Successful Meetings - October 2008 - (Page 122) Meeting Sites Essential Tool Box Convention Center/Facilities: Morial Convention Center, 1.1 million sf of dedicated exhibit space, 140 meeting rooms, two ballrooms, and 4,032-seat auditorium. Daily Business Travel Costs*: Hotel $141.64 F&B $98.47 Car Rental $86.62 For More Information: New Orleans CVB www.neworleanscvb.com New Orleans WELCOME BACK: If tourism is an indicator of a city’s state of health (or, in this case, its survival), New Orleans is well into its recovery period. Although parts of New Orleans and surrounding areas still remain renovation zones after the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, other areas are thriving and 33,500 of 38,000 rooms are available. In 2007, annual visitor numbers increased from 3.7 million to 7.1 million— pre-Katrina the figure was 8.5 million. By Amy Cates NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN CVB INC. For complete listings visit Facility Quick Search at www.successfulmeetings.com *Business Travel News 2008 Corporate Travel Index The Big News Hurricane Gustav barreled into New Orleans on Labor Day weekend, three years and three days after Hurricane Katrina caused more than 1,800 deaths and billions of dollars in damage to the city. Thanks to a massive evacuation effort and other enhancements to the city’s hurricane preparedness plans, reported property damage from Gustav was comparatively light and the levees were not overrun. Planners still interested in tacking on a pre- or post-convention volunteer activity should contact the office of Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu to identify volunteer opportunities throughout the area. ing as a Westin after a $22 million renovation that was completed in early 2008. The 1,616-room Hilton New Orleans CVB New Orleans Riverside conFACILITIES UPDATE The Hilton Hotels Corporatinues to undergo renovaHotel Monteleone tion will redevelop the fortions, which are expected For more listings, visit mer 700-room Fairmont New to be completed by the end Facility Quick Search at Orleans, once known as of the year. www.successfulmeetings.com “The Roosevelt,” as part of The 1,300-room Marriott the Waldorf=Astoria Collection. The proper- New Orleans Hotel completed a $38 milty is scheduled to open in spring 2009. lion renovation in late 2007. Our subscribers gave a Pinnacle Award to the following: READERS RECOMMEND The 438-room Wyndham Canal Place is now operat- The Big Easy Courts Big Meetings If one facility serves as New Orleans’ ambassador to the meetings market, it’s the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. One of the most visible, and tragic, venues associated with Hurricane Katrina, the center fully reopened two years ago, after $60 million in renovations, including new flooring and furnishings and an overhaul of its technological infrastructure. Wi-Fi is now available throughout the facility, and meeting planners have access to an 800 Mhz twoway radio system, videoconferencing, wireless telephone rentals, satellite upLoews New Orleans’ links and downlinks, Piazza d'Italia video streaming, and webcasting capabilities. The convention center—renamed from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for promotional and marketing purposes back in March—is situated in the Warehouse/Arts district and is within easy walking distance of the French Quarter, entertainment, dining, and more than 30,000 hotel rooms. Within blocks of the convention center are the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Embassy Suites, Wyndham Riverfront, Loews New Orleans, Harrah’s New Orleans, and many others. The convention center created $719.4 million in statewide economic impact in 2007. Projected event attendance is expected to increase 17 percent from 2007 to 2008. —AC OCTOBER 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS 122 http://www.neworleanscvb.com http://www.successfulmeetings.com http://www.successfulmeetings.com
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