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Real or Fake? Finding the best ways to detect digital deception

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Deepfake technology has people wondering — is what I’m seeing real or fake? University researchers are making deepfake detection tools that can help journalists, intelligence analysts, and all of our trusted decision makers.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Seeing is believing. Well, it used to be, anyway.

How do deepfakes work? The process uses AI deep learning algorithms to analyze thousands of images and videos of the person being replicated. The neural network then recognizes patterns, like facial features, so it can continuously generate new ones.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to manipulate media.

It can face-swap celebrities. It allowed a de-aged Luke Skywalker to guest star in The Mandalorian. It also falsely showed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surrendering to the Russian invasion.

Deepfakes are videos, audio, or images that have been altered using AI. In a deepfake, people can be shown saying and doing things that they have never said or done.

This capability has profound implications for entertainment, politics, journalism, and national security. As deepfakes become more convincing, the challenge of distinguishing fact from fiction grows, threatening the credibility of news sources and the stability of democratic institutions.

At RIT, a team of student and faculty researchers is leading the charge to help journalists and intelligence analysts figure out what is real and what is fake. Their work, called the DeFake Project, has more than $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and Knight Foundation.

The RIT team aims to mobilize the best deepfake detectors around—observant humans armed with the right tools. “There is real danger in shiny new deepfake detectors that confidently offer often inaccurate results,” said Saniat (John) Sohrawardi, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student leading the DeFake Project. “We need to provide journalists—and other experts who vet reality—with forensic tools that help them make decisions, not make the decisions for them.”

Journalists agree and they are working with RIT.

Scott Morgan, a reporter and producer with South Carolina Public Radio, said that it’s increasingly harder to spot a fake and a good detector tool would be invaluable. He said he’s often relying on a “would that person really have said that” kind of approach.

“And ultimately, that’s what DeFake is trying to be—a tool that supplements the journalist’s gut feeling and complements old-fashioned legwork, but doesn’t replace them,” said Morgan. “Because even an AI-driven program that analyzes videos for the teeny-tiniest of clues that it might have been doctored shouldn’t be left to make decisions about what to do with that information or disinformation.”

Spotting the Fake

Matthew Wright, endowed professor and chair of the Department of Cybersecurity, first saw a high-quality deepfake lip sync of President Obama in 2017. He called it a real “OMG moment.”

“It was really disconcerting,” said Wright. “The potential to use this to make misinformation and disinformation is tremendous.”

As an expert in adversarial machine learning, Wright was studying how AI can impact cybersecurity for good and bad. Deepfakes seemed like a valuable offshoot of this.

In 2019, Wright and the newly formed DeFake Project team answered a call from the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative to build a deepfake detector. After developing some specialized techniques, their detector worked perfectly on curated deepfake datasets—it had 100-percent accuracy. Then they pulled up some YouTube videos to run through their detector.

“It would make mistakes,” said Wright. “But this wasn’t just our design. There is a cottage industry around developing deepfake detectors and none of these are foolproof, despite the claims of the company.”

Detectors can become confused when video is even slightly altered, clipped out of context, or compressed. For example, in 2019, a Myanmar news outlet used a publicly available deepfake detector to analyze a video of a chief minister confessing to a bribe. The tool was 90-percent confident that the video was fake, yet expert analysis later determined it was in fact real.

“Users tend to trust the output of decision-making tools too much,” said Sohrawardi. “You shouldn’t make a judgment based on percentage alone.”

That’s why the DeFake Project is so important, said Andrea Hickerson, dean and professor of the School of Journalism and New Media at The University of Mississippi and a member of the project. The goal is to make a tool that journalists can actually use.

“If a trusted journalist accidentally shares a deepfake, it would reach a wide audience and undermine trust in the individual and the profession as a whole,” said Hickerson, the former director of RIT’s School of Communication.

“Journalists have important contextual expertise that can be paired with a deepfake detection tool to make informed judgments on the authenticity of a video and its newsworthiness.”

To better understand the journalistic process, the DeFake researchers interviewed 24 reporters, ranging from national broadcast networks to local print media. Taking inspiration from a popular tabletop game, the team created a role-playing exercise called Dungeons & Deepfakes. The journalists were placed in a high-stakes newsroom scenario and asked to verify videos using traditional methods and deep-learning-based detection tools.

