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| New Orleans (Updated July 10, 2010) |
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 Is New Orleans safe to visit in light of the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico? |
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 While our hearts go out to our fellow Louisiana citizens on the Gulf Coast who are suffering from this environmental tragedy New Orleans remains one of the hottest tourist, meeting and convention destinations in the U.S. and remains almost completely unaffected by the oil spill. The city hosted yet another sold-out weekend over the fourth of July with thousands of visitors flocking to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival, National Education Association annual meeting and Independence Day festivities. We are preparing to welcome some 24,000 guests for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Youth Gathering mid-July. Despite the environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, all of New Orleans’ hospitality offerings our visitors love so much are unaffected.
The seafood from Louisiana is safe and healthy to eat. Our world famous seafood industry is rigorously regulated by various strict agencies before product reaches market, and our renowned chefs ensure that only the highest quality, fresh products are prepared and served. The majority of Louisiana fishing areas (70 percent of the coastline) are not in the spill area or current zones and remain open and bountiful. As a matter of fact, 2,000 pounds of fresh Louisiana seafood is being served at a major cultural food festival in Dijon France by famous French and New Orleans chefs on July 14th. Seafood from New Orleans and Louisiana was recently served aboard Air Force One.
Agencies involved in testing include: Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries along with federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FDA and the EPA. To date all the tests are coming back showing that Louisiana seafood is safe to consume.
To learn more about seafood, please visit www.louisianaseafood.com. |
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| How can I experience New Orleans’ cultural celebrations and festivals this season? |
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Visiting New Orleans, you can find something thrilling and unforgettable nearly every day. Whether it’s a great opportunity to sample our exceptional cuisine or a music festival you seek, New Orleans offers celebrations to suit everyone.
Following a record-breaking French Quarter Festival Presented by Capital One (April 9-11) and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Presented by Shell (April 23-May2), festival season doesn’t slow down as New Orleans anticipates a jam-packed calendar. ESSENCE Music Festival kicks off our Fourth of July activities (July 2-4) with Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson headlining this year’s “Party with a Purpose.” Tales of the Cocktail (July 21-25) celebrates the history of the cocktail, while Satchmo Summerfest (Aug. 5-8) and Southern Decadence Festival (Sept. 3-6) round out the summer festivities.
Other festivals in 2010 include:
Zulu Lundi Gras Festival/Feb. 15
French Quarter Wine Festival/Feb. 26-April 15
Soul Fest/March 13-14
Earth Fest/March 20-21
Spring Fiesta/March 20-28
Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival/ March 24-28
New Orleans Roadfood Festival/March 26-28
French Quarter Festival/April 9-11
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by Shell/April 23-May 2
Mid City Bayou Boogaloo/May 21-23
Greek Festival/May 28-30
New Orleans Oyster Festival/June 5-6
New Orleans Vieux to Do/June 11-13
ESSENCE Music Festival/July 2-4
Tales of the Cocktail/July 21-25
COOLinary New Orleans/Aug. and Sept.
Satchmo SummerFest/Aug. 5-8
Whitney White Linen Night/Aug. 7
Dirty Linen Night/Aug. 14
New Orleans Red Dress Run/Aug. 14
Project 30-90/Sept. 11
Southern Decadence Festival/Sept. 3-6
Gretna Heritage Festival/Oct. 1-3
Art for Arts’ Sake/Oct. 2
New Orleans Film Festival/October
Voodoo Music Experience/October
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival/Oct. 16-17
Halloween New Orleans/Oct. 28-Nov. 1
Louisiana Swamp Festival/Nov. 6-7
Words and Music Literary Festival/Nov. 18-22
New Orleans Po-boy Preservation Festival/Nov. 21
Christmas New Orleans Style/December
Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival and Holiday Bazaar/December
Traveling to New Orleans offers great values on hotels, restaurants and attractions. Coupons and more information on festivals are always available at www.neworleanscvb.com. |
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| I have not visited New Orleans in a few years. What can I expect? |
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Visitors to New Orleans can expect an overall unique and exciting experience. Whether you plan to stay for business or pleasure, New Orleans offers its guests unbeatable cuisine, music and culture that can only be found in this tremendously hospitable city.
And following the Saints Super Bowl victory on February 7, 2010, there is energy in the city that is unparalleled, and the celebration isn’t slowing down. Super Bowl spirit lead to a successful Carnival season a record-breaking spring festival line-up and we anticipate an equally stellar summer season.
