Some Leave New Orleans, Others Stay

The National Business Aviation Assn. has canceled its second meeting previously planned for New Orleans. The association announced it would hold the 2008 NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention Oct. 6–8 in Orlando instead.

The show also was forced to move out of New Orleans in 2005 because it was scheduled to open just a few weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit.

"NBAA is a long-time customer and friend of New Orleans," said Kelly Schulz, spokeswoman for the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. "They have made their decision, and we respect it."

NBAA members were looking forward to having the 2008 convention in New Orleans, but Lakefront Airport's inability to host the static aircraft display, a fundamental element of the show, forced the change to Orlando, according to Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO.

"NBAA would not be able to successfully host this large display at the airport in the way that our show exhibitors and attendees have come to expect," Bolen said.

This year's event will take place Sept. 25–27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The New Orleans CVB has been busy with other calendar changes as well.

The Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Assn. pulled its Nov. 8–10, 2009, Annual Convention & Trade Show out of the city, Schulz said.

She did not have details about why the association was moving the show, and said cancellation penalties, if any, would depend on STAFDA's contracts with individual hotels.

STAFDA Executive Director Georgia Foley declined to comment on the move.

The 2009 NGWA Ground Water Expo and Annual Meeting also made a move, but not out of New Orleans. It will be held December 9–14, 2009, instead of the original dates of Dec. 12–18, to move the event further from Christmas.

"Thanks to the cooperative efforts of the New Orleans hospitality and trade exposition community, the ending date of our event now accommodates the busy work and personal lives of our targeted Expo audience," NGWA Executive Director Kevin McCray said, in a statement.

Contrary to local news reports, he added, the association never considered canceling the 2009 event in the city.

J. Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, noted: "Since the resurgence of New Orleans' convention business last summer, we have proven time and time again that the city is a viable, safe and remarkable place to bring meetings. ... I personally applaud the dedication NGWA showed to its members, and their due diligence will be rewarded."