Baton Rouge welcomed the newest addition to its hotel and meeting industry, as the new Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center opened with a bang. The Hilton is the result of a $65 million renovation combining the former Heidelberg Hotel and Capitol House, two historic downtown Baton Rouge hotels. Once the social gathering place for the Capital City, officials hope the new Hilton Capitol Center will once again be a magnet for downtown Baton Rouge.

Originally built in 1927 and once called home to legendary Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center adds more guest rooms and almost 20,000 sq. ft. of contemporary event space to Baton Rouge’s hotel and meeting industry.

“The new downtown luxury property adds to our product of having a convention center, restaurants, museums, historical attractions, casinos and more all within walking distance of each other,” said Paul Arrigo, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Convention And Visitors Bureau. “With this new property, recent expansion of our convention center and the continuous addition of more area attractions, restaurants and retail shopping venues, Baton Rouge is even more attractive for leisure travel and meetings today.”

“We are thrilled at the enthusiastic and overwhelming response from the community in our sales and catering efforts,” said Austin Van de Vate, General Manager of the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. “We have assembled an incredible team of employees that are passionate about the service levels of the hotel and committed to delivering an experience that the city of Baton Rouge will be proud of. Many locals have fond memories of events they attended at the hotel, now it’s time for an entire new generation to create their own.”