Optimistic and exciting is the only way to describe the feeling in New Orleans nowadays, according to J. Stephen Perry, president and CEO of the New Orleans Metropolitan CVB.
“I can’t tell you what a dramatic change that is from three years ago,” he says.
That was when Hurricane Katrina tore into Louisiana, leaving New Orleans under water and the world wondering if this was the end of America’s most culturally rich city.
While the amazing recovery of the historic center stands in stark contrast to the still badly beaten outlying areas, Perry is thrilled to report that as far as the convention and tourism industry is concerned—the backbone of the city’s economy—“New Orleans is gloriously back.”
Visitors to New Orleans increased from 3.7 million in 2006 to 7.1 million in 2007. Though still shy of the pre-Katrina 9 million mark, the city reported strong numbers for the first quarter of 2008, spurred on by a string of high-profile events—the NBA All-Star Game, the Sugar Bowl, the BCS National Championship, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest.
“Millions of visitors and viewers around the country and the world saw New Orleans and how good it looks and finally they were not talking about the storm,” Perry says.
Since losing over $3 billion in bookings after the storm, meetings and conventions business has dramatically increased and diversified. The city used to be known for citywide conventions, but, Perry says, “since Katrina, we’ve been able to expand our customer base and now we also have a large number of medium and small meetings.”
Attendee satisfaction has also risen.
“They notice the great effort and appreciation from our citizens,” Perry says.
The CVB is contributing with a client relations vice president who spent 18 years as a top meeting planner and an additional public relations director solely dedicated to visiting groups. DMCs, tour operators, hoteliers and restaurateurs are also playing their part.
“Following the storm, the private sector really rallied together with an incredible commitment to rebuild and promote New Orleans,” Perry says. “Tourism organizations and businesses are working together better than ever, and levels of customer service are higher than ever.”
Since Katrina, over $400 million has been invested in hotel renovations. As of April, 209 metropolitan area accommodations were open, with 33,500 rooms available, 20,000 within walking distance of the Morial Convention Center.
A $60 million renovation has left the 1.1 million-square-foot Morial Convention Center, “truly better than the day it opened,” Perry says.
Other large venues sporting major facelifts include the Superdome, the New Orleans Arena and the Ponchartrain Center in nearby Kenner.
Meanwhile, transportation into and around the city continues to improve. Louis Armstrong International Airport is up to 138 daily flights, still down from pre-Katrina figures of 167 flights. Public transportation is still sluggish, although history has been revived with the recent reopening of the St. Charles Streetcar’s Carrolton leg. The Mississippi River line and the Canal Street line are also up and running.
