New Orleans Rated as a Top City in the United States in 2012 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Jenn Lotz/ Sarah Forman
New Orleans CVB   
504-566-5019
jlotz@neworleanscvb.com/sforman@neworleanscvb.com

Lea Sinclair
NOTMC
504-491-5330
lea@notmc.com

New Orleans Rated as a Top City in the United States in 2012 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards

Several New Orleans hotels also recognized in Best Hotel and Top 40 Hotels in the South categories

NEW ORLEANS-October 18, 2012- Condé Nast Traveler announced this week that New Orleans placed in the Top 10 Cities in the United States in their 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. More than 46,000 readers, mostly made up of frequent travelers and travel trend-setters, voted in this year's poll.

Condé Nast Traveler readers also voted New Orleans hotels in their Best Hotel and Top 40 Hotels in the South category, such as the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, The Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Soniat House Hotel, Windsor Court Hotel and Hotel Monteleone.

"This ranking is further proof that New Orleans is a top tier destination city. Our unique culture, cuisine, music and architecture play an important role in the overall economic health of our city and region," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. "This position is also a testament to the warm hospitality shown by our residents and the more than 78,000 New Orleanians employed in the tourism industry."

Condé Nast Traveler readers were asked to rate candidate cities, and the cities with the highest scores top the list. Rankings are based on the following categories: Ambiance, friendliness, lodging, restaurants, culture/sites and shopping.

"We are exceedingly happy to receive this nod of approval from Condé Nast Traveler readers," said Mark Romig, President and CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. "This important travel publication award shows once again that travelers love New Orleans for her food, music, fun and authentic appeal."

"Condé Nast Traveler readers are well versed in the travel world and for them to place New Orleans among other thriving cities in the United States is further proving us to be a premier destination," said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau.

This marks the 15^th national honor New Orleans has received thus far in 2012, including being named a "Top City in the U.S. and Canada" by Travel + Leisure, "One of the Top 20 Places Every American Should See" by The Palm Beach Post, the "Best Large City for a Weekend Getaway" by AAA Southern Traveler, and ranked in TripAdvisor's "Top 25 Travelers' Choice World Destinations" and in "Top 25 Travelers' Choice U.S. Destinations" among many others. For a complete list of New Orleans' awards and honors, visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

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 is celebrating its 52nd anniversary in 2012. For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.

The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation promotes the city as a leisure tourism destination throughout the year.  Annually, NOTMC's marketing campaigns include strategic print, broadcast, and Internet advertising and public relations. Web sites: NewOrleansOnline.com; NewOrleansMuseums.com; RadioFreeNeworleans.com; GoNola.com. Social media: Facebook.com/NewOrleansOnline;  Twitter.com/visitneworleans. 

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