New Orleans' Outlook Continues to Brighten
By Rachelle Crum -- Tradeshow Week, 4/10/2006
Nearly eight months after Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans meetings and exhibition industry continues to regain its strength.
Along with new tradeshow bookings for the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a recent nationwide survey indicated that meeting planners were optimistic about their industry's future in the Big Easy.
Some 77 percent of the 377 meeting planners surveyed by New Orleans-based Olinger Group between October 2005 and January 2006 believe the city will recover sufficiently to regain its status as a major destination city.
One-third of respondents said they expected recovery of the city's hospitality industry to take two years or less, while 61 percent thought the process would take longer. About 44 percent of the planners indicated they would likely book a meeting in New Orleans within the next five years.
The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau in recent weeks has booked several new shows for upcoming months.
Natl. Companies will bring nearly 3,500 of its independent sales representatives to New Orleans for its Grand Natl. Convention Oct. 5–8. The community revitalization group Natl. Trust Main Street Center will draw about 1,500 participants to its Natl. Main Streets Conference in New Orleans June 4–7. The event, scheduled for the city earlier this year, had been postponed.
In addition, the Intl. Assn. of Assn. Management Cos. in March issued a proclamation calling on all its members to support the reconstruction of New Orleans by recommending that clients book their conventions and meetings there sometime within the next five years.
According to the group, AMCs represent more than 3,000 associations nationwide.
"Through the impact of our members and their footprint of association conventions and meetings, the AMC industry can play a significant role in rebuilding one of America's oldest and most charming cities," IAAMC Executive Vice President Sue Pine said.
Several associations have already confirmed meetings this year in New Orleans, including the American Library Assn. Annual Conference & Exhibition, expected to bring 20,000 delegates to the city June 24–27. The Natl. Assn. of Realtors hopes to draw 25,000 people to its NARdi Gras-themed REALTORS Conference & Expo Nov. 10–13.
Finally, at a March fundraising dinner, two San Francisco-based hotel investment and management firms, Oxford Lodging Advisory and Investment Group and Hilton Hotels and Restaurant Group, raised more than $230,000 for New Orleans rebuilding efforts.
