After sustaining serious damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the Hyatt Regency New Orleans underwent a $275 million dollar renovation and redesign, and will be reopening to much fanfare in October 2011. Billed as one of the "most significant hospitality developments in New Orleans in over a decade," the restored hotel is now the city’s premier meeting and convention hotel- having doubled its meeting and exhibition space. Anchoring the Sports and Entertainment District in downtown New Orleans, the 32-storey hotel has 1,193 guest rooms and expansive food and beverage offerings. News from NOLA: The Hyatt Regency New Orleans has partnered with Make It Right-- Brad Pitt's nonprofit-- on a fundraising campaign to build 150 environmentally friendly homes in New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward, the neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.