The team observed that journalists diligently verify information, but they too have the potential to over rely on detection tools, just like in the Myanmar incident.

Most of all, journalists saw the overall fakeness score and had a healthy skepticism. They needed insight into its calculation. Unfortunately, AI is not inherently good at explaining the rationale behind its decisions.

Unboxing the Black Box

When Pamposh Raina is asked to investigate a potential deepfake, she checks with multiple sources and often reaches out to RIT’s experts.

She is an experienced reporter who has worked with The New York Times, written for international publications, and currently heads the Deepfakes Analysis Unit at the Misinformation Combat Alliance, which is helping fight AI-generated misinformation in India.

One clip she questioned was being passed around social media in 2024. It was a video in Hindi that apparently featured Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of the most populated state in India, promoting a pilot gaming platform as a quick means to make a financial gain.

After running the video through detection tools from Hive AI, TrueMedia, and escalating to ElevenLabs for audio analysis, the investigators wanted an expert view on possible AI tampering around Adityanath’s mouth area in the video.

The DeFake team noted that the chief minister’s mouth animation looked disjointed and could be a result of the algorithm failing to extract proper facial landmarks. Ultimately, the Deepfakes Analysis Unit concluded that the video was fake and Adityanath did not utter the words attributed to him.

Creating meaningful tools like this is why Kelly Wu, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student, came to RIT. After completing her undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics at Georgetown University, Wu jumped at the chance to research deepfakes with the RIT team.

“Right now, there is a huge gap between the user and detection tools, and we need to collaborate to bring that together,” said Wu. “We care about how it will transition into people’s hands.”

Just like human brains, AI systems identify trends and make predictions. And just like in humans, it’s not always clear how a model comes to any particular conclusion.

Wu is figuring out how to unbox that AI black box. She aims to produce explanations that are both faithful to the AI model and interpretable by humans.

A lot of today’s detection tools use heatmaps to present explanations of results. A blob of dark red highlighting the eye region signifies that this area is more important for the model’s decision-making process.

“But, even to me, it just looks like a normal eye,” said Wu. “I need to know why the model thinks this is important.”

The DeFake tool will highlight areas and provide detailed text explanations. The detector displays information on the processed content, including metadata, overall fakeness, top fake faces, and an estimation of the deepfake manipulation method used. It also incorporates provenance technology, extracting Content Credentials—a new kind of tamper-evident metadata. Due to the resource-intensive nature of AI, the tool allows people to assess specific snippets of a video.

Most recently, the DeFake Project, which now has nine members from three universities, is expanding to meet the needs of intelligence analysts.

In 2023, RIT earned a grant to work with the Department of Defense on bolstering national security and improving intelligence analysis.

RIT’s team is interviewing analysts and using their insights to help create a Digital Media Forensic Ontology that makes the terminology of manipulated media detection methods clearer and more consistent. Analysts can use the DeFake all-in-one platform along with the ontology to narrow down why content needs to be analyzed, where in the media analysts should focus their attention, and what artifacts they should look for.

Candice Gerstner, an applied research mathematician with the Department of Defense, is collaborating on the project. She said that when analysts write a report that will be passed up the chain, they need to be sure that information has integrity.

“I’m not satisfied with a single detector that says 99 percent—I want more,” said Gerstner. “Having tools that are easily adaptable to new techniques and that continue to strive for explainability and low error rates is extremely important.”

In the future, the DeFake Project plans to expand to law enforcement, who are worried about fake evidence getting into the court system. RIT students are also researching reinforcement learning to limit bias and make sure AI models are fair.

Akib Shahriyar, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student, is taking it one step further. He’s attacking the underlying model that powers the DeFake tool to uncover its weaknesses.

“In the end, we’re not just creating a detector and throwing it out there, where it could be exploited by adversaries,” said Shahriyar. “We’re building trust with the users by taking a responsible approach to deepfake detection.”

How to Identify a Deepfake

Although RIT’s DeFake tool is not publicly available, here are some common ways to identify fake content.

