What’s New in New Orleans’ Hospitality Industry – July 2010
Latest News
· New Orleans ranked number one for growth among the top 25 U.S. destinations in hotel performance for January-May 2010. According to Smith Travel Research, the organization that measures and reports on hotel performance nationally and internationally, New Orleans posted a 15% increase in RevPar (standard industry measure of hotel occupancy multiplied by average daily rate) over the same time period in 2009.
· New Orleans is gearing up to welcome the 16th Annual ESSENCE Music Festival July 2-4, 2010. This year’s headlines for the “Party with a Purpose” include Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys. Last year’s festival experienced a record-breaking year with more than 428,000 festival-goers over a three-day weekend.
· Carnival Cruise Lines has committed an additional ship to New Orleans. The Carnival Ecstasy, a 2,052 passenger ship, will begin sailing four and five night cruises year round from New Orleans on September 22, 2010. New Orleans is also the home port of the Carnival Triumph, which will be replaced by the Carnival Conquest, in November 2010. Also, the Norwegian Spirit, from Norwegian Cruise Lines, and soon the Voyager of the Seas from Royal Caribbean International will call New Orleans its homeport.
· The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, presented by Shell announced that 375,000 festival-goers attended the 2010 festival. The 2011 festival dates will be April 29- May 8, a week later than usual. Also in April of 2010, the annual French Quarter Festival announced record attendance numbers of 512,000 over a three-day weekend.
· The Festival Grounds at New Orleans City Park, which is home to the Voodoo Music Experience, has been selected by the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES™) to participate in a new program testing the nation’s first rating system for green landscape design, construction and maintenance. The Festival Grounds at New Orleans City Park will join more than 150 other projects as part of this program.
· Tales of the Cocktail® has been named the Best Drinking Event in the 2010 Writers’ Picks section of Where Y’at Magazine’s Best of the Big Easy Awards.
· Cruise West, a company based in Seattle, has announced that it will begin river cruises from Memphis to New Orleans to Nashville. The 102-passenger Spirit of America will operate two seven-night cruises to the cities mentioned.
· The Audubon Insectarium celebrated its second “ant-iversary” on June 13. The Insectarium is the largest fee-standing museum dedicated to insects and their relatives and houses approximately 900,000 critters.
· Several airlines are committing additional flights to New Orleans. On May 18, 2010, the New Orleans Armstrong International Airport announced that AirTran Airways will launch nonstop service between Milwaukee, Wisconsin and New Orleans beginning October 7, 2010. Also, Southwest Airlines announced in June the launch of nonstop service between Los Angeles and New Orleans and the addition of another daily nonstop between Dallas Love Field and New Orleans. This is in addition to the nonstop flight between New Orleans and St. Louis that was added in May 2010. Additionally, on May 20, Midwest Airlines began nonstop service between Kansas City and New Orleans. As of July 2010, New Orleans Armstrong International Airport hosts 127 daily flights and 15,499 seats serving 35 cities.
· The New Orleans Botanical Gardens has collaborated with Gray Line Tours of New Orleans and Longue Vue House and Gardens to present the “Heart of the Gardens” tour, a motor coach tour that showcases the natural wonders of New Orleans and includes walking tours of the New Orleans Botanical Gardens and the Longue Vue House and Gardens.
Sports
· The New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl Champions after defeating the Indianapolis Colts February 7, 2010, in Miami for Super Bowl XLIV. The success of the Saints has showcased the New Orleans brand to the world in unprecedented ways. 106.5 million viewers watched the Saints victory on CBS, making it the most-watched show in U.S. TV history.
· Approximately $10.5 million will be spent to upgrade the atrium of the former Dominion Tower and New Orleans Centre into a sports entertainment venue now known as the Benson Tower, named for Saint’s owner Tom Benson and his family.
Hotels
· The Wyndham Riverfront New Orleans Hotel has received the “Hotel of the Year” award for 2009 from its management company, Interstate Hotels & Resorts. The hotel received this award based on outstanding achievement in performance and guest satisfaction.
· Readers have selected the Windsor Court Hotel for the annual Platinum List as one of the top 20 US Mainland Hotels as part of the Summer 2010 issue of Celebrated Living, the luxury magazine for American Airlines premium passengers.
· Grammy award-winning artist Irvin Mayfield celebrated the one-year anniversary of his acclaimed club, Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse, on April 15, 2010. Located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, the jazz club features performances seven nights a week, with special performances by Irvin Mayfield on Wednesdays.
Awards and Accolades
· New Orleans was ranked number one internationally for nightlife according to TripAdvisor Annual Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards. New Orleans was also recognized in four other categories including third in the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the United States and fourth in the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the World. The Crescent City placed ninth in the Top 10 Culture & Sightseeing Destinations in the United States and 15th in the Top 25 Destinations in the United States.
