Renaissance Hotels celebrated today the official opening of the new 256-room Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel. The opening marks the first newly constructed full sevice hotel to be built in Baton Rouge in more than 40 years. The new Baton Rouge luxury hotel is also the first Renaissance property to open in the greater Baton Rouge area.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal kicked off the festivities with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, including a host of dignitaries. The opening event culminated that evening with an exclusive gala featuring performances by notable Louisiana musical acts, including members of the LSU School of Music, and The Beat, a 10-piece band that lived up to its name by keeping party guests on the dance floor.

Guests were wowed by the Baton Rouge hotel’s exquisitely appointed guest rooms, including 63 luxury hotel suites, which are furnished with king or double queen beds, flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations and Aveda bathroom amenities. The Concierge level offers 28 spacious guest rooms with dramatic views, access to the hotel’s private Concierge lounge, plush bathrobes and slippers. Additional amenities include room service, valet parking, on-site parking, high-speed Internet access in all guest rooms and a state of the art business center.

Premier among leading Baton Rouge meeting facilities, the hotel offers 13,000 sq. ft. of flexible, meeting space which features a 7,500 sq. ft. ballroom and eight large meeting rooms to accommodate business, leisure and group travelers. Guests can also enjoy a fully equipped fitness center and a courtyard-style outdoor pool including a deck and a nearby fire-on-water infinity fountain.

Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar, the hotel’s new casual upscale restaurant, joins a growing number of Baton Rouge restaurants on Bluebonnet Boulevard. The restaurant, which shares its name with the town of Tallulah, Louisiana, serves notable, indigenous cuisine from around the state, and features a house-crafted menu that incorporates local flavors in fresh and unique ways.

Chef Andy Papson, the hotel’s Executive Chef, oversees the culinary operations of the new Renaissance hotel, as well as Tallulah.

The hotel’s exterior design and vibrant interiors owe their distinctive look to Gensler, a global design, planning, and strategic consulting firm, who worked with local art consultant Ann Connelly and her team of artists to create a strong visual impact throughout the hotel that celebrates Louisiana’s indigenous art, culture and heritage. From the lobby to the luxury suites, from the meeting rooms to the guest rooms, business and leisure travelers who are passionate in their search for local discoveries will revel in the whimsical beauty that is the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

“This project has been years in the making and I am extremely proud and pleased, that with the help of many visionaries and supporters, we were able to deliver such a game-changing hotel property to the people of Baton Rouge,” said Mike Wampold, CEO, Wampold Companies. Renaissance Hotels are known for authentic travel experiences which offer passionate travelers the opportunity to discover local experiences through hotel touch points including design, cuisine and distinct amenities.

City.Mobi

Also in US today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Baton Rouge.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

BatonRouge.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.