New Orleans offers an experience for all ages. Families can enjoy the many attractions of the Audubon Institute, college students flock to participate in the Annual Red Dress Run and couples find New Orleans the perfect sanctuary for that romantic escape. With more than 1,000 restaurants to choose from and some of the finest hotels in the country, everyone can expect to enjoy a visit to the Crescent City. |
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| What is the media reporting about New Orleans as a visitor destination? |
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• New Orleans ranked number one for growth among the top 25 U.S. destinations in hotel performance for January-May 2010! According to Smith Travel Research, the organization that measures and reports on hotel performance nationally and internationally, New Orleans posted a 15% increase in RevPar (standard industry measure of hotel occupancy multiplied by average daily rate) over the same time period in 2009.
• New Orleans was chosen by HotelsCombined.com as one of the "Top 10 Place to Celebrate Independence Day".
•New Orleans was ranked number one internationally for nightlife according to TripAdvisor® Annual Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards. New Orleans was also recognized in four other categories including third in the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the United States and fourth in the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the World. The Crescent City placed ninth in the Top 10 Culture & Sightseeing Destinations in the United States and 15th in the Top 25 Destinations in the United States.
•The latest sports news in New Orleans is bringing together members of the “Who Dat” Nation. The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl Champions after defeating the Indianapolis Colts at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. The game was the most-watched show in U.S. TV history with 106.5 million viewers tuning in for the game.
•New Orleans was ranked number one in ten categories in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2009 “America’s Favorite Cities” survey, more than any of the other 30 popular travel destinations in the survey. Most notably, the city was named the best city in the country for nightlife, receiving a number one ranking in all three nightlife subcategories: Cocktail Hour, Singles Bar Scene, and Live Music, Concerts, and Bands.
•New Orleans was recently ranked number one in a poll conducted by the Society of American Travel Writers as one of the “Top 10” North American cities for live music. SATW is the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers.
•New Orleans was honored as one of the top-five cities to market itself via Twitter, in New York-based Development Counsellors International’s “Tweet Elite” survey.
•New Orleans was voted number seven in the “Top 25 Cities and Towns with the Best American Values,” by Newsmax Magazine.
•New Orleans was selected as the “Best Domestic Business City” by Global Traveler Magazine and 31,457 of the publication’s surveyed travelers. |
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| What are my hotel choices? |
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| There are more than 35,500 hotel rooms available in the New Orleans metropolitan area, including small boutique treasures in the French Quarter, charming bed and breakfast properties, major downtown hotel towers and much more.
Thanks to city-wide hotel refurbishments and upgrades, New Orleans has one of the freshest hotel products of any major city. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on hotel upgrades and renovations in the metro New Orleans area. |
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| What are my restaurant choices? |
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| According to Tom Fitzmorris and www.nomenu.com, there are 1,103 restaurants open in New Orleans today, a new city record. Visit www.neworleanscvb.com for a full list of restaurants. |
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| What are my options for shopping? |
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| Our shops and boutiques––from the French Quarter to Magazine Street––offer the finest and most eclectic shopping options in the United States. Options include The Shops at Canal Place, Saks Fifth Avenue, The Riverwalk, Jax Brewery, as well as hundreds of boutiques, art galleries and antique stores throughout the city. Tax-free shopping celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009, offering international visitors even more reasons to experience New Orleans. |
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| What are my options for attractions and museums? |
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“Broadway Across America-New Orleans” recently announced that it will continue its great list of performances for the 2010-2011 season. Beginning in September, Cirque Dreams Illumination (Sept. 28-Oct. 3) headlines the series followed by Rain (Nov. 3-7), Monty Pythons Spamalot (Dec.14-19), The Color Purple (Feb. 11-13), West Side Story (March 15-20) and Shrek the Musical (May 31-June 5). The Lion King has been announced as the kick-off performance of the 2011-2012 season. “Broadway Across America-New Orleans” began its first season in October 2009 with Cats and The Color Purple, and continued with Mamma Mia! and Wicked. The season ends with Avenue Q, June 8-13 at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts.
