NEW ORLEANS – Hospitality Enterprises (BigEasy.com) and Paddlewheeler Creole Queen have commissioned the 3,000-passenger Riverboat Louis Armstrong, which will make its home at Hilton Riverside/Riverwalk, 2 Poydras St. With four entertainment decks, the Riverboat Louis Armstrong is now open as a venue for music events, concerts, weddings, conventions and large-scale private parties, including a Louis Armstrong gospel jazz brunch on Sundays.
President and CEO of Hospitality Enterprises Warren Reuther said, “The Riverboat Louis Armstrong will bring the music of its soul and the vibrancy of the region together just like its namesake did.”
Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser said, “In addition to creating hundreds of full- and part-time jobs throughout the year, staffing deckhands, waiters, bartenders, captains, engineers, janitorial staff and servers, as well as local and national musicians, the Riverboat Louis Armstrong will positively impact the local economy by offering a new attraction for visitors to New Orleans.”
“This boat is such a beautiful tribute to Louis Armstrong and his mission to give back some of the goodness he received during his life,” Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Executive Director Jackie Harris said. “We are honored to have Mr. Armstrong’s name associated with a venue of this class and magnitude.”
“The iconic riverboats of the Mississippi River have been a part of the landscape of the city and the Port of New Orleans for over 300 years. The majestic Riverboat Louis Armstrong is such a beautiful addition to that heritage, and we look forward to seeing it jazzin’ on the river for decades to come! “ said Port of New Orleans CEO and President Brandy Christian.
In November 2017, Hospitality Enterprises New Orleans, which owns and operates the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen, announced that it would be repurposing a riverboat for a music and entertainment venue. The riverboat underwent over $10 million in renovations and was renamed Riverboat Louis Armstrong. The renovations were completed almost exclusively by approximately 500 Louisiana tradesmen.
The boat’s top level fourth deck is an outside promenade. The first level main deck features executive meeting space available for many large functions. The second level is the concert hall with a VIP backstage area, artist green room, state-of-the-art stage, concert audio, 40-foot-long main bar and a 3,500-square-foot lounge. The third level is a 4,000-square-foot wedding area with private bathrooms. In addition, the third level includes an 8,000-square-foot banquet hall, 45-foot-long bar and a 2,800-square-foot “Louis Armstrong Foundation Room,” honoring the memory of Satchmo and his musical legacy.
