Lester E. Kabacoff 

Lester E. Kabacoff first arrived in New Orleans as a young army officer in the 1940's and immediately saw the potential of the Crescent City with its mighty Mississippi. He masterminded such projects as the construction of the Royal Orleans Hotel, the New Orleans Hilton and the Riverwalk Shopping Center. The Hilton Hotel opened in 1977 and together with the Riverwalk Shopping Center they are credited with the renaissance of the waterfront area.

These facilities became complimentary to other major infrastructure facilities such as he Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. New Orleans saw as a result of these initiatives a revitalized tourism and convention industry.

Kabacoff joined with other business leaders to encourage the University of New Orleans to establish a hotel-restaurant program in 1975. The program attracted interest in New Orleans, across the southern Gulf States and internationally.

Lester Kabacoff's dedication to the hotel and tourism industry's development has been  indispensable.  It is, therefore, appropriate that the University of New Orleans named a school in his honor, the Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration. He has been closely involved with the School's program evolution providing guidance and support. This has enabled the School to develop its program and establish within the College of Business a  Hospitality Research Center.

"I put things together," he said in his typically understated way. Lester Kabacoff has brought the people of this city together and helped to bring the world here to see what a great city New Orleans is with its unique history, culture, hospitality and fantastic food. The School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration is proud to carry his name.

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