While the arts scene is exploding and our galleries are among the finest in North America, there are also many cultural attractions, such as: plantation homes, riverboat cruises, tour options, Café Du Monde, Louisiana State Museums, New Orleans Historic Collection, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Audubon Zoo, Harrah’s Casino and its entertainment-filled Fulton Street Promenade, New Orleans Museum of Art, Bestoff Sculpture Garden, City Park, the Botanical Gardens, Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, Contemporary Arts Center, Louisiana Children’s Museum, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Orleans Ballet, Audubon Insectarium, Southern Food and Beverage Museum, Museum of the American Cocktail, The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Blane Kern’s Mardi Gras World, the National WWII Museum with its recent multi-million dollar expansion and much more. |
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| What's the best way to get to New Orleans? |
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There are plenty of flights into New Orleans! As of April 2010, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport offers 15,499 seats and 127 flights serving 35 cities.
The expansion of Concourse D at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport is a $33 million project that will double the size of Concourse D, creating six new gates and 8,000 square-feet of space for concessions. The project will create 1,000 construction jobs for the regional economy and provide an enhanced airport experience for all passengers and visitors. Construction began in March 2010, and is expected to be complete by September 2011, with minimal passenger disruption.
Closely following will be the terminal interior and exterior renovations and the consolidated rental car facility. The official ground-breaking for the facility takes place this month. In total, $400 million of improvements and modernization projects are underway at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport.
Airlines operating out of the Armstrong International Airport include: AirTran, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Air Lines, Jet Blue Airlines, Northwest, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Airways.
Midwest Airlines announced new nonstop service between Kansas City and New Orleans beginning May 20, 2010. |
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| What type of events does New Orleans offer sports enthusiasts? |
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New Orleans’ line-up of sporting events and sports venues are sure to live up to every fan’s expectations. The city is home to several sports teams showcasing premier events in football, basketball, baseball and soccer including the Saints, Hornets, Zephyrs and the Jesters, New Orleans’ soccer team. The state of Louisiana, “known as the “Sportsman’s Paradise,” is also renowned for its fishing and hunting hot spots.
New Orleans also will host several major sporting events in the next few years, including:
• 2012 NCAA Men’s Final Four
• 2012 BCS National Championship
• 2013 NCAA Women’s Final Four
• 2013 Super Bowl
New Orleans also hosted the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles and 30,228 fans for the Annual R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on December 20, 2009. R+L Carriers will host the New Orleans Bowl through 2011.
The 76th Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic was held in New Orleans on January 1, 2010. The University of Florida Gators and the University of Cincinnati Bearcats battled it out at the Louisiana Superdome in front of 65,207 spectators.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has committed to New Orleans through the 2014 bowl season. The BCS championship, which alternates cities yearly, will call New Orleans home in 2012 with the city hosting both the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the BCS game in the same season that year.
Meanwhile, major upgrades to the Superdome in the preceding two years will continue to transform the iconic facility into one of the finest in all of sports. Construction will be conducted around scheduled Superdome events, including the three-day Essence Music Festival on Fourth of July weekend.
When the 2010 football season opens, new features will include:
NEW PRIVATE BOX SUITES
A total of 16 private box suites will be added to the Superdome’s 300 level, bringing the total number of luxury suites in the building to 153.
NEW PRESS BOX
A new state-of-the-art press box will adorn the top of the Terrace Level, with working space for 200 sportswriters and 12 booths for coaches, radio broadcasters, and team operations.
Prior to the 2011 football season, still more new upgrades will be added, including:
NEW SIDELINE SEATING
The sideline seating on the Plaza Level will be completely revamped, moving patrons closer to the action, with improved sightlines. The new seating units will add approximately 3,100 prime seats up close to the team benches.
EXPANDED PLAZA LEVEL CONCOURSE
At key points on both sides, the Dome’s Plaza Level concourse will be widened from 18 feet to 60 feet. This will provide better access, additional food service areas, specialty stands and restrooms. The new concourse will also have all-new flooring, lighting, murals, color scheme and signage.
NEW PREMIUM CLUB LOUNGES
Located below the reconfigured Plaza Level stands, the new premium clubs will feature private entry directly from the parking garage, an upscale environment for private events, and high-end amenities including a fixed bar, lounge & table seating, television monitors and restrooms.
NEW LOOK OUTSIDE
The exciting new changes aren’t limited to the interior of the Superdome. Louisiana’s most famous landmark is getting a shiny new look on the outside, and even the neighborhood is getting a big-time facelift. Replacement of the entire 400,000 sq. ft. of anodized aluminum the exterior walls will give the photogenic building a bold, brassy look from every angle.
