HH Whitney House is a bed and breakfast that is open year-round and offers a total of five units for patrons to reserve. The backyard has a swimming pool and hot tub, which patrons can utilize during their stay. As the business is located in a residential area of New Orleans, Louisiana, the immediate vicinity is primarily other residents' houses, with very few shops and restaurants. However, a few blocks away, one can find more places to shop and eat food. The business is capable of hosting small events and celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, and more. Initially built in the mid-1800s, the home wasn't used as a bed and breakfast until 1998. The current owners started the bed and breakfast about 25 years ago when they brought the property.
HH Whitney House has five guestrooms available for reservation. Glen, one of the owners of the home, describes the interior decorations as "the period of early Victorians." The house is two stories tall, with all of the guestrooms on the second floor. There are two suites and three standard rooms, with four full bathrooms and one half bathroom in the building, meaning that most of the units have a private bathroom, while two of the rooms share one. According to the owners, "all of the living arrangements are uniquely decorated, though they all follow a Victorian theme." Inside the units, one can find a hair dryer, an ironing board with an iron, and a safe. The owners remark that the most popular suite tends to be the Garden Suite, as they believe it is "nicely designed for couples who are on honeymoons or anniversaries."
Other rooms found in the building include a double parlor and dining room, and outside, one can find a garden and pool area. The double parlor has a piano that guests can use at their leisure, and the dining room is where breakfast is served, which is complimentary for visitors staying at HH Whitney House. A swimming pool and hot tub can be located in the backyard, with gardens surrounding them.
Breakfast is served each morning, typically a hot breakfast that changes daily to allow patrons to have a better variety of dishes if they stay for multiple days. Glen is responsible for making breakfast in the morning and has prepared food such as ham and cheese stuffed croissants, country-style bacon and eggs, biscuits, stuffed waffles, french toast casserole, and more. Breakfast is usually served in the dining room between 8:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Glen is capable of creating dishes that can accommodate several different diets and food allergies as long as he is given enough time in advance to make alternative items.
The owners, Glen and Randall, enjoy giving patrons insight into the city and some of the local attractions that can be found therein. Glen notes that there are many festivals that take place, especially in the spring, with one of the largest celebrations being Mardi Gras. He also likes to tell patrons about City Park, which is 1,300 acres of natural land. Additionally, there is an art museum, botanical gardens, and outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, golfing, soccer, softball, and more. Glen also enjoys telling patrons about the various restaurants in the area. A few that he mentions by name are Muriel's Jackson Square, Lola's, and Morning Call Coffee Stand.
Glen and his business partner, Randall, would like their visitors to feel like they are friends and family, staying at a "home away from home." In his own words, Glen says, "We want them to feel like they are visiting a long-lost uncle or aunt." In an effort to accomplish this goal, the owners try to treat their patrons like family and interact with them frequently. He enjoys learning about the people who stay at the inn and recommending places to visit and local restaurants to get meals.
There are several policies that are in place at HH Whitney House. Smoking is prohibited inside the building, although visitors can smoke outside if they would like. All accommodations and utilities, such as the swimming pool, are only available to registered patrons, not to the general public. It should also be noted that the pool is only open until 10:00 p.m. Furthermore, pets are not allowed to stay at the bed and breakfast. While the business is capable of hosting events, they do not have enough room to provide for many guests at a time. The owner remarks that, in the past, he and his business partner "have hosted small weddings and other celebrations."
Many people who have stayed at the bed and breakfast have left reviews of their experiences. Some of the qualities of the business that are generally mentioned include the utilities, location, and breakfast. One person who recently stayed at the inn wrote, "The breakfast presentation and taste were fabulous—great location for anything you want to do in New Orleans. The innkeeper, Glen, goes out of his way to make sure needs are met. He is also a great source of information for the area." The business is open year-round, with the busiest season of operation tending to be from February to May. Another period of time when HH Whitney House receives a considerable amount of business is during the months of September, October, and November. Glen remarks that they do not generally have a typical demographic of guests, explaining that the establishment "often receives a wide range of people for differing reasons."
HH Whitney House has been in business since 1998. The current owners, Glen Miller and Randall Saizan, are the original owners of the bed and breakfast but not of the home. They were led into the industry because of their experience when they stayed at an inn in 1995. The owner of that inn told them about what he does, which interested Glen and Randall, who decided to open one of their own. Glen remarks, "it started out as a hobby and turned into a career."
The home was initially built circa 1865. W G Bringier is the oldest name attached to the building, though Glen, the current owner, is unsure if Bringier is responsible for building the home or being the first resident to live in the home. Several other people have raised their families in the house, including a few people who migrated from France and one from Germany. Glen mentions, "We are the eleventh owners of the home."
The Schott family was one noteworthy resident of the homestead. The family lived in the home the longest and gained notoriety because of the business that the son grew. Before they arrived at the house, the father died. The son took over his meat butchering company and eventually turned it into a large meat packing corporation. In the mid-1900s, many locals referred to the home as the Old Schott Mansion.
1923 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
United States
Victorian
Glen Miller & Randall Saizan
