Haven't been there in a long time -- my bad, I know -- but just the other day did a thorough hotel search for a straight friend for his very first visit. Conclusion: for a French Quarter location, loads of charm etc. in a mainstream hotel, the Royal Sonesta would be the pick; many many others to choose from of course, including much newer properties, but many also seem to have some downside or another. Omni would be the other choice for this type of lodging, but it sounds like major room renovation is going on this season, so best to avoid it for right now. There do seem to be lots of great deals to be had at this time, even over Thanksgiving week. If you particularly want Gay lodgings, a little search should also turn up nice things I believe; try Purpleroofs.com for instance and see what they offer. Have a great time there and let us know about it...