NEW FESTIVAL PLAZA
In one of the most innovative downtown developments in recent years, the property immediately adjacent to the Superdome on the downtown side is being transformed into an open-air festival plaza. It will be the most popular gathering places for fans to congregate and get pumped up for the many events at the Dome and New Orleans Arena. This revitalization of a high profile area on the Poydras Street corridor will provide one of the most “happening” places in a city that loves to have a good time. The Plaza will open in the fall of 2010. |
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| What are my options for taxis, airport shuttles, buses and streetcars? |
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There are thousands of taxis available on New Orleans’ streets and at major hotels. Taxi rates are $3.50 plus $2 per mile (.25 per one-eighth mile) thereafter. There is also an additional charge of $1.00 per passenger after the first passenger.
During peak visitor times (including Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest) taxi rates are $5 per person or the meter rate, whichever is greater. A fixed rate of $33 (one to two people) is charged from the airport to most areas of New Orleans. For parties of more than two, the fare is $14 per person.
RTA services are $1.25, including bus transportation and the streetcar. Thirty-three bus and streetcar lines are running daily. Bus service allows transportation throughout the city’s major corridor, extending from the Faubourg Marigny to Riverbend.
Airport Shuttle, Inc. is the official ground transportation for Armstrong International Airport, with service to and from New Orleans’ hotels and other designated locations. Fare is $20 per person one way and a discounted $38 per person round trip is now available. |
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| Does Amtrak service New Orleans? |
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| Yes, the City of New Orleans train is running to Memphis and Chicago, while the Crescent runs to Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York. The Sunset Limited runs to Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Tucson and Los Angeles. |
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| What are my options for cruises? |
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New Orleans is a city filled with festivals and cultural activities, leaving plenty of pre- and post-cruise options for cruisers docked at the Crescent City’s port.
The Norwegian Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines are currently sailing from New Orleans and both cruise lines continue to commit to the city through renovations to their ships and contract extensions. Royal Caribbean International announced on April 23, 2010, that the cruise company will return to New Orleans after a three year absence when the Voyager of the Seas begins sailing from the Crescent City November 19, 2011. The Voyager will offer seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and can hold 3,114 guests.
Norwegian Cruise Lines announced in February that beginning in 2011, the Norwegian Spirit will sail year-round out of New Orleans. They will offer weekly 7-day Western Caribbean cruises from April 2011 through April 2012. Norwegian Cruise Lines also announced in April 2009 that the cruise line will commit one ship to New Orleans through 2014.
Carnival Cruise Lines replaced its cruise ship, the Fantasy, with a larger ship, the Triumph on November 10, 2009. The Triumph provides passengers with four, five and seven day cruises and will carry 50,000 more passengers a year. |
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| What's new at the Convention Center? |
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Following a well-received response to a $60 million makeover in 2006, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center has had $20 million in renovations underway in 2008 and in 2009, with plans for 11 million more dollars to be invested into the building in 2010. The center boasts an internet infrastructure of 10 gigabytes, making it one of most technologically advanced convention centers in the United States. Improvements include: extensive landscaping, new digital audio/video information systems including screens for each meeting room, furniture pods, i-Coves, a new sense of arrival at the main entrance and beautiful New Orleans artwork/photography throughout the building.
Since 2008, nearly $20 million of improvements have been completed or are underway.
2008: $7.3 million in improvements:
• Furniture pods strategically located in main lobby and meeting room levels
• Conversion of pay-telephone banks to I-Coves, comfortable internet lounges located throughout pre-function spaces
• Aesthetically enhanced “sense of arrival” to main entrance
• Visually stimulating way-finding, banner and signage program
• Extensive landscaping enhancements
• Installation of fixed and mobile concierge desks
• Establishment of Convention Center Ambassador Program
2009: $11.8 million in improvements completed or underway:
• Extensive renovation of both ballrooms
• Re-painting of building exterior
• Key Card access for meeting rooms
• Renovation of concession stands
• Expanding internet infrastructure to 10 gigabyte, far exceeding current industry standards
• New digital, large-screen, closed-circuit, video/audio information system throughout pre-function space
• Individually addressable, digital signs at each meeting room
• “Crown-Room”-type executive lounge, fitted with work-stations, lounge furniture, cable television and refreshments with controlled access |
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| What are the New Orleans CVB and the city of New Orleans doing to be environmentally friendly? |
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Call it green, call it sustainability, but being environmentally savvy is not a trend. It's an important business practice that's here to stay. That’s why New Orleans is one of many destinations working to become more environmentally friendly.
So far, the New Orleans Morial Convention Center and its partner ARAMARK have many green programs underway. A few practices the New Orleans Morial Convention Center has adopted into their daily practices are water conservation, energy conservation, waste reduction and clean air practices.