Artifacts in the face: Look for inconsistencies in eye reflections and gaze patterns. Anomalies may occur in the face—unnatural smoothness, absence of outlines of individual teeth, and irregular facial hair.Body posture: Deepfakes prioritize altering facial features, so body movements could appear odd or jerky.Audio discrepancies: Does the audio sync seamlessly with the speaker’s mouth movements?Contextual analysis: Consider the broader context, including the source, timestamps, and post history.External verification: Do a reverse image search and try contacting the original sources.Check the news: Look for reports about the content in reputable news sites.

Media Contact

Scott Bureau, Rochester Institute of Technology, 585-475-2481, sbbcom@rit.edu, rit.edu

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SOURCE Rochester Institute of Technology

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U.S. Index Futures Turn to Jobs Data and Treasury’s Refunding After Friday’s 3.46% Nasdaq-100 Drop

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November 2, 2026

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BOSTON, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — USA News Group News Commentary – U.S. stock index futures start the first trading week of November after a Friday session in which the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Nasdaq-100 and the Russell 2000 all closed lower, with the Nasdaq-100 posting the steepest drop of the four. The days ahead bring federal labor data, the Treasury Department’s quarterly refunding announcement and another round of corporate earnings. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC), Reddit, Inc. (NYSE: RDDT), Twilio Inc. (NYSE: TWLO), Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD).

Friday’s closing levels show how uneven the decline was. The S&P 500 ended October 30 at 7,580.07, down 1.82%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished at 51,770.31, down 1.09%, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Nasdaq data show the Nasdaq-100 fell 1,017.66 points, or 3.46%, to 28,384.85, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 747.73 points, or 2.86%, to 25,437.00. The Russell 2000 closed at 2,811.84, down 47.38 points, according to Cboe. Several large technology companies released quarterly results on Thursday, October 29, and their shares were among Friday’s decliners.

Friday morning also brought new wage data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that compensation costs for civilian workers rose 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, in the three months ending in September 2026, with wages and salaries up 0.7 percent and benefit costs up 0.9 percent; over the 12 months ending in September, compensation costs rose 3.4 percent, not seasonally adjusted. Two days earlier, the Federal Open Market Committee kept the federal funds target range at 3-3/4 to 4 percent in a 10-2 vote, with Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack preferring a 1/4 percentage point increase, and the statement said inflation remains elevated.

In the futures market, CME Group settlement data for October 30 show the December E-mini S&P 500 contract settling at 7,614.00, down 140.25 points, and the December E-mini Nasdaq-100 at 28,534.00, down 1,028.00. The December E-mini Dow settled at 51,918, down 594, and the December E-mini Russell 2000 at 2,821.30, down 46.00. In overnight Globex trading, CME Group quotes delayed by at least 10 minutes and last updated between 12:49 a.m. and 12:50 a.m. CT on November 2 showed the December E-mini S&P 500 at 7,648.25, up 34.25 points or 0.45%; the E-mini Nasdaq-100 at 28,786.25, up 252.25 or 0.88%; the E-mini Dow at 52,085, up 167 or 0.32%; and the E-mini Russell 2000 at 2,836.60, up 15.30 or 0.54%. Overnight levels can change before the cash market opens.

The calendar fills in from there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics schedules its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for September at 10:00 a.m. ET on Tuesday, November 3, preliminary third-quarter Productivity and Costs at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 5, and the October Employment Situation report at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, November 6. In its August 5 refunding statement, the Treasury Department said its next quarterly refunding announcement will take place on Wednesday, November 4.

E-mini contracts trade nearly around the clock, so positioning ahead of a jobs report or a refunding announcement can appear on futures charts hours before the cash open. Stock Preachers explains how to spot those signals in its free Knowledge is Power guide at usanewsgroup.com/.

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC)

Intel reported on October 29 third-quarter revenue of $16.5 billion, up 21% year-over-year, with earnings per share attributable to Intel of $0.60 and non-GAAP EPS attributable to Intel of $0.52. Data Center and AI revenue rose 78% to $7.3 billion, while Client Computing and Physical AI Group revenue declined 5% to $8.1 billion. For the fourth quarter, the company forecast revenue of $15.0 billion to $16.0 billion and non-GAAP EPS attributable to Intel of $0.25. Intel shares closed Friday at $65.76, down 28.58%, according to Stock Analysis data.

