Meeting News - July 21, 2008 - (Page 52)

new & renovated showcase New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau New Orleans, Louisiana courtyards surround a landscaped pool and secluded patios at the AAA Four Diamond property •The boutique Hotel Provincial has 93 guest rooms and suites, spacious courtyards, and a pair of swimming pools. Located just two blocks from Jackson Square •In city’s Arts District, the 137room Hotel Le Cirque is a hot and hip property •The Queen Anne, a Victorian mansion in the Garden District, combines a sense of history with modern amenities •The Ritz-Carlton, in the French Quarter, captures the grandeur of the city MEETINGS BLUEPRINT •New Orleans Morial Convention Center spans nearly 11 full city blocks and offers 12 separate (but combinable) exhibit halls under one roof. A 4,000-plus seat auditorium can be divided into three sections and there is a pair of ballrooms—the 30,487-square-foot La Louisiane and the 36,448square-foot La Nouvelle •The Louisiana Superdome has more than 166,000 square feet of column-free main floor space and can seat more than 70,000 AREA ATTRACTIONS •Fine dining establishments includes Galatoire’s, Emeril’s, Arnaud’s, Lilette, and K-Paul’s Audubon Zoo, Insectarium, and the Acquarium of the Americas •Dozens of jazz clubs, piano bars, pubs and—for the brave—voodoo museums •Outdoor pursuits include moss-draped parks and a number of golf courses. Visitors can also zip past lounging alligators on an airboat ride •Audubon Zoo, Insectarium and the Aquarium of the Americas •Harrah’s New Orleans Casino boasts more than 2,000 slot machines, more than 90 table games, and the largest poker room in the South •Treasure Chest Casino, a riverboat gaming venue ON THE MAP New Orleans can be accessed via the Louis Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, La., located about 15 miles west of downtown. CONTACT Nikki Nicholson New Orleans CVB (504) 566-5034 Fax: (504) 566-5067 Email: nnicholson@neworleanscvb.com www.neworleanscvb.com The bold city, armed with a $60 million convention center upgrade, is the spice of delegate life RENOVATED The Big Day: New Orleans Morial Convention Center upgraded in 2006 The Bottom Line: $60 million WHAT’S NEW The 3.1-million-square-foot New Orleans Morial Convention Center remains the crown jewel of the city’s meeting hubs. The facility, which underwent an extensive $60 million renovation just two years ago, plays host to some of the city’s biggest conferences. And the Louisiana Superdome is the home of more than just the New Orleans Saints these days. Business travelers can settle into newly renovated club lounges for small, informal meetings. The rooms feature rich wood ceilings, plush carpet, tasteful murals, and in-house chefs. The new lounges also are equipped with a wide array of lighting modes and state-of-theart audiovisual equipment that can bring a presentation to life. Also new this year, the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans was recently named one of the nation’s top business hotels by Fortune and Wallpaper magazines. THE FLOOR PLAN •Located in the historic French Quarter, the Royal Sonesta boasts an elegant marble lobby and guest rooms (including 25 lush suites). Charming SPOTLIGHT New Orleans’ newest museum, the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, is a showplace for exhibits on the city’s diverse Cajun and Creole recipes, including andouille sausage and beignets. Unveiled in June, the 15,000-squarefoot facility is located on the second floor of the Riverwalk Marketplace in downtown New Orleans. On the menu for future expansion is the Museum of the American Cocktail, which will feature detailed histories of Southern drinks such as the sazerac and the mint julep. 52 July 21, 2008 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION http://www.neworleanscvb.com

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Meeting News - July 21, 2008

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