Second Line Stages, the first green independent stages in the United States, has opened its doors in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. The $32 million project is currently hosting a Warner Brothers film as its tenant. The stages of the studio were built to the exact standards of the motion picture industry and to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification.
Even New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration has gone green. Kern Studios, the largest producer of Carnival floats, began reducing the impact on the environment by using biodiesel in the tractors pulling floats along the parade routes in 2008 and also reuses several of their floats for multiple Mardi Gras parades. The Krewe of Rex is using biodegradable string on their special Mardi Gras beads, preventing the beads from hanging in trees for extended periods of time.
Adding to a list of environmentally friendly practices, New Orleans is incorporating green practices into its famous festivals. On September 5, 2009, Project 30-90, the city’s first all green music festival, featured several of local musicians to support the initiative.
In addition, Hotard, one of the area’s leading providers of motorcoach transportation, switched to a greener fleet. The company has begun to introduce new motorcoach models that cut particulate matter, black smoke, by 90 percent. The company is investigating additional ways that it can go green, including the use of bio-diesel fuel.
Airport Shuttle New Orleans, the official airport transportation provider for the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, is going green with all-new clean burning propane hybrid vehicles. Propane is now being used in all of Airport Shuttle’s 13 new vehicles, thanks to a new technology that enabled the conversion of existing engines to a propane hybrid.
Many hotels are implementing green practices as well. Other tips for travelers are available at www.neworleanscvb.com. |
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| What major convention groups has New Orleans recently hosted? |
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Approximately 10,000 attendees gathered in New Orleans for Microsoft’s TechEd conference to gain insights and expertise regarding the latest in technological advances. TechEd marks the third major Microsoft conference that New Orleans has hosted in the past 18 months. It is estimated that this year’s TechEd meeting generated roughly $11 million in economic impact.
Approximately 18,000 attendees convened in New Orleans for the largest gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery for Digestive Disease Week (DDW). The meeting also coincided with the second weekend of the Jazz and Heritage Festival, leaving New Orleans hotels sold out. The city welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to the city during this time.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons brought nearly 30,000 attendees from 100 countries to their annual meeting March 9-13. On March 9, more than 500 volunteers and children, with and without disabilities, gathered for a Family Fitness & Fun Park Build to work together to build a playground at Jefferson Playground. The last time AAOS met in New Orleans was in 2003. The 2010 meeting is the sixth time the Academy has met in New Orleans and is set to generate more than $35 million in economic impact.
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, have secured the conventions of Club Managers Association of America, Kiwanis International, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Benevolent & Protective Order of ELKS, which will bring 66,000 attendees and $77.6 million to the local economy between 2012 and 2014. |
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| What groups are holding meetings in New Orleans in 2009? |
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Event/Date
National Cotton Council of America/Jan. 4-7
Association of American Law Schools/Jan. 6-10
True Value Company/Jan. 6-8
The Special Event/Jan. 12-15
International Studies Association/Feb. 17-20
Keller Williams Realty International/Feb. 20-24
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology/ Feb.26-March 2
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/March 9-13
Dunkin’ Brands, Inc./March 22-24
Ace Hardware Corporation/March 26-28
American Planning Association/April 10-13
American Association of Petroleum Geologists/April 11-14
Independent Champagne & Sparkling Wine Invitational/April 16-18
Corenet Global/April 18-20
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (PES T&D)/April 20-22
American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers/April 21-24
Digestive Disease Week/May 2-5
American Thoracic Society/May 14-19
American Psychiatric Association/May 22-26
National Apartment Association/June 24-26
Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association/June26-29
National Education Association USA/July 1-3
Academy of General Dentistry/July 1-6
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod/July 17-21
American Contract Bridge League/July 22-Aug. 1
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc./July 29-Aug. 4
International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association/Aug. 9-13
Water Environment Federation/Oct. 2-6
National Funeral Directors Association/Oct. 10-13
Cable Connection Fall (CTAM: Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (Oct. 18-20) and Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (Oct 20-22)
Medical Group Management Association/Oct. 24-27
National Association of Realtors/Nov. 5-8
Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (Annual National Computing Conference)/Nov.13-19
American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists/Nov. 14-18
Gerontological Society of America/Nov. 19-23
Diversified Business Communications/International Workboat Show/Dec. 1-3
International Association for Exhibition & Events/Dec. 7-9
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| Is New Orleans a safe place for visitors? |
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Yes. No other city in the world manages special events, crowd control and visitor safety as well as New Orleans.
