There was feces and urine in the lobby, shattered glass everywhere, backed up toilets, and extreme heat, as the air conditioning did not work due to generator failure.

The hotel provided shelter for New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, the New Orleans Police Department and Fire Department, the Louisiana National Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Army Corps of Engineers, and some refugees who managed to sneak in from the Superdome nearby.

[9] The storm-battered area around the newly rebranded Superdome experienced major construction, renovation, and overall economic changes following Hurricane Katrina, which continued to be supported by the rebuilt Hyatt Regency.

The entrance to the Hyatt Regency also faces the newly constructed Loyola Streetcar line, which provides access to the Central Business District (CBD).

The Hyatt Regency New Orleans work was reported by Forbes magazine as one of the Top 10 Hotel Renovations in 2012[10] because of several notable features including its in-house restaurant.