“Our Q3 results demonstrate improving execution, meaningful progress expanding supply and continued advancement of our process technology,” said Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO.

Reddit, Inc. (NYSE: RDDT)

Reddit reported on October 29 third-quarter revenue of $895 million, up 53% year-over-year, including ad revenue of $847 million, up 54%, along with net income of $283 million and diluted EPS of $1.40. Daily Active Uniques rose 12% year-over-year to 130.3 million, with U.S. DAUq at 50.7 million compared with 51.6 million a year earlier. For the fourth quarter, Reddit estimated revenue of $1,000 million to $1,030 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $480 million to $510 million. Its shares closed Friday at $91.73, down 29.22%.

“Our business is growing because the Reddit experience captures the human experience in a way that no other platform can replicate,” said Steve Huffman, Founder and CEO of Reddit.

Twilio Inc. (NYSE: TWLO)

Twilio reported on October 29 third-quarter revenue of $1.56 billion, up 20% year-over-year, with organic revenue growth of 16%, and non-GAAP income from operations of $325.7 million, up 39%. Dollar-Based Net Expansion Rate was 114%, compared with 109% a year earlier. The company raised its fiscal 2026 reported revenue growth outlook to 20% from 18% to 18.5% previously and set fourth-quarter revenue guidance of $1.595 billion to $1.605 billion. Twilio shares closed Friday at $205.03, down 15.24%.

“Q3 was a great quarter for Twilio, driven by disciplined execution and broad-based strength across our product portfolio,” said Khozema Shipchandler, CEO of Twilio.

Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK)

Sandisk reported on October 29 fiscal first-quarter revenue of $11.0 billion, up 23% sequentially, and GAAP net income of $8.1 billion, or $52.60 per diluted share, with Datacenter revenue up 61% from the prior quarter to $4,802 million. The company returned $5.0 billion to stockholders through the repurchase of approximately 3.2 million shares during the quarter, announced an eight-for-one forward stock split with split-adjusted trading expected to begin on November 20, 2026, and guided fiscal second-quarter 2027 revenue to $12.2 billion to $12.6 billion. Sandisk shares closed Friday at $1,150.89, down 13.47%.

“We have started fiscal year 2027 with another quarter of strong performance, with robust and growing demand for our products driving outpaced growth in our data center business,” said David Goeckeler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sandisk.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD)

AMD will report fiscal third-quarter 2026 financial results on Tuesday, November 3, after the market close, with a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. On October 27, the company highlighted its partnership with Meta, saying AMD Helios rackscale solutions are running at Meta, AMD EPYC processors power Meta’s Muse AI agent, and AMD will invest $1 billion in Meta’s equity offering. AMD shares closed Friday at $504.80, down 10.88%.

“With Helios now running at Meta, we are taking that partnership to a new scale in the superintelligence era,” said Lisa Su, Chair and CEO, AMD.

Friday’s settlements give futures traders a fixed reference for a week that runs from Tuesday’s job openings data to Friday’s October employment report, with the Treasury’s refunding announcement in between. To track how the E-mini contracts respond as each number comes out, pick up the free Stock Preachers guide and The Roadmap market reports at usanewsgroup.com/.

Contact Information:

usanewsgroup.com
Media Contact: info@usanewsgroup.com 

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is not a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances.

This article is independent news commentary. USA News Group is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited (“MEL”), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. MEL has not been paid by any company mentioned in this article. MEL and its owners, operators, directors, and affiliates do not currently own any shares of the companies mentioned in this article, but reserve the right to, and will, buy and sell shares of those companies at any time without further notice. Index closes for October 30, 2026 are from S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average), Nasdaq (Nasdaq-100, Nasdaq Composite) and Cboe (Russell 2000). Futures settlements for October 30, 2026 and overnight Globex quotes from early November 2, 2026 are from CME Group; the quotes were delayed by at least 10 minutes and may differ materially by the time of publication or the U.S. cash open. Daily share price changes for October 30, 2026 are from Stock Analysis data. Economic data and schedules are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Cost Index released October 30, 2026 and its November 2026 release schedule), the Federal Reserve’s FOMC statement of October 28, 2026 and the U.S. Treasury’s quarterly refunding statement of August 5, 2026. Company results, guidance and scheduled dates are as stated by the companies and may change. Information is drawn from company news releases and filings, government and industry data, published reporting and third-party data believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. Investing in securities carries risk, including the loss of some or all of your investment. This document is governed by the laws of Ireland.

