From Mardi Gras to the New Orleans Jazz Festival, there is always something happening in New Orleans, so plan accordingly. Courtesy of Visit Baton Rouge

There’s no question that New Orleans is one of the most popular meeting cities in America —with good reason. It has the expansive Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, every hotel brand a planner could want, and hotels of every size, including those with more than 1,000 rooms and more than 100,000 sf of meeting space. It’s a go-to for association conventions and city-wides, but also a destination with one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and enough highly regarded restaurants and independent venues to meet the needs of executive boards, VIP attendees and groups of all sizes.

Topping off this meetings bonanza is a calendar filled with festivals and events that draw attendees year after year. There’s Mardi Gras, of course, but groups should also consider meeting during the engaging New Orleans Jazz Festival, during which some properties may offer a hospitality tent onsite at the festival to add even greater value to the attendee experience.

All that said, New Orleans isn’t the only topnotch meeting destination in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital, also has plenty to draw associations, especially state and government associations that benefit from meeting in the state’s seat of government. And Shreveport-Bossier has its own vibe and hospitality style.

New Orleans

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a global nonprofit association that connects educators, students and businesses with a goal of creating the next generation of great leaders, met in New Orleans last spring. The group’s international conference and annual meeting brought in 1,250 attendees. Hyatt Regency New Orleans served as headquarter hotel.

Reagan J. Alexander, CMP, director of learning and development for AACSB, says planning involved pivoting at several points along the way. “Our first event to go back to in-person was held in October 2021, and we had chosen to produce a hybrid conference. The events were overall very successful, but after further internal review, we decided to execute our events either virtually or in-person and tabled hybrid events for the time being. As for most associations, the financial implications of a hybrid event can make or break your financial success.”

She says New Orleans has always been an attractive location for AACSB’s global membership. “We consider New Orleans a destination that provides a variety of hotel options to accommodate our group size and needs. We’ve held events with 100 to 1,300 attendees. The airport is a short ride to the city center and any hotel location allows for walkable dining and entertainment options. Let’s not forget the phenomenal cuisine and variety New Orleans provides. Overall, the city can be defined as a center of hospitality. You never meet a stranger!”

Canal Streetcar in New Orleans. Photo courtesy of New Orleans & Company

New Orleans & Company, the city’s CVB, has also played a critical role in the group’s meeting success. “New Orleans & Company is by far my favorite CVB to work with,” Alexander says. “Their team is always willing to go above and beyond during site visits, planning stages and show time. We can always count on New Orleans & Company to respond quickly, provide viable resources and connect without prompt. Should you find yourself in New Orleans, you will not be disappointed!”

Although AACSB did not use the convention center, Alexander has toured it. “I’ve conducted a site tour and found the facility to have lots of options for meeting space and a great location with hotels and entertainment close by.”

She calls the Hyatt Regency New Orleans an ideal location for AACSB’s meeting last year. “The hotel provided ample meeting space for our group of 1,250. We found the meeting space easy to navigate and there are several areas for causal networking. The location of the hotel restaurant and bar, for example, was enjoyed by our attendees; its central location created many opportunities for social networking.”

However, she adds, “By far, it is the hospitality of the hotel team that created a welcoming atmosphere for our event staff and attendees. You are always welcomed with a smile and a ‘cheers!’”  In addition, Alexander says, “I have never heard so many compliments regarding hotel food. The chef stayed true to the city’s cuisine while accommodating our unique requests. Definitely order the grits.”

She has high praise for the hotel’s event managers, who helped to make her job easier. “Our event managers immediately obliged our requests and ensured we celebrated our successes. One of the event managers certainly went above and beyond accommodating our guest room requests and other asks. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. A meeting planner definitely appreciates this type of hospitality while executing a long week of events.” Alexander also notes that that event was her first at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans but says that her group will definitely return when the opportunity presents itself.

New Orleans is filled with music, culture and history. Go on a ghost tour and learn the stories behind the city’s historic buildings. Photo by Justen Williams / New Orleans & Company

The past couple of years have brought challenges, but also opportunities to learn. “If anything,” Alexander says, “the past few years have taught me that we must be agile and patient. Our industry is still rebuilding and both suppliers and planners need to keep one another in mind. We all have a bottom line and we all have constraints. Nonetheless, we are all in this together.”

Her advice: “Be forthcoming with your partners about budget, expectations and keys for success. During an event you’re a team and that allows everyone to win.”

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) held its 74th annual meeting in New Orleans also last spring. There were approximately 1,400 to 1,500 attendees at the event, which was based at the New Orleans Marriott.

New Orleans as a destination has much to offer associations like AACTE. Matthew Wales, CAE, CMP, the former vice president of member services and events with AACTE, says of his experience there, “It’s a great, central location. The new airport and increase in affordable airlift made it easier for attendees to reach the city. And the event package we were able to create with the New Orleans Marriott and the Sheraton New Orleans was ideal, given that we are heavy on breakout space needs but do not have a large trade-show component that requires lots of space. Finally, the association prides itself in its work to diversify our classrooms, and New Orleans is a city rich with a culture that welcomes all of our attendees.”

