all this flurry of summertime activity you might think there's no room just to come in, relax, take a spin on The Carousel and relax by the pool. But there is! And right now with special room rates beginning at $99/night and Suites available starting at $189/night you couldn't pick a better (and more affordable) time to drop what your doing and take in everything that is The Big Easy.

It's all about Sizzling Summertime Savings and all the fun that is The Hotel Monteleone.

What are you waiting for... Christmas?

Cognac, New Orleans and the Blues

2009-06-23T19:09:26Z

On July 10th and 11th, we're bringing a little bit of France right into the Hotel Monteleone when The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) will be sponsoring a Tasting Room and Seminar at Tales of the Cocktail (July 8-12).

Quite naturally, Walter Bergeron, the head bartender at the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans, used Cognac when he created the emblematic Vieux Carré cocktail, named in honor of the Quarter, in 1938.  Today, Cognac is experiencing a resurgence as an important component in the bartender's arsenal, and these two events at The Hotel Monteleone are going to prove it.

The Cognac Tasting Room will run on July 10th from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a broad selection of Cognacs from several producers. Upon entering the room, they will be greeted with a Summit cocktail made by Jim Meehan of PDT in NYC. The Summit was created by a group of top international bartenders during the 2008 International Cognac Summit in Cognac www.cognacsummit.com.

Acclaimed spirit writer Jack Robertiello will also be on hand to answer questions, and we expect attendance from other renowned Cognac aficionados.

Then, on July 11th, the seminar, in our Riverview Room, "Cognac, From Vines to Shaker," will run from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM. Jack Robertiello, Jim Meehan and Jean-Louis Carbonnier of Cognac USA will lead the educational seminar, focusing on tips for creative ways that bartenders can use Cognac. Freshly distilled eau-de-vie, as well as several styles of Cognac will be tasted, along with two cocktails, the Summit and the Vieux Carré, prepared by Jim. Attendees will also receive a copy of the new educational DVD developed by the BNIC.  

Cognac's connection to New Orleans will continue on July 23rd in Cognac, France, when the BNIC will host a special conference titled "Cognac and New Orleans, The History of Cocktails" during the Blues Passions festival.   Ann and Paul G. Tuennerman of Tales of The Cocktail will be in attendance as keynote speakers invited by the BNIC, along with Fernando Castellon.  

Play it again Louis...

2009-06-11T00:31:33Z

Last week in Las Vegas long time Louis Prima sax man Sam Butera died. Keith Sperra wrote about it on NOLA.Com but for us at The Hotel Monteleone it brought back memories of some of the glory days at the top of the hotel when Louis Prima and his band reigned supreme as the superstars of The Starlight Room.

Here's a segment from our hotel audio tour that reflects back on those days when the place to see and be seen in The French Quarter was all the way at the top of The Hotel Monteleone. These days, what was The Starlight Room is now the Queen Anne Ballroom at the top of the hotel next to rooftop pool and fitness center, and just down the hall from the Ernest Hemingway suite.

But in the days of Louis Prima and Sam Butera, it was the place where folks in New Orleans came to truly Jump, Jive, and Wail.