It is often said that New Orleans is its own unique place. This diverse environment keeps New Orleans at the top of many lists. The following are some of the reasons why New Orleans is America’s Favorite City.

• Two international travel industry entities named New Orleans as a top destination for travelers in 2007. Orbitz described New Orleans as an “in” location for experience-seeking vacationers, while Travel + Leisure included the city in its “Where to Go Next” feature.
• NOMCVB has been named as one of the top 5 convention and visitors bureaus by Meetings & Conventions magazine, receiving the publication's 2006 Gold Service "Elite" award.
• In August 2006, Stephen Perry, NOMCVB President & CEO, was honored by MeetingNews Magazine as one of the “25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry.”
• In August 2006, AAA named New Orleans one of America’s top-ten most walkable cities.
• In August 2006, Orbitz.com’s “Insider Staff Picks” predicted New Orleans would continue to be a tourism hotspot and would, in the next five years, surge to the top of an international list that includes Shanghai, Reykjavik and Cape Town.
• In May 2006, The James Beard Foundation celebrated the culinary legacy of New Orleans and honored 24 New Orleans chefs at the 16th Annual James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation's most prestigious recognition program for outstanding achievement within the fine food and beverage industry. New Orleans chef John Besh of Restaurant August and Besh Steakhouse was named Best Chef – Southeast.
• In its April 2006 issue, Southern Living magazine included New Orleans and Louisiana in its list of the 40 Best Southern Experiences, featuring both in an article titled "40 Things Every Southerner Ought To Do.”
• In January 2006, The New York Times declared New Orleans “Comeback of the Year,” stating that, “For travelers moved by New Orleans's infectious spirit… now is a perfect time to see the city in transition.”
• In March 2005, Yahoo! Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine named New Orleans the top family vacation destination in the United States.
• In January 2005, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure chose The Windsor Court Hotel, Le Pavillon Hotel, Ritz- Carlton and Maison de Ville as one of the best places to stay in North America.

• In December 2004, the NOMCVB was awarded by the reader's of ConventionSouth with a Best of the Best Award.
• New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau received a 2004 Planners’ Choice Award from Meeting News.
• In Travel and Leisure ’s 2002 “World’s Best” readers’ poll, New Orleans was named in the “Top 10 Best Cities” to visit in the U.S. and Canada.
• lNOMCVB has been named as one of the top 5 convention and visitors bureaus by Meetings & Conventions magazine, receiving the publication's 2004 Gold Service "Elite" award.
• lNOMCVB received Conference Direct’s 2004 “Impact” Award, which recognizes the organization as one of the best in the nation for superior customer service and professionalism.
• lNOMCVB was voted the winner of Corporate & Incentive Travel’s 2004 Award of Excellence for superior meetings and incentive travel service.
• In January 2004, the American Bus Association presented the Southwest Louisiana CVB one of the "Ten Best" program awards for its "Creole Nature Trail."
• In the March 2004 issue of National Geographic Traveler/Yahoo! travel poll, nearly 3,000 yahoo! travel consumers ranked New Orleans six out of the top 10 most romantic destinations in the U.S.
• In 2004, TripAdvisor, Inc. named the French Quarter the most searched online attraction in the United States.
• In 2004, New Orleans was named one of the top 10 U.S. "Cities that Rock" by the editors of Esquire Magazine.
• Meetings South Magazine has recognized the French Quarter as the top attraction for southern destinations as voted on by readers in 2004.
• The Lower Garden Distrct has been named the 11th Best Neighborhood and District by Project for Public Spaces.
• North American Travel Journalists Association voted NOMCVB winner of the 2003 5- Star Award for "Most Media Friendly Convention and Visitors Bureau" in the nation.
• In 2003, Southern Breeze Magazine voted New Orleans one of the best destinations for a romantic weekend getaway.
• The NOMCVB received the 2003 Pinnacle Award, the mark of excellence awarded by Successful Meetings magazine. The Pinnacle Award honors CVB staff who demonstrate unwavering commitment to serving the needs of meeting, event, convention and incentive planners.
• The 2003 Condé Nast Traveler readers' "Gold list" included four New Orleans hotels: Le Pavillon; the Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans; Royal Sonesta and Windsor Court.
• In Summer 2003, Romantic Country named New Orleans as one of America's 10 most romantic places.
• The NOMCVB has been named as one of the top 5 convention and visitors bureaus by Meetings & Conventions magazine receiving the publication's 2003 Gold Service "Elite" award.
• In October 2003, Forbes.com ranked the city of New Orleans as the No. 23 city for singles life.
• The November 2003 issue of Esquire Magazine has named Bourbon House as one of the best new restaurants in America for 2003.
• Condé Nast Traveler ranked New Orleans fourth among U.S. cities in its 2003 Readers' Choice Awards' Best in the World.
• Condé Nast Traveler ranked New Orleans fourth among U.S. cities in its 2003 Readers' Choice Awards' Best in the World.
• In July 2002, Food & Wine magazine listed the following New Orleans chefs in their “Selective Guide to America’s Superchefs”: Susan Spicer (Bayona); Frank Brigsten (Brigsten’s); Greg Sonnier (Gamay Bistro); John Harris (Lilette); Anne Kearney (Peristyle); John Besh (Restaurant August).
• Meetings & Conventions presented New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau with the 2002 Gold Service ELITE Award, a new prize reserved for the top five CVBs in the nation.
• Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine ’s presented NOMCVB with a 2002 “Award of Excellence,” a distinction for those CVBs that best served their corporate meetings and/or incentive travel programs during the past year.
• NOMCVB won a 2002 “Planners’ Choice Award” from the subscribers of Meeting News , based on the quality of services provided.
• Successful Meetings honored NOMCVB with its Pinnacle Award in 2002. The Pinnacle Award, presented to convention and visitors bureaus around the world whose staffs best accommodate meeting planners.
• In Food & Wine ’s “Food in America Poll 2002,” readers rated New Orleans as the second-best food city in America and the best city for famous hometown foods.

Compiled by the NOMCVB Communications and Community Relations Department and updated December 2006.