Meeting News - August 11, 2008 - (Page 24)

CVBs New Orleans Heads Up Mexico Mission Amid Merger Report & Funding Setback The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau in late July held two customer events and roughly 20 sales calls with Mexican tour operators, incentive houses, and other suppliers to drum up business from one of its bread-andbutter international markets. The five-day trek through Monterrey and Mexico City was the second consecutive annual Mexico sales mission undertaken by the NOCVB. New Orleans counts Mexico as one of its largest markets, and officials hope to regain pre-Katrina visitor levels. New Orleans tourism rebounded to 7.1 million total visitors last year, which was a 92-percent jump over visitation to the Katrina-wracked city in 2006. But that was still 3 million less than its 2004 total, and challenges remain ahead. A report by the Times-Picayune said the NOCVB is seeking to incorporate the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. and the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network (as well as unify the marketing efforts of the Louisiana Superdome and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center). The paper cited an NOCVB document suggesting a “fragmented New Orleans tourism industry” and wishing to “eliminate interorganizational conflict.” It reportedly sent the two organizations a three-page proposal outlining a unified organization that would streamline operations, and it was looking to gauge interest. The NOCVB also wants to rename itself New Orleans & Company. The Tourism Marketing Corp. is a leisure-sector marketing arm, while the Multicultural Tourism Network’s main role is to attract By William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com African-American visitors. But they and the NOCVB often duplicated efforts (e.g., guide books and websites). Also, as reported by New Orleans City Business, the state legislature last month denied the NOCVB’s request for a $10-million one-time fund that would have significantly boosted its marketing budget, said to be less than $3 million. The legislature did give the NOCVB $3.5 million to help it meet operational shortfalls induced by a $2.5-million drop in hotel tax revenue last year. The $10 million would have been used towards more planner and media site inspections, NOCVB communications director Beth Romig was quoted as saying. Please your LEFT and RIGHT brain. think RALEIGH. 24 MeetingNews August 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.visitraleigh.com http://www.visitraleigh.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - August 11, 2008

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