 

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Ausom Launches 2026 Early Black Friday Deals and TikTok Ride Challenge

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November 2, 2026

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Enjoy up to $250 in savings, exclusive gift bundles, and double membership rewards points, and then join the upcoming Ausom TikTok Ride Challenge for a chance to win exclusive prizes.

HONG KONG, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ausom, a trusted electric scooter brand bringing “the SUV of e-scooters” to life, today announced its 2026 e-scooter Black Friday sale, starting with an exclusive Early Bird Campaign. Running from November 2 through November 15, 2026, the Early Bird Campaign delivers some of the best dual-motor e-scooter deals this Black Friday, helping consumers save more with tiered discounts, free gift bundles, and double membership rewards points.

Beyond the early-bird deals, Ausom will also launch the Ausom Black Friday Ride Challenge on TikTok, inviting riders to express their creativity through e-scooter customization and riding videos. 

Early Bird Lineup: Featured E-Scooters and Free Gift Bundles

Ausom’s lineup highlights robust performance, ShocFree® suspension, and long-range capabilities. During the Early Bird Campaign, featured models are available at special promotional prices and come with complimentary gift bundles:  

Gosoul 2: $579 (regular price: $729) – includes a water bottle carrier and a pair of riding gloves.K20 Pro Dual Motor: $699 (regular price: $879) – includes a water bottle carrier and a pair of riding gloves.Gosoul 2 Pro Dual Motor: $839 (regular price: $999) – includes an LED pixel helmet display.L2 Max Dual Motor: $839 (regular price: $1,049) – includes an LED pixel helmet display.DT2 Pro: $1,099 (regular price: $1,349) – includes a water bottle carrier and a pair of riding gloves.F1 Max: $1,479 (regular price: $1,549) – includes a water bottle carrier and a pair of riding gloves.

Note: LED pixel helmet displays are available while supplies last. For the Gosoul 2 Pro Dual Motor and L2 Max Dual Motor, if the LED pixel helmet display becomes unavailable, it will be replaced with a water bottle carrier and a pair of riding gloves.

Additional Savings and Membership Rewards Points

From November 2 through December 1, 2026, consumers shopping on Ausom’s official website can enjoy additional discounts based on their total purchase amount:

$120 off orders over $1,500$200 off orders over $2,200

Alternatively, consumers can apply the media promo code PR50 for a $50 discount at checkout. This offer cannot be combined with the tiered discounts above.

In addition, Ausom’s members can earn double membership rewards points on all purchases made during the Black Friday campaign. These points can be redeemed for accessories and discount coupons on future purchases.

Ausom Black Friday Ride Challenge: Customize Your Ride and Win Exclusive Prizes

Adding a creative twist to its Black Friday campaign, Ausom will kick off the Ausom Black Friday Ride Challenge, inviting riders to showcase their personal style through DIY e-scooter customization and videos of their scooters in action. Participants can share their custom designs and post-customization rides on TikTok for a chance to win exciting prizes.

The Challenge will take place from November 14 through November 30, 2026, on Ausom’s official TikTok channel. For the latest updates on the Ride Challenge, follow Ausom on TikTok.

For more information about the Early Bird Campaign and participating products, consumers can visit Ausom’s official website.

