New Orleans CVB Launches Travel Agent Certification Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Jennifer Day/Jenn Lotz
New Orleans CVB
504-566-5019
jday@neworleanscvb.com
jlotz@neworleanscvb.com

New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Launches Travel Agent Certification Program
Nearly 10,000 travel agents assisted in 2010; new website NewOrleans4Agents.com created to exceed previous achievements

NEW ORLEANS (March 16, 2011) — The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau unveiled NewOrleans4Agents.com, a new website specifically dedicated to communicating directly with travel agents. The new site aims to empower travel agents with information regarding New Orleans’ unique culture and accredits agents through a new Travel Agent Certification Program.

In addition to concentrating on individual volume accounts and leisure group business 12 to 18 months in advance, the New Orleans CVB’s Tourism Sales department also works through third-party travel professionals to bring domestic and international leisure business to New Orleans. The new site, which launched on Monday, March 14, 2011, is designed to help third-party travel agents deliver the best New Orleans experience to their clients and contains information ranging from educational courses to destination guides, itineraries and event calendars.

“New Orleans is a city that is in high demand, playing host to some of the largest special events in the world, such as Mardi Gras and major festivals,” said Kim Priez, vice president of tourism for the New Orleans CVB. “But we are also a city that is home to culturally authentic experiences that are sometimes unknown beyond our local community. Industry trends show that travel agents are still a fundamental part of decision-making because potential visitors are presented with a wealth of information regarding a destination. We wanted to design a website exclusively for travel agents to help expose them to the depth of our brand and provide them with the tools and information needed to create a unique visitor experience for their clientele.”

NewOrleans4Agents.com is an educational platform as well as an immersive communications tool that the New Orleans CVB will continuously update with the latest news, relevant tools, special offers and opportunities for travel agents. Users can access this information via interactive itinerary maps, videos about the city's vacation and entertainment offerings and articles that will provide a deeper understanding of New Orleans' unique history, culture, culinary traditions and more.

The educational platform offers agents the opportunity to become specialists in several aspects of the New Orleans travel market. In-depth study guides and quizzes ensure content mastery that will help agents become valued vacation advisors for their clients.

“What you see now is only the beginning,” said Priez. “NewOrleans4Agents will take our relationship with travel professionals to the next level.”

About New Orleans CVB
The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is a nationally accredited, 1,000-member destination marketing organization and the largest and most successful private economic development corporation in Louisiana. We create $5 billion in new capital each year- more than any other business sector- by attracting millions of visitors, special events and conventions. The CVB and its members influence thousands of decision-makers and millions of visitors to choose New Orleans through direct sales, marketing, public relations, branding and visitor services at our New Orleans headquarters and offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and four foreign countries. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

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