Parades through the city’s French Quarter are a common sight. Courtesy of Indira Fuller-Bey

Known as the “Big Easy” or the “Crescent City,” New Orleans is celebrated for its vibrant culture, rich history and warm hospitality. The town’s unique character makes every corporate and incentive gathering unforgettable while it also inspires progress and connection in all who visit.

According to Stephanie Turner, senior vice president of convention sales and strategies at New Orleans & Company, a 2024 study by 2Synergize LLC, Destinations International and Simpleview analyzed the largest conventions of at least 2,700 hotel rooms on a peak night. It found that 88% of the top 250 conventions in the country will meet in only 20 cities — and New Orleans tops the list at number three.

“New Orleans’ high ranking reinforces that customers appreciate the city’s walkability, compact geographic footprint, world-class venues, unmatched culture and hospitality expertise,” Turner says. “Meetings in New Orleans are unforgettable experiences enriched by the city’s vibrant culture and renowned hospitality. [It] offers an inspiring backdrop for meetings that are as unique as they are productive.”

All You Need, All in One Place

Corporate meeting planners recognize that New Orleans is loaded with resources and attractions that make it a solid destination for corporation meetings and events.

“The meeting and events infrastructure includes the city’s walkability,” Turner says. “New Orleans [was] ranked as the fifth-most walkable city in the U.S by USA Today. [That] makes it easy for attendees to explore without transportation barriers.”

The city boasts ample accommodations — with 26,000 hotel rooms located downtown — to meet a range of preferences and price points. It also features a plethora of dining and entertainment options, including more than 1,000 restaurants and world-class entertainment venues that offer a unique array of culinary and cultural experiences.

“New Orleans also features over 4 million sf of meeting and event space, including the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Caesars Superdome, Smoothie King Center and many others to provide versatile venues for gatherings of all sizes,” Turner says.

Another compelling reason for a corporate planner to consider New Orleans is that the city relies on creativity and inspiration, which is evident in its food, music and especially the overarching cultural vibe a visitor experiences there.

“There is no such thing as a ‘blank canvas’ in New Orleans — the city’s colorful existence serves as a tapestry to set the stage for an organization’s delivery of new missions, objectives, branding or motivation,” says Robert Reso, director of sales and marketing for the Loews New Orleans. “Any organization struggling with identity or purpose — or one looking to inject a renewed vigor — need look no further than the spirit embodied by all of the residents of New Orleans. It overflows into the streets and is boastfully shared with all who seek to open their minds to the charms of the past and the possibilities of the future.”

Commitment to Success

Lindsay Dodson, an executive assistant at the Triton Stone Group (in Harahan, LA?), recently hosted her company’s annual Triton Rock Fest event at the Loews New Orleans. The three-day extravaganza — attended by Triton Stone team members, customers, suppliers and partners from around the world — features exciting activities held across the city, including live music and a crawfish boil.

“Triton Rock Fest is always an amazing experience year after year that showcases the spirit of Triton Stone and its commitment to excellence,” Dodson says. So why New Orleans? Dodson adds that Triton Stone was created to support rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina by offering locals a trustworthy vendor with deep business roots in the community. And today the organization continues to showcase the hospitality, economic opportunities and cultural abundance for which New Orleans is so well known.

“We chose Loews New Orleans for their commitment to partnership throughout the event, from planning to execution,” Dodson says. “We are truly appreciative of the Loews team for their high-quality service, willingness to accommodate creative ideas and troubleshooting issues before problems arise. You can’t visit New Orleans just once. Every event, every season, every scene is different from day to day. As a city, New Orleans is more than happy to throw open the door for everyone to come have a great time.”

Gabrielle Glass, an experienced destination expert and senior sales manager with Access DMC, says that New Orleans is simply designed to host.

“We are a city built on hospitality so much so that it is the heartbeat of our local community. We have world-class venues, hospitality, walkability and welcoming people,” Glass says. “There is something about New Orleans that you just must experience to understand. [It’s] a city rich with culture, history and so much more at each and every turn.”

The Access DMC event planning team has orchestrated gatherings for anywhere from 50 people to thousands. According to Glass, two events in particular illustrate why New Orleans is ideal for corporate events. These include a post-COVID gathering for a group of financial executives and an event for over 8,000 nurses in the Big Easy on the heels of the Taylor Swift Eras Tour.

“The first of the two — a group of financial professionals that have experienced it all — paraded down the streets of New Orleans to a historic restaurant in the French Quarter. Mid-parade I had an attendee turn to me and scream: ‘This is the best thing ever!’” Glass says. “Following that parade, our client received feedback from many of the top execs that this was the best experience they had ever had. This client was astonished considering the lengths to which they have gone to ‘wow’ this group. They have been all over the world, including eating dinner on the Great Wall of China. There’s just something so special about New Orleans, you almost can’t even put the feeling into words.”

