Oct. 7, 2009 (PR Newswire) --

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Interstate Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: IHR), a leading hotel real estate investor and the nation's largest independent hotel management company, today announced that affiliates of the owner of five Interstate-managed hotels in New Orleans and nearby Kenner, awarded management contracts for two additional hotels in the city to Interstate. The two hotels are the 66-room St. Ann/Marie Antoinette Hotel and the 97-room Saint Louis Hotel, both in the French Quarter. The ownership entity of the seven properties is MCC Real Estate and Development, LLC, a major New Orleans-based hotel investor.

"One of our most reliable and gratifying sources of new management contracts is current owners," said Thomas F. Hewitt, chairman and chief executive officer. "We have a long-standing relationship with this ownership group, and these two contracts speak to their confidence in our ability to successfully manage hotels in any economic climate."

The St. Ann/Marie Antoinette and its sister property, the Saint Louis Hotel, are centrally located in the heart of New Orleans' historic French Quarter, just a half-block from Bourbon and Royal Streets, within walking distance of New Orleans' unique attractions that include antique shops, art galleries, Jackson Square, and the Aquarium of the Americas. Both also are convenient to the New Orleans Central Business District, Harrah's Casino, the New Orleans Convention Center, transportation, world-class restaurants and the city's legendary entertainment.

Located at 730 Rue Bienville, the Saint Louis Hotel offers 24-hour concierge and bell desk service, complimentary newspaper, tropical courtyard and pool and 10 superb meeting and banquet rooms, encompassing over 7,000 square feet of space. The hotel also features the critically acclaimed Courtyard of Louis XVI restaurant, currently serving breakfast and evening cocktails. Many of the hotel's 97 guestrooms overlook a Mediterranean courtyard.

The 66-room sister property, St. Ann/Marie Antoinette, is located a block away at 717 Rue Conti. The two hotels offer the perfect combination of Southern hospitality and European charm, featuring affordable luxury within walking distance of every major attraction.

"Between the hurricane and the economic downturn, Interstate has done a superb job of managing our properties, controlling costs, driving revenue and bringing a lot to the bottom line for us under challenging circumstances," said Joe Jaeger, a partner in the hotel's ownership group. "Based on their performance, we feel confident that they'll do the best job when the economy rebounds, too.