HI New Orleans breaks ground on its new Canal Street hostel

Earlier today, Hostelling International USA broke ground on its HI New Orleans location at 1028 Canal Street. Near Saenger Theatre, the four-story building, which was formerly the Pickwick Social Club, will open in Fall of 2018. HI New Orleans expects to accommodate over 45,000 travelers within a year of operation.

The space will have 122 beds, with dorm rooms having four to eight beds each. Rooms will be equipped with reading lights, charging stations, privacy curtains, and luggage lockers. Twenty-four of the rooms will be reserved for single lodging.

HI New Orleans will also have a community space open to local resident, which will be used to host educational programing and engagement space for nonprofits.

“I can tell you that there is not a project in a city, that is a great city, that is not important,” says President and CEO of the New Orleans Downtown Development District Kurt M. Weigle.

Over the last 12 years there have been $6.5 billion dollars in investments on Canal Street and 28 facade renovations over the last 10 years, “which is changing the whole complexion of Canal Street for the better,” Weigle adds.

“Hi USA, HI New Orleans Hostel, is a really important part of that mix,” Weigle says. “It shows how we’re bringing to life not just the ground floors on Canal Street, but the upper floors as well.”

LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans Mayoral candidate, presented a proclamation from New Orleans City Council at the ground breaking. Celebrating HI USA’s new community establishment, Cantrell and the New Orleans City Council commend “HI USA and its partners for bringing new life into a beloved historic building.”

Photo by Eric Craig/Curbed NOLA

HI New Orleans will also bring its Explore the World Scholarship scholarship to New Orleans residents, which will provide up to $2,000 to fund a trip that “include and educational or service component.” For more information about that scholarship, visit HI USA’s official website.