The second event was for a large group of nurses — with close to 10,000 attendees — in town for a convention that took over the entire city.

“We transformed the convention center for their welcome event into a true taste of New Orleans, with décor looks and activations mimicking the neighborhoods of [the city] — from the historic French Quarter to the art scene in the Bywater and so much more,” Glass says. “The group danced the night away and experienced all that our local culture has to offer under the roof of the convention center. That’s what it’s all about — giving our guests an authentically New Orleans experience.”

A Genuinely Authentic Experience

If you want true authenticity, look no further than the independent Hotel Monteleone. The establishment has a long history in the city, and when working with corporate meeting planners, the hotel’s primary focus is to integrate the unique New Orleans culture to enhance its visitors’ meeting experience. Planners often comment on and rebook events at Hotel Monteleone due to the venue’s service, first and foremost. When asked why they selected the hotel, clients’ top responses include: attention to detail, flexible function space, creative menu planning and branding opportunities.

As office manager and executive assistant to the executive leadership team at chemical manufacturer Nexpera, Amy Sparks plans the company’s business events.

“The first event I planned at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans was our 2023 Fuming Acid Symposium,” Sparks says. “In this event, we have a number of staff, vendors and attendees. We had a little over 100 people in all. We were there for a week in early-mid October 2023.”

“First, the hotel itself is absolutely beautiful. There is so much history behind it, and the hotel is famous [as] the location of many movies and TV shows. That’s just from the outside. Then when you get to the event and go through each meal, day of meeting, etc., you get to experience the waitstaff and all of the members of the staff that assist you on a daily basis,” Sparks adds. “When I tell you that they are all professional and provide exceptional service, I truly mean it. We now use Hotel Monteleone as our go-to … for overnight stays and the location for our events in New Orleans. We have a plant site approximately an hour away and often have meetings in the area.”

For Indira Fuller-Bey, CMP, senior meeting manager for American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, New Orleans’ appeal is its unique combination of rich culture, vibrant atmosphere and top-notch hospitality. She recently organized a summit for her group at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, featuring 40 exhibitors and about 2,500 attendees.

“Prior to having our event at the property, our biggest draw was the amount of meeting space [it] had and the location,” Fuller-Bey says. “The city truly offers something for everyone. Choosing the right venue will make a world of difference for your attendees. Make sure you select a venue that understands and values [them].” She also advises corporate event planners to find ways to inject local flavor into a gathering.

“Whether it’s enhancing the event by including local cuisine, or including cultural elements like a second line, providing attendees with an authentic experience is something they will remember,” Fuller-Bey says.

New Growth in New Orleans

New Orleans’ new River District is a transformative, 39-acre development in the works adjacent to the convention center — an addition that promises to further elevate the city’s appeal with plans to add dining, retail, entertainment, housing and green spaces. The area is expected to become a hub of activity and a national model for diversity and equity in public-private partnerships.

“This combination of top-tier infrastructure, innovative industries and cultural vibrancy makes New Orleans a premier destination for events, meetings and growth opportunities,” Turner says.

In addition, the LEED Gold-certified New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is in the midst of a $557 million renovation. It’s the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 operations and maintenance. It’s also the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M.

Not two miles away, the Caesars Superdome has completed its own $560 million renovation just before it turned 50 and hosted Super Bowl LIX. And one of the region’s most popular venues for corporation meetings and events, the Caesars New Orleans Hotel and Casino, has also undergone a $435 million renovation. The new hotel tower has 340 rooms/suites and a new hotel lobby bar, as well as added dining options and a refreshed food hall. Beyond that, the hotel’s 151,400-sf casino offers ample space for corporate event attendees to enjoy the gaming environment. Also within the revamped Caesars resort is the newly created Nobu Hotel, which features 54 luxury rooms over two floors with a separate check-in area.

Partners in Progress

Aligned to the needs of corporate event planners and attendees, the New Orleans & Company convention sales department stands out by connecting planners with city resources that can best help an organization achieve its meeting goals.

“Our convention sales and services teams bring deep knowledge and experience to every step of the planning process. From sourcing hotels and venues to identifying the right business services and creating unique experiences,” Turner says. “The group marketing and attendance-building team offers tailored tools and strategies to support meeting success. From customized marketing tools and online communications to public relations initiatives, we work to boost attendance for meetings, events and conventions in New Orleans.”

“The team at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and New Orleans and Company was incredibly helpful and professional during our event,” says Brandon Sparling, CEM, CMP, manager of events and meetings at True Value Company. “The team was thoughtful, responsive and quick to act as needed. The city is always so welcoming, it’s easy to have a great event in New Orleans.” C&IT