About Ausom      

Founded by adventurers and experts, Ausom is dedicated to igniting the spirit of exploration in everyone. We design and build premium electric scooters that empower riders to break boundaries, redefine their commute, and embrace the thrill of the ride. Every Ausom product reflects our commitment to excellence and innovation, delivering unforgettable experiences on two wheels.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ausomstore
Website: ausomstore.com

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FAIRMONT NEW ORLEANS MARKS A GRAND RETURN TO THE CRESCENT CITY AS FAIRMONT’S 100TH HOTEL

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November 2, 2026

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The 250-room hotel with Rockwell Group-designed interiors, destination dining from Chef Emeril Lagasse, and over 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a global luxury brand part of Accor, today announces the official opening of Fairmont New Orleans, marking the much-anticipated return of the brand to the Crescent City after two decades – and marking Fairmont’s 100th hotel globally. Located in the heart of the Central Business District, within walking distance of the French Quarter and moments from Caesars Superdome, the 250-room hotel brings thoughtfully designed guest rooms and suites, destination dining in partnership with celebrated Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group, and more than 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Developed by Kailas Companies and operated by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont New Orleans occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building, a 31-story landmark originally designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1970. Its original sidewalks, entry canopy, lobby floors and concrete walls on the first and second floors have been fully restored and refurbished, alongside the second floor’s decorative bronze paneling and local cypress ceiling. Rather than looking primarily to the French Quarter’s colonial architecture, the property draws inspiration from the glamour and optimism of the 1970s, celebrating an often-overlooked chapter in New Orleans’ architectural evolution.

Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said: “Celebrating Fairmont’s landmark 100th hotel in New Orleans is a moment of perfect alignment. This is a city built on the very poetry of celebration, culture, and hospitality, setting the ultimate stage for such a historic milestone. After two decades away, returning to New Orleans feels like a joyful homecoming. This magnificent property is designed to be a vibrant social epicenter, a sanctuary where the city’s rich heritage meets a sophisticated, contemporary energy. Through meticulous design, spirited gastronomy, and exceptional spaces created for connection, we are not just opening a hotel; we are welcoming the soulful spirit of New Orleans back into the global Fairmont family for our next great chapter.” 

A NEW EXPRESSION OF NEW ORLEANS DESIGN
Interior design by Rockwell Group explores the contrasts that define New Orleans, imagining a city emerging from a verdant landscape and shaped by generations of cultural influences from around the world. Mid-century references nod to the decadence of the 1970s oil boom era, while layered textures, saturated color, local flora, and globally influenced patterns bring a contemporary interpretation of New Orleans design, balancing old and new, polished and playful, and vibrant and restful.

The hotel’s lobby serves as its social anchor and a cultural living room designed to welcome both visitors and New Orleanians throughout the day. Guests arrive beneath a mirror-clad monumental stair that reflects a three-story magnolia flower and Spanish moss-inspired chandelier. Custom brass relief panels from Italy frame the check-in and concierge desks, while the Lobby Bar pairs handmade Italian lava-stone tiles with a floor mosaic composed of six marbles in a distinctly 1970s pattern. The Lobby Bar’s cocktail-focused beverage program and live entertainment encourage guests and locals to linger from day into evening.

“Today marks an exciting new chapter for Fairmont New Orleans and for our city,” said Eric Overstreet, General Manager, Fairmont New Orleans. “From the moment guests enter our lobby to an evening at Delmonico Steakhouse, the hotel was designed to feel distinctly of New Orleans, while offering the service and experience Fairmont is known for. We’re proud to welcome travelers and our local community into these spaces and look forward to seeing Fairmont New Orleans become part of the city’s next chapter.” 

A RESIDENTIAL RETREAT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
Fairmont New Orleans’ 250 guest rooms and suites are conceived as personal retreats with residential warmth, eclectic finishes, curated furnishings and layered materials designed to feel collected over time. Three-dimensional entry mosaics reference classical European flooring, while large, paneled artworks evoke the rich flora of Louisiana’s bayous. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame sweeping city views, while custom artwork and details reference the cultural and natural history of New Orleans. In select king rooms, “faux balconies” with café tables offer a playful nod to the city’s beloved porches and terraces. 

On the 29th and 30th floors, Fairmont Gold will elevate the stay through Fairmont’s signature hotel-within-a-hotel experience. Once unveiled in December, guests can enjoy a dedicated private lounge overlooking the Mississippi River, dedicated concierge service, complimentary breakfast and afternoon canapés, beverages and a personalized arrival and check-in experience. 