Wales says New Orleans & Company was an essential member of his planning team. “Whether it was securing hotel bids or creating contacts with offsite venues for our partner events, the CVB was a free and complimentary service that ultimately enhanced our experience,” he says.

All of the group’s needs were met within the New Orleans Marriott, with some overflow of meeting space and guest rooms across the street at the Sheraton New Orleans. Wales calls the New Orleans Marriott the ideal spot for an event the size of theirs. “Given the number of room nights needed, as well as meeting and breakout space, we were able to fit about 90% of our annual meeting sessions within the hotel.  The partnership and collaboration with the Sheraton New Orleans made it ideal for us to book their ‘French Quarter Connection’ package. That ensured we could keep all of our attendees close together, as networking and collaboration time is highly important to them. Additionally, this package saved us money as well, as we didn’t have to pay for any additional ground transportation costs.”

Wales says the quality and commitment of their service teams was “beyond impressive,” and across all departments. “From the front desk to banquets and every place in between, the employees demonstrated that they were not just ready to assist us, they were genuinely glad we were there. Our attendees commented in their feedback surveys that not only did they feel welcomed, they were treated like VIPs.  That personal touch is so important as it goes a long way toward the overall success of our event.”

The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center boasts more than 1 million sf in meeting space. Courtesy Photo

Although this wasn’t the very first time AACTE held its annual meeting in New Orleans, this was the first time it was held at the New Orleans Marriott. Given their successful outcome, he says the association plans on returning in the near future.

Staff willing to go above and beyond, as Marriott and Sheraton staff did, is often a critical factor in a meeting’s success, and it may matter now more than ever. To planners considering New Orleans, Wales says, “A tip I would offer planners is something most do already but it’s important to remember: Know what is most important to your attendees. As the labor shortage across the country continues, not all positions may be fully staffed and not all services may be available.  However, if you know something is truly a priority for your attendees and you communicate that to your partners in advance, they will go out of their way to make it happen for you.”

Baton Rouge

Cindy Hayes, CMP, DMCP, CHI, general manager of PRA New Orleans, a destination management company, works with many association groups. She says there’s a lot in Louisiana beyond New Orleans that fits the needs of association meetings. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is also a plus. “Smaller cities located just one to three hours away from the airport, such as Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Lake Charles, offer less expensive hotel lodging and work well for associations that don’t have the budget for major destinations like New Orleans.”

Baton Rouge, she points out, is just an hour from the New Orleans airport, an airport that offers many available flights in and out. “Baton Rouge is a hub for state associations and is always on the city rotation for those associations,” she adds. “It’s the capital of Louisiana.”

Typically, she says, association groups don’t go into New Orleans when they meet in Baton Rouge, even though it’s not far. “They tend to lean toward staying in the Baton Rouge area,” discovering what that city has to offer.

One thing that meeting planners considering Baton Rouge should pay attention to, especially if they’re booking in a shorter timeframe, is the schedule of LSU home games and whether any big-name performers are in town. “Lodging in Baton Rouge is less expensive than in New Orleans, Hayes says, “except when there’s an LSU home game or major concert, during which hotels book up.”

Baton Rouge, Hayes notes, “is a great 3rd-tier destination for mid- to small-size associations. It offers a great variety of restaurants and museums, and while it’s very much a college town, it’s also the center for the state’s government.  As for attractions that might interest groups, Hayes points out that the riverfront area was redeveloped in downtown Baton Rouge. “It offers several attractions such as the USS Kidd Veterans Museum, Riverfront Plaza and Louisiana Art & Science Museum. There are also historic sites, parks and additional attractions along the riverfront.”

Shreveport-Bossier

On the other side of the state, northwest Louisiana is heavily influenced by Texas. While Shreveport-Bossier is 314 miles from New Orleans, it’s just 188 miles from Dallas. Calling it “Louisiana’s Other Side,” the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau describes Shreveport-Bossier as “a mixture of spicy Cajun and the wide-open Texas spirit.” Among its offerings for meetings are a convention center with 350,000 sf, a variety of off-site venues and more than 10,500 hotel rooms. It is, the tourism bureau says, a place with “big-city amenities at small-city prices.”

That’s appealing for associations on strict budgets. The area’s multiple casinos are a draw for some groups, but so too are its gardens, wildlife refuges, lakes, scenic byways and more. Plus, groups of 10 or more can immerse themselves in local experiences, “from roses and wine to music and science,” according to the CVB website.

The fact is, Louisiana is more than New Orleans, which allows it to appeal to a diverse group of associations with diverse needs and budgets. But there’s also no question that New Orleans, a city with a celebrated culture, world-famous cuisine served up by world-famous chefs, and festivals and events, places high on attendees’ bucket lists. Its meeting venues, hotels and attractions have the collective capability to offer anything a group needs — and then some. Whatever your conference and event needs, Louisiana awaits. | AC&F |