New Orleans Is Almost Back

Michael Hart -- Tradeshow Week, 8/7/2006

Dear Editor:

Re: "The Ongoing New Orleans-Is-Back Story" (July 17, 2006):

Just wanted to say thanks for the support of New Orleans. I am the general manager for GES and a native New Orleanian, as they say. I was born and raised there and am now temporarily living in Texas and managing the Texas and New Orleans operations for GES.

It was quite amazing to be back in business (at the American Library Assn. Annual Conference & Exhibition at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, June 22–28) and producing large events again. It seemed almost normal until you started riding back into some of the nearby subdivisions.

I was very impressed with the return of the union work force. We were able to utilize almost 80 percent of our regulars from the tradeshow industry. It was an awesome event and an awesome accomplishment for ALA, GES and the entire city of New Orleans.

We so desperately need as much positive press as possible. The tradeshow business can provide the city with a much needed uplift of the economy and have a very positive impact on employment in the hospitality industry as well.

Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, but the resolve to build back the city has never been stronger. I am looking to eventually move back home as soon as we rebuild our operations, which hopefully will be by the end of this year.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks from a native New Orleanian.

Gene Poche, General manager — Delta Division, GES, Dallas

Letters to the editor of Tradeshow Week are always welcome. Please send them to Editor in Chief Michael Hart (by mail) Tradeshow Week, 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 120, Los Angeles, Calif. 90036-5804; (by e-mail) hartm@reedbusiness.com ; or (by fax) (323) 965-5306.