Hilton New Orleans Riverside

“A Lasting Impression”

First impressions can sometimes burn a bridge or roll out a red carpet. I must admit that my first impression of this Hilton was not the latter. The shaded parking garage was not easy to navigate, and by the time I found the elevators to enter the hotel itself, I felt even more lost. For such a v… more

First impressions can sometimes burn a bridge or roll out a red carpet. I must admit that my first impression of this Hilton was not the latter. The shaded parking garage was not easy to navigate, and by the time I found the elevators to enter the hotel itself, I felt even more lost. For such a vast property, I would’ve expected much better signage. I was in town for my goddaughter’s cheer competition. After wandering the vast hallways and peeking into random ballrooms for what felt like hours, a young lady named Nha happened to step out of one of the staff doors. Feeling lost and increasingly frustrated at this point, I stopped her to ask for directions to the cheer competition. She started to apologize for not knowing the answer to my question, and I snapped at her “So, you work here, but you don’t know?” It was not my proudest moment, and I regret my behavior. She smiled at me and said “It’s only my third day, but if you’ll please walk with me, I can help you find the event boards.” I immediately felt ashamed and started to apologize, but then my sister called to tell me she was waiting for me on the sixth floor by the health club. At this point, I’d nearly walked all the way to the guest elevators near the lobby only to have to turn around. I was very upset. This was a HUGE property. I was running late and feeling overwhelmed. Instead of matching my very negative energy, Nha greeted me with a warmth and patience I definitely did not deserve. She could’ve dismissed me and moved on with her day, but she made sure I found the event space and even wished my goddaughter the best of luck. Every hotel should have a Nha. She exudes joy and is the epitome of the southern hospitality I’ve come to love most about New Orleans. I don’t even know which department she works in. I truly hope she sees this review and can accept my sincerest apologies and appreciation. I also couldn’t let more time pass without mentioning a few other people who made my visit such a pleasant experience. A smile goes a long way, and so does a good cup of coffee. Nick and Nang (spelling?) at Junction kept me fueled with caffeine and conversation every morning. Corley at the front desk should be recognized for his professionalism. Every single time I called to ask a myriad of questions and address all kinds of needs, he responded with a calm disposition and a voice that could tame lions. He also granted me a late checkout, which was a huge help. Kennedy the bellman was cracking jokes left and right while helping me and my sister haul our luggage around. What a precious gem! My housekeeper was also amazing. I feel badly that I didn’t catch her name. Thank you, Hilton, for gracing my New Orleans trip with Nha, Nick, Nang, Corley, and Kennedy. They are truly the cream of the crop. While my first impression - albeit cosmetic and architectural in nature - was not the best, my lasting impression was even better because of the beautiful people who work there. The highlight of my entire trip was being able to see my goddaughter and her teammates perform, but my stay at this Hilton was soup for the soul. Would I return? Yes! Without a doubt! Next time, I’ll know my way around, but better signage certainly wouldn’t hurt.

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“Great service, great food, great drinks, great time”

I loved my waiter Alexander in the Bar. He was attentive, quick, and very friendly.

“Fabulous experience!”

Fantastic food, and high quality service!

“Prime location”

Cece was awesome customer service was very professional