New Orleans Highly Ranked by Two Expert Travel Resources

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

New Orleans Highly Ranked by Two Expert Travel Resources
Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor rank New Orleans highly on best destination and least expensive travel lists

NEW ORLEANS –August 1, 2011–TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure both recognized New Orleans as a premier travel destination in two lists released in July 2011.

TripAdvisor analyzed prices of key vacation items- one night accommodations (four star hotel), item of food (pizza), an alcoholic drink (dry martini) and a taxi journey- in 15 cities and tracked prices against the U.S. dollar with their new TripIndex tool. New Orleans ranked the third most inexpensive city in the nation- with the price of a martini $3 less than any competitor, showcasing the city as a top nightlife destination as well.

Travel + Leisure readers ranked New Orleans the sixth best North American city for travel, one spot above last year’s number seven ranking. They also honored the Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans as the number one Hotel Spa in the Continental United States and Canada, along with ranking the Windsor Court, Roosevelt New Orleans and Loews New Orleans Hotel in the top 50 North American hotels, placing them sixth, 13^th and 49^th respectively.

Travel + Leisure readers voted on their favorite hotels, cities, islands, spas, cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and safari outfitters, and car-rental agencies. The 2011 World’s Best Awards reader’s survey results (listed by overall and regional rankings) and survey methodology are featured in the August issue of Travel+ Leisure magazine, on newsstand July 22 and online now at www.TravelandLeisure.com/worldsbest.

“TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure readers are well versed in the travel industry, so it is a huge honor for New Orleans to be consistently recognized by them as a top travel destination,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Tourism is a $5 billion, image and perception-driven business, so we look to both awards to solidify our city’s status as a premier travel destination in the country as well as internationally.”

These key distinctions add to a list of awards New Orleans has been racking up including honors from AAA South Magazine, where New Orleans was recognized as Best Large City for a Weekend, Best Guy’s Getaway and Best Girls Getaway. Travel + Leisure also recognized New Orleans in 2010 as the top Singles City, and Best Urban Destination for New Years Eve. In addition, Priceline.com ranked New Orleans second on their list of the top 50 destination for the Fourth of July 2011.

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.

With an eye for the authentic, the innovative, and the irresistible, Travel + Leisure® (www.travelandleisure.com, @travelandleisure) fuses expert reporting on culture, food, style and design with stunning photography, transporting readers to the places- and the travel experiences- that matter now. T+L, the monthly title from American Express Publishing and the long-standing authority in its field, has the largest audience of any travel magazine and is an indispensable guide for global nomads. Travel + Leisure has a network of international editions, including Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travel + Leisure Turkey, Travel + Leisure China, Travel + Leisure South Asia, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and Instant Personalization) with seamless links to booking tools.

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