NEW CULINARY DESTINATIONS INCLUDING A STEAKHOUSE FROM CHEF EMERIL LAGASSE AND ROOFTOP COCKTAIL LOUNGE
Fairmont New Orleans makes its debut with a culinary partnership with Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group, bringing new dining experiences to the heart of the Central Business District.

Delmonico Steakhouse marks the celebrated concept’s debut in New Orleans and its first location outside of Las Vegas, bringing Chef Lagasse’s grand American steakhouse to the city that has long inspired his culinary career. Open for dinner, the restaurant pairs timeless steakhouse traditions with his signature bold New Orleans flavors, showcasing hand-selected prime cuts from Creekstone Farms, dry-aged in-house, alongside Japanese Wagyu, premium seafood, and an oyster and caviar program.

Open for breakfast and lunch, The Café by Emeril offers a more relaxed brasserie-style experience, combining French-inspired classics with Creole accents and Southern influences. From chicory-laced coffee to thoughtfully prepared breakfast and lunch favorites, the café flows seamlessly into the lobby, creating an inviting gathering place for hotel guests and locals alike.

“I’m thrilled to bring Delmonico Steakhouse to New Orleans alongside The Café by Emeril, creating two distinct dining experiences that reflect what I love about cooking and bringing people together,” said Chef Emeril Lagasse. “We’re proud to be a part of Fairmont’s return to the city and look forward to welcoming both locals and visitors to experience the bold flavors, genuine hospitality, and unmistakable New Orleans spirit that defines everything we do.”

Forthcoming dining and drinking venues, set to open in early December also, include the property’s rooftop pool and Bleu Perdu, along with Third Measure cocktail bar. Located 31 floors above New Orleans, the forthcoming rooftop is designed to transition effortlessly from day to night. Bleu Perdu will open directly onto the pool terrace, pairing panoramic city and Mississippi River views with bistro-style dining, sun loungers, cabanas, lush foliage and Spanish-inspired black-and-white tile. After sunset, locally made Bevolo gas lanterns will cast a warm glow across the terrace, which also includes a dedicated area for live performances.

Nearby, Third Measure, an intimate late-night cocktail bar developed in collaboration with Neal Bodenheimer, founder of New Orleans’ acclaimed Cure, will draw inspiration from the city’s lost cocktail traditions and musical heritage. Guests enter through wardrobe-inspired double doors into a richly layered space, where custom fan-shaped marble mosaic flooring inspired by clouds, a white marble bar, pearlescent railings and an immense custom Lasvit chandelier nod to the building’s 1970s origins, all framed by commanding sunset views.

NEW WAYS TO RELAX AND RECHARGE
Opening in early December is a 10,000-square-foot spa and fitness center to further expand the guest experience with three private treatment rooms, a couples’ suite, dry sauna, steam room and dedicated relaxation lounges, including a sauna overlooking the New Orleans skyline. A dedicated Dressing Room will offer a social preparation space for bridal parties, debutantes and other celebrations, while a fitness studio outfitted with Matrix Onyx equipment will offer personalized training sessions. Loft suites on the building’s upper level will feature dramatic double-height windows with views toward Caesars Superdome, lofted primary bedrooms with glass railings, custom wallcoverings and wet bars with hammered brass sinks. Guided by Fairmont’s new Wellness Without Walls approach, connecting guests with active and outdoor experiences throughout the destination including self-guided walks combining local art galleries with kayaking and pedal boating and self-led city ‘Run The River’ experiences along the Mississippi River and Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park. Furthermore, ALL Accor member guests can benefit from complimentary Nike Lending Gear service throughout their stay.

A NEW GATHERING PLACE IN THE HEART OF NEW ORLEANS
Situated near Bourbon Street and Caesars Superdome and within walking distance of the French Quarter, Warehouse District and Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Fairmont New Orleans places guests at the crossroads of the city’s cultural, business and entertainment hubs. Whether visiting for Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, a major stadium event or a weekend immersed in the city’s culture and cuisine, the hotel offers a new vantage point from which to experience New Orleans. 

