New Orleans
Built to host
STEPHANIE TURNER, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT OF CONVENTION SALES AND STRATEGIES, NEW ORLEANS, TELLS CMW ABOUT A CITY THAT IS‘ BUILT TO HOST’
N ew Orleans, home of
Mardi Gras and iconic festivals and events offers international meeting planners world-class meeting infrastructure and delivers a destination experience where business, culture and hospitality are naturally intertwined.
New Orleans is built for meetings, with a compact, walkable convention district that allows delegates to easily move between hotels, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, restaurants, attractions and off-site venues.
There are 26,000 hotel rooms located within 2.5 miles of the Convention Center, and that creates a campuslike environment which encourages attendance, engagement and connection.
Senior VP of convention sales and strategies New Orleans & Company, Stephanie Turner lists some of the ingredients of the CVB’ s‘ Built to Host’ recipe, including authenticity and hospitality rooted in the diverse culture of the community. That recipe embracies food, music and history which all help create unforgettable meetings and events.
There is also a proven track record of success hosting world-class conferences, sporting events and global celebrations.
Another ingredient is‘ Impact’. Meetings create lasting economic and social benefits for New Orleans while leaving attendees with meaningful connections.
The investment in the destination is ongoing, Turner notes, with more than $ 2.45bn being invested in the city’ s meetings and hospitality infrastructure. That includes:
• $ 1.1bn in hotel renovations from 2023 – 2027
• $ 600m + for the new 1,000-room Omni Headquarters Hotel
• $ 90m in new hotel development, including Fairmont and Element
• $ 763m campus transformation at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and continued investment in the surrounding Convention District and Mississippi Riverfront. The expanded riverfront now offers approximately 2.25 miles of connected parks, promenades and public gathering spaces.
New Orleans’ ability to welcome international audiences will be on display as the city hosts IPW in May
Left: Goldring Woldenberg Park
2027, the leading international inbound travel marketplace in the United States. It is an event that generates more than 90,000 business appointments and an estimated $ 5.5bn in future travel to the United States.
The city’ s ability to host major events was demonstrated recently, when New Orleans hosted Sail250 at the end of May, featuring an international gathering of tall ships and, by the end of 2026, New Orleans will have hosted eight major medical meetings.
Delegate downtime: More than a business trip Food is an integral part of the New Orleans meeting experience, including dine-arounds, receptions and additional nights added to an attendee’ s trip.
Recent recognition includes several new Michelin stars.
New Orleans was recognised in 2025 as a UNESCO Creative City of Music. Delegates can experience live music throughout the city, from Frenchmen Street and historic jazz venues to major concert halls and neighbourhood clubs. The French Quarter has a particular vibe.
Music, food, architecture, history and local traditions are not simply attractions added to an itinerary; they are part of the everyday New Orleans experience.
Outdoor, wellness & leisure experiences Delegates looking to extend their stay can also experience a different side of Louisiana through:
• Fishing and boating excursions
• Championship golf
• Spa and wellness experiences
• Mississippi Riverfront walking and biking
• Audubon Nature Institute experiences The Louis Armstrong Airport Named Best Airport in North America five years in a row, so arriving and departing can be as smooth as the music vibe. n
30 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 144