New Orleans Thrives Post-Katrina
Staff -- Tradeshow Week, 8/27/2007
On the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is in a much better place than it was a year ago, when it was still reeling from the convention and tradeshow industry's $1.5 billion loss.
Eighty-seven events at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center were canceled or rescheduled immediately following the storm. The building itself needed $60 million in repairs and renovations.
Two years later, the tradeshow industry in New Orleans is closer to pre-Katrina levels. A number of high-profile events have either taken place there, such as Meeting Professional Intl.'s Professional Education Conference — North America, Jan. 20–23, or are scheduled there, such as the Intl. Assn. of Exhibition and Events' 2010 Expo! Expo!
There are several other organizations holding meetings in New Orleans later this year:
- American College of Surgeons, Oct. 6–10, 6,000 attendees
- Intl Assn. of Chiefs of Police, Oct. 12–17, 10,000 attendees
- Helen Brett Enterprises, Oct. 25–Nov. 1, 15,000 attendees
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, Nov. 9–12, 25,000 attendees
- Pennwell, Dec. 10–14, 17,000 attendees
At the end of June, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau also hired six new sales people in an effort to draw even more meeting and tradeshow business to the city. Five will work in New Orleans and one in the Washington, D.C., office.
In July, the CVB launched an interactive Web site and itinerary planning tool, 24NOLA.com, for visitors who want to know more about New Orleans culture. The Web site is part of the CVB's 2007 strategic marketing, public relations and re-branding campaign, Forever New Orleans.
Airlift is also making a comeback with more and more flights serving the city. At Louis Armstrong Intl. Airport as of August 2007, there were 123 scheduled flights serving 37 cities, 75 percent of pre-Katrina levels.
Beginning Nov. 4, Southwest Airlines will fly eight daily non-stop flights from New Orleans to five cities, including Birmingham, Ala., Las Vegas and Orlando.
Finally, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is sporting a new look, including new floors and furnishings on all three levels. With 94 conventions, tradeshows and meetings booked for 2007, New Orleans seems to be back on track.
