New Orleans CVB Names Jeff Anding Director of External Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Jenn Lotz or Kelly Schulz
504-566-5019
jlotz@neworleanscvb.com/kschulz@neworleanscvb.com

New Orleans CVB Names Jeff Anding Director of External Affairs
Anding and team will foster relations between CVB and local hospitality industry and enhance ROI for membership

NEW ORLEANS - Sept. 19, 2012 - The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has established an External Affairs department to work for the benefit of local tourism and cultural economy stakeholders. Jeff Anding, CMP, a 21-year veteran of the New Orleans hospitality industry, will head the department, which will include membership customer service, industry relations, research and government affairs.

Anding joined the New Orleans CVB in 1995, serving in senior positions specializing in convention sales and marketing, research and analytics.

As Director of External Affairs, Anding will enhance the education, networking and business development opportunities the CVB offers to its 1,100 members. Other priorities include the recruitment of new members, fostering partnerships with government-based organizations, and community outreach. Joining him are Membership Managers Pamela Arbon and Jessica LaChute, Membership Coordinator Mimi Gaudet and Industry Relations/Governmental Affairs Coordinator Savanna Engen.

"My role is to create more value for our members, so they can better sell their goods and services," said Anding. "I'm looking forward to this opportunity to support the home team. This is all of the folks that live in New Orleans, go to the local grocery and send their kids to school right here. I take very seriously and to heart the 74,000 people that work in this industry. I'll always be passionate about making sure that we do the best job for them."

Anding plans to better tailor CVB programs to the needs of individual members. By helping make New Orleans hospitality industry businesses more successful, the CVB External Affairs Department will foster economic development for the city. Tourism is a $5 billion industry for New Orleans, employing 74,000 people and attracting more than eight million visitors annually.

The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is a nationally accredited, 1,100-member destination marketing organization and the largest and most successful private economic development corporation in Louisiana. 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, Phoenix and four foreign countries. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB celebrated its 52nd anniversary in 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.neworleanscvb.com/.

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