A New Orleans hotel owner fights off a corporate raider while his guests struggle through a variety of personal problems.

Because of financial difficulties, the elegant and respectable St. Gregory Hotel in New Orleans is in danger of falling into the hands of Curtis O'Keefe, the ruthless owner of a modernized chain of hotels. In a desperate attempt to forestall a takeover action Warren Trent, the hotel owner, a bigoted and strong-principled gentleman, takes the advice of his loyal manager, Peter McDermott, and secures union backing. O'Keefe counters by creating an incident in which a Negro couple is turned away from the hotel. Although McDermott exposes the couple as paid agitators, the union withdraws its support. Meanwhile, other crises are developing at the hotel: the Duke of Lanbourne, soon to be named British Ambassador to the United States, has killed a child in a hit-and-run accident and is being blackmailed for $25,000 by Dupere, an unscrupulous hotel detective; McDermott has become romantically involved with O'Keefe's French mistress, Jeanne; and Keycase, a thief, is attempting to burglarize as many rooms as possible. The Duke decides to turn himself over to the police, but while he is riding down in the elevator with a young mother, her daughter, and Keycase, the elevator suddenly smashes against the shaft girders. In saving the lives of the other passengers, the Duke is killed. After Keycase has been arrested, Trent turns down O'Keefe's final offer and decides to sell the St. Gregory to a real estate corporation. Jeanne leaves O'Keefe for McDermott, and Trent makes plans to open a small family inn.