Continuing Fairmont’s legacy as the backdrop for milestone moments, Fairmont New Orleans debuts with over 19,000 square feet of meeting and event space, accommodating gatherings ranging from intimate events of 10 to grand celebrations of up to 500 guests. Nine primary venues include two approximately 4,000-square-foot ballrooms, six meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, complemented by three dedicated foyers. 

The second floor, originally built as the Bank of New Orleans’ main lobby, has been refurbished to honor its original character and now houses two foyers and two grand ballrooms. The ballrooms preserve the building’s local cypress wood ceiling, while original bronze paneling has been restored and custom chandeliers were designed to feel as though they have always belonged to the space.

Rates start at $459 per night. For reservations and additional information, visit www.fairmont.com/hotels/new-orleans/. Similarly, hotel guests can also take advantage of ALL Accor, Accor’s complimentary loyalty program and booking platform, with members earning points during their stays that can be redeemed for rewards, services and experiences worldwide.

Link to additional images HERE.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Q: When did Fairmont New Orleans open? 
A: Fairmont New Orleans opened on November 2, 2026, marking Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ return to New Orleans after two decades and Fairmont’s 100th hotel globally. 

Q: Where is Fairmont New Orleans located? 
A: Fairmont New Orleans is located in New Orleans’ Central Business District, just steps from the French Quarter and Caesars Superdome. The hotel occupies 17 stories of the former Bank of New Orleans building, originally designed in 1970 by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Q: How many rooms does Fairmont New Orleans have? 
A: Fairmont New Orleans features 250 guest rooms and suites, along with Fairmont Gold, the brand’s exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel experience.

Q: What restaurants and bars will be at Fairmont New Orleans? 
A: Fairmont New Orleans features Delmonico Steakhouse and The Café by Emeril, created in partnership with Chef Emeril Lagasse and The Emeril Group. Additional venues, including Third Measure and Bleu Perdu, will open in the following months. 

Q: What additional experiences are coming to Fairmont New Orleans?
A: Additional signature experiences will include the rooftop pool and Bleu Perdu, Third Measure cocktail bar, spa and fitness center, and loft suites. Opening dates for these experiences will be announced in the coming months.

Q: Who designed Fairmont New Orleans? 
A: The interiors of Fairmont New Orleans were designed by Rockwell Group, with a design concept inspired by the contrasts between New Orleans’ built and natural environments. The hotel is located within the former Bank of New Orleans building, originally designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Q: Will there be a phased opening?
A: The property opens its doors on November 2, and starting early December, the hotel’s Gold Lounge, Spa, all dining and drinking venues, including the property’s rooftop pool and Bleu Perdu, along with Third Measure cocktail bar, will be fully open. 

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand’s unrivalled portfolio of over 90 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont Tokyo, Fairmont Hanoi, Fairmont Golden Prague, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Doha and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,800 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL Accor, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
fairmont.com | all.com | group.accor.com 

About Kailas Companies
Founded in 1990 by C. Mohan Kailas, Kailas Companies is one of Louisiana’s top owner/operators of commercial property. Kailas Companies focuses on restoring historic landmark buildings as well as creating modern properties. Through the dedication of its staff and the support of its clients, Kailas has proved itself as one of the most established and respected commercial real estate operators in the State of Louisiana. 

About The Emeril Group
The Emeril Group is a leading culinary and hospitality company founded by world-renowned chef, restaurateur, and television personality Emeril Lagasse based in New Orleans. The internationally recognized flagship Emeril’s, helmed by Chef E.J. Lagasse and awarded two Michelin stars, anchors a portfolio that includes The Wine Bar at Emeril’s and Meril in New Orleans, as well as Delmonico Steakhouse, Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House, and Meril in Las Vegas, and Emeril’s Chop House at L’Auberge Baton Rouge. The collection also includes dining experiences at sea on Carnival Cruise Lines, and restaurant concepts Emeril’s Table at MSY and Emeril’s Kitchen at Caesars New Orleans. Driven by a commitment to excellence and genuine hospitality, The Emeril Group continues to advance modern American cuisine through Chef Emeril’s signature bold, innovative approach.

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SOURCE Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

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