New Orleans welcomes more than seven million visitors per year and is world renowned for the safe and successful management of major tourism events such as Mardi Gras, Jazz and Heritage festival, cultural celebrations, professional and college football championship games and special sports events such as the NBA All Star Game. The world’s most prominent corporations and associations select New Orleans for conferences and business events ranging from a 10-person corporate board meeting to large association city-wide conventions with tens of thousands of attendees from around the world.
More than 800,000 people gathered in New Orleans on February 9, 2010 for the Saints Super Bowl Homecoming Victory parade. Mardi Gras typically draws between 800,000 and one million revelers every year, but saw its largest crowds in 25 years for Mardi Gras 2010. The 2010 French Quarter Festival in April 2010 had record attendance of 512,000 people. The 2009 Essence Music Festival had record attendance of 428,000 attendees.
New Orleans’ popular tourist areas - the French Quarter, Downtown/Central Business District, Uptown, Garden District, Magazine Street, Warehouse/Arts District, Convention Center Boulevard and Faubourg Marigny - are among the most safe and walkable places for visitors of any city in America.
The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) works closely with the business community, elected officials, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to make New Orleans a safe, quality place to live, work and visit.
Visitors to our city should expect:
o Professional, courteous police offers available to assist visitors
o Visible police presence in tourist and convention areas by uniformed officers on foot, in patrol cars and on horseback
o Undercover police presence in tourist and convention areas by plain-clothed officers
o Strategically placed “sky towers” for major events
o More officers assigned to the French Quarter on a daily basis than ever before
o More officers being added to the NOPD thanks to a police recruiting campaign to attract the best and brightest talent
In addition, the New Orleans CVB informs the top leadership of the NOPD of the complete convention and visitor schedule so they may provide added protection in tourist areas.
Crime exists in all major cities. In New Orleans, 99 percent of violent crime is targeted criminal-on-criminal drug and retaliation acts which occur in inner-city neighborhoods, not in popular tourist areas. As with any destination, we recommend that vacationers and convention attendees practice common sense and do not wander into deserted, non-tourist areas of the city. |
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| How has the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau prepared for hurricane season? |
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The New Orleans CVB Tourism Crisis Management Plan, along with diligent and thorough preparation with an emphasis on safety, will assist visitors in responding appropriately to emergencies.
The City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana have implemented a unified emergency communications plan to ensure the timely flow of information across the region in emergency situations. A comprehensive and effective city-wide emergency communications plan for the Greater New Orleans tourism industry has been developed for visitors.
Today, New Orleans is proud to not only be the nation's leader in fun, food, music and major cultural and sporting events, but now to be the most sophisticated destination in the world in all levels of emergency planning, execution and visitor management.
The Army Corp of Engineers has made significant progress on the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) in the last four and a half years. This includes:
• Repairs to more than 220 miles of levees and floodwalls and constructed the interim closure structures and pump stations by June 2006
• Unprecedented number (more than 255) construction contracts have been awarded to date
• $8 billion obligated from the $14.6 billion program
• $2 billion of current obligations went directly to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses, close to 30% of all contract obligations
• 4000 construction jobs created locally
• Corps operational goal for completing the physical features for the 100-year system is June 2011
Two of the Corps’ biggest projects include:
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Surge Barrier:
• Constructing what will be the largest surge barrier wall in the world
• The Corps’ largest-ever Design-Build construction contract
• Includes a concrete pile-supported wall across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway to the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, more than one and a half miles long, and three navigable gated structures
• Will provide flood risk reduction to the Ninth Ward, Gentilly, New Orleans East, Orleans Metro, and St. Bernard Parish.