Museums and Attractions
· The National World War II Museum posted a historic month, when 43,301 people visited the museum in March 2010. As home to the new Solomon Victory Theater, Stage Door Canteen and American Sector Restaurant, the museum is a popular city attraction and an asset to the tourism industry.
· Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is celebrating 20 years! The aquarium opened on Labor Day 1990 and sits in the 17-acre Woldenberg Riverfront Park and is credited for transforming this part of the river at the foot of Canal Street.
· The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) announced in May that Susan M. Taylor will officially become the museum’s sixth Director Designate on September 1, 2010. Taylor will succeed E. John Bullard, who will retire after 37 years at NOMA.
Theater/Film
· “Broadway Across America-New Orleans” recently announced that it will continue its great list of performances for the 2010-2011 season. Beginning in September, Cirque Dreams Illumination (Sept. 28-Oct. 3) headlines the series followed by Rain (Nov. 3-7), Monty Pythons Spamalot (Dec.14-19), The Color Purple (Feb. 11-13), West Side Story (March 15-20) and Shrek the Musical (May 31-June 5). “Broadway Across America-New Orleans” began its first season in October 2009 with Cats and The Color Purple, and continued with Mamma Mia!, Wicked and Avenue Q at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts.
· Second Line Stages, the first green independent stages in the United States, has opened its doors in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. The $32 million project is currently hosting a Warner Brothers film as its tenant. The stages of the studio were built to the exact standards of the motion picture industry and to comply with the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification.
· Disney’s The Princess and the Frog was nominated for “best animated feature” and “best original song” at this year’s Academy Awards. The Princess and the Frog features Disney’s first African American princess, Tiana, who lives in New Orleans during the Jazz Age.
· The lights of the legendary Saenger Theatre marquee shine bright again. The Canal Street theatre, which originally opened in 1927, will undergo a $38.8 million restoration and is scheduled for completion in late 2011.
Cruises
· Royal Caribbean International announced on April 23, 2010, that the cruise company will return to New Orleans November 19, 2011, after a three year absence with the “Voyager of the Seas.” The Voyager will offer seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean and can hold 3,114 guests.
Airport
· On April 21, 2010, the New Orleans Aviation Board approved Iftikhar Ahmad as Director of Aviation for the Louis Armstrong International Airport. As the airport’s new director, he will oversee a $33 million project that will double the size of Concourse D, creating six new gates and 8,000 square-feet of space for concessions. This project, which is expected to be completed in September 2011, will create 1,000 construction jobs for the regional economy and provide an enhanced airport experience for all passengers with minimal passenger disruption. In total, $400 million of improvements and modernization projects are underway at the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport.
2010 Festivals and Cultural Celebrations
· Hundreds of thousands of visitors flocked to New Orleans for the Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, PGA Tour Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Bike Week and Digestive Disease Week’s citywide convention. The French Quarter Festival presented by Capital One hosted a record-breaking 512,000 people in April.
· January 6, 2010, marked the official start of one of the largest Carnival seasons New Orleans has seen in nearly 25 years. Hotel occupancy was in the mid to high 90 percent range Mardi Gras weekend, with some hotels indicating selling out for five nights in a row (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Mardi Gras Day) as opposed to a typical year selling out two nights during the weekend only. The New Orleans CVB credits the success of Mardi Gras 2010 to the momentum of the Saints Super Bowl victory, which has created international goodwill and positive publicity that the tourism industry could never manufacture or pay for in a marketing campaign.
2010 Festival Calendar
· Zulu Lundi Gras Festival/Feb. 15
· Mardi Gras Day/Feb. 16
· French Quarter Wine Festival/Feb. 26-April 15
· Soul Fest/March 13-14
· Earth Fest/March 20-21
· Spring Fiesta/March 20-28
· Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival/March 24-28
· New Orleans Roadfood Festival/March 26-28
· French Quarter Festival Presented by Capital One/April 9-11
· New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Presented by Shell/April 23-May 2
· Mid City Bayou Boogaloo/May 21-23
· New Orleans Wine and Food Experience/May 25-29
· Greek Festival/May 28-30
· New Orleans Oyster Festival/June 5-6
· New Orleans Vieux to Do/June 11-13
· ESSENCE Music Festival/July 2-4
· San Fermin in Nueva Orleans/July 10
· Tales of the Cocktail/July 21-25
· COOLinary New Orleans/Aug. and Sept.
· Satchmo SummerFest/Aug. 5-8
· Whitney White Linen Night/Aug. 7
· Dirty Linen Night/Aