New Orleans Hotel Market Sees 85% Ownership by Institutional Investors

Written by:

Rudi Davis

Date:

09 Sep 2025

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The New Orleans hotel market has undergone a dramatic transformation in ownership structure over the past three decades, according to Len Wormser, Senior Vice President at HREC Investment Advisors, who argues this shift signals both challenges and opportunities for the market.

“Twenty-five or thirty years ago, 85% of every hotel in New Orleans was owned by local, regional operators,” Wormser says. “Today, it’s the antithesis, 85% owned by institutional folks, private and public, that really don’t live here.”

The Institutional Appeal

According to Wormser, major players like Summit Hotel Properties, RLJ Lodging Trust, Diamond Rock, and Starwood have been drawn to New Orleans by its unique combination of market fundamentals. Despite having a relatively small population of 375,000, the city boasts the country’s sixth-largest convention center, sixth-largest port, and the eleventh-highest RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) nationally.

“New Orleans is a sustainable market,” Wormser explains. “We have a festival 52 weeks a year on the weekends. We have a tremendous plethora of recurring events: Sugar Bowl, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, Essence Fest.”

The Development Advantage

Wormser points out that institutional investors are particularly attracted to the market’s development incentives. “Downtown New Orleans offers state and federal historic tax credits. When you buy an old building and fix it up, you could get 40 to 45% credit on qualified reimbursable expenses, or monetize it at like 90% and get that money first year operation.”

Additionally, he notes that much of downtown falls within opportunity zones, and the market benefits from being a right-to-work state, factors that make development more cost-effective for institutional players.

Looking Ahead

While the shift to institutional ownership has changed the market dynamics, Wormser sees it as validation of New Orleans’ long-term value proposition. “Unless a bomb goes off here, New Orleans has been around over 300 years, longer than the United States,” he observes.

The Solution: Local Expertise

To navigate this institutionally-dominated market, Wormser suggests working with advisors who understand both local market dynamics and institutional requirements. Through his work at HREC, which currently has about 250 hotels listed nationally, he aims to bridge the gap between institutional capital and local market knowledge.

“When you have a new airport that opens up direct flights, and a convention calendar that’s already 125% above peak index for 2026-2029, you need someone who can speak both languages,” Wormser concludes, highlighting the importance of combining institutional sophistication with local market expertise.