• Construction is over 50% complete. The overall project is scheduled to provide 100-year risk reduction in June 2011
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway-West Closure Complex (GIWW-WCC):
• Will include largest sector gate in nation and largest drainage pump station in world for removal of rainwater when structure is closed during storm events
• Will reduce risk for west bank portions of Jefferson, Orleans and Plaquemines parishes by removing over 25 miles of levees, floodwalls, gates and pumping stations along Harvey and Algiers Canals from exposure to storm surge
• Construction is proceeding at a rapid pace and already 25% complete |
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| What are my options should I need medical care while visiting? |
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Hospitals and urgent care facilities include:
•East Jefferson After Hours Metairie, 2215 Veterans Boulevard, Metairie, Louisiana 70002, Phone: 504-838-3524, www.ejafterhours.com
•East Jefferson After Hours Kenner, 708 West Esplanade, Kenner, Louisiana 70065, 504-461-9660, www.ejafterhours.com
•Touro Infirmary, 1404 Foucher St., 504-897-7011, www.touro.com
•Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, 1415 Tulane Ave., 504-988-5800, www.tuhc.com
•Ochsner Clinic Foundation and Hospital, 1514 Jefferson Highway, 800-874-8984, www.ochsner.org/frontpage/default.htm
•Children’s Hospital, 200 Henry Clay Ave., 504-899-9511, www.chnola.org
•Ochsner Baptist Medical Center, 2700 Napoleon Ave., 866-624-7637, www.ochsner.org/locations/baptist/
•New Orleans Urgent Care facility, 900 Magazine Street, 504-552-433 www.neworleansurgentcare.com/services.asp |
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| What is the population of New Orleans? Will there be workers to staff the hotels and restaurants? |
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New Orleans’ hospitality industry is the city’s largest employer with a work force that is 70,000 strong.
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| What options are available to volunteer to help a neighborhood that was affected by Hurricane Katrina? |
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From convention visitors to leisure travelers, church groups to high school and college students, people have shown incredible generosity in giving of their time and talent, and a great deal of elbow grease, helping the city of New Orleans in its recovery and restoration. The office of Lt.Governor has formed an official organization that matches volunteer opportunities with volunteers, called Volunteer Louisiana. Visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov to get started.
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| Mardi Gras |
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| How is the Success of Mardi Gras measured? |
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| Before the age of recycling, the success of Mardi Gras in Orleans Parish was sometimes jokingly measured by the amount of trash collected by the New Orleans Sanitation Department. However, the success of Mardi Gras is truly measured by the estimated number of attendees to parades, which in 2009 was approximately one million. |
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| How Do I Get to be King? |
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| The method of selecting Mardi Gras royalty varies from krewe to krewe, but most choose a king among krewe members or celebrities. The King of Carnival is chosen by the inner circle of the School of Design, the sponsoring organization for the Rex parade. Some krewes hold random drawings to pick their king or queen. Most clubs charge the selected monarch a fee to reign. In several of the newer krewes, elaborate ceremonies called "coronation balls" are staged to crown their royalty. |
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| Is Mardi Gras Elitist? |
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| Not any more. While wealthy white males once controlled Carnival (and most of America), Mardi Gras is one of the nation's most diverse institutions and it offers a rich cultural experience to participants and spectators. |
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| What is the story of the umbrella? |
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| The Story of the Umbrella dates back to around 1830, when the black community sang slow spirituals behind a funeral. After the burial the umbrellas were brought out and twirled to lively music, signaling that the soul of the deceased was now in heaven and happiness prevailed. We now use umbrellas for all occasions, from weddings to sporting events. Source: Everything N'Awlins, 2003 |
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| Why Does the Date of Mardi Gras Change? |
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| Because it's connected to the moveable date of Easter, which can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25. Mardi Gras is scheduled 47 days preceding Easter and can occur on any Tuesday from February 3 through March 9. |
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| When Was the First Mardi Gras Parade Held in New Orleans? |
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| On February 24, 1857. The Mistick Krewe of Comus, Carnival's first secret society, coined the word "krewe" and was the first to choose a mythological namesake, to present a themed parade with floats, and to follow it with a tableaux ball. |
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| Is it True Mobile Celebrated Mardi Gras before New Orleans? |
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| Yes and no. New Orleans' first Carnival krewe was founded in 1857 by former members of Mobile's Cowbellian de Rakin Society, which was founded in 1830. However, Mobile's parades were held on New Year's Eve until 1866, when they switched to Fat Tuesday. |
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| Krewes Are Named after What? |
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| The colorful worlds of Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology are the sources of nearly half of the parading krewe names. Other clubs are named after the neighborhoods through which they travel, while some are named after historical figures or places. |
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| What Do the Carnival Colors Mean? |
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| Purple represents justice, green stands for faith and gold signifies power. Rex, the King of Carnival, selected them in 1872 for his first parade. While they were probably chosen simply because they looked good together, Rex assigned a meaning to each in his 1892 parade, entitled "Symbolism of Colors." |
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| What Are Masquerade Balls and Why Can't I Go? |
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| Most Carnival balls are private formal affairs (tuxedos and long gowns required) and are by invitation only. Bals Masque (masked balls) in New Orleans predate the first parade by more than a century. More than 125 private balls are presented each season in the city's Convention Center and in the grand ballrooms of major hotels. Mock royalty reigns over each ball, where a king, queen, maids and dukes are presented. In the older society krewes, the court is made up of debutantes. Some clubs stage "tableaux" (theatrical scenes) enacted by krewe members, and favors are given to special guests. Krewes such as Bacchus, Orpheus, Endymion and Zulu have replaced the traditional ball with extravaganzas presented at the Louisiana Superdome and at the Morial Convention Center. Tickets are sold to these events. |
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| What's the Theme for this Year? |
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| There is no general theme for Mardi Gras, but each individual parade depicts a specific subject. The floats then reflect the krewe's theme for that year. Maskers are costumed in a manner that illustrates the overall parade theme and the individual float title. Among the more popular subjects have been history, children's stories, legends, geography, famous people, entertainment, mythology and literature. |
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| Do I Have to Mask? |
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| No, but you should, at least on Fat Tuesday, the only day when street masking is legal (from dawn to dusk). Masking, which can be elaborate or makeshift, dates from Roman carnivals when assuming false identities was a common practice. By law, float riders must be masked at all times. |
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| Is Secrecy Still a Part of Carnival? |
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| Yes. While many Carnival clubs are fairly accessible (some even have websites), most maintain the tradition of secrecy that has been a part of Mardi Gras since its earliest days. A unique custom in the older organizations is that the king's name is never made public. An exception is Rex, whose name is revealed the day before his parade. And while many in the media know his identity days in advance, the embargo on publishing it has never been violated. |
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| What about Celebrities? |
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| The Krewe of Bacchus began the tradition of selecting celebrity kings with its first parade in 1969, when Danny Kaye reigned. Endymion and Orpheus also annually invite guest celebrities to ride in their parades. Some of the more popular stars to have appeared are Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, Wayne Newton, John Goodman, Jackie Gleason, Britney Spears, Kirk Douglas, Harry Connick Jr., Nicholas Cage and the Beach Boys. In most cases visiting stars are not paid to ride, although the krewes do cover their expenses. |
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| Has Mardi Gras Ever Been Canceled? |
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| Yes, but not often. Since 1857, only 13 Fat Tuesdays have been affected. Most cancellations were caused by wars: Civil, WWI, WWII and Korean. |
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| Is Mardi Gras Really X-rated? |
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| While Bourbon Street has an established reputation for wild antics, Mardi Gras is generally a safe, G-rated event enjoyed by families. The festivities provide an opportunity for adults to act like kids again. |
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| What Makes Mardi Gras Parades Different? |
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| Throws! Baubles tossed from floats turn New Orleans parades into crowd participation events. It is not uncommon for a float rider to spend $500 or more on beads, cups and doubloons, which are freely thrown to parade viewers. |
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| Is Mardi Gras Staged for Visitors? |
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| While the "greatest free show on earth" draws nearly one million visitors, Mardi Gras is a party the city throws for itself. It has developed into a world-class tourist attraction, yet the City of New Orleans doesn't spend a cent promoting it. |
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| What Companies Sponsor Mardi Gras? |
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| They don't. Mardi Gras is the only entertainment venue in the world where the stars foot the bill and the audience gets a free ride. By tradition and by law, Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans may not be corporately sponsored. Carnival clubs are chartered as nonprofit organizations. They are financed by dues, by the sale of krewe-emblemed merchandise to the members and by fundraising projects such as bingos. |
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| Why Can't I Buy an Official Mardi Gras Poster? |
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| There is no such thing. Unlike the Olympics or the SuperBowl, there is no governing authority to license products. Mardi Gras is like Christmas and Halloween -- it belongs to everyone. Beware of any item that bears the title "official." The claim (and the product?) are bogus. Free enterprise reigns supreme over Mardi Gras, making it a virtual paradise for entrepreneurs who compete for counter space and the attention of the public. |
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| Who Coordinates Mardi Gras? |
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| No one. While city governments issue parade permits, there is no overall authority that coordinates the five dozen parades held in the metro area during the 12 days that precede Fat Tuesday. Each parading organization is completely autonomous. |
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| Is Mardi Gras Really Connected to Religion? |
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| Yes. The Catholic Church licensed Carnival, which means "farewell to flesh," as a period of feasting before the fasting of Lent. The Church also established the set date for the start of the Carnival season -- January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany -- and the fluctuating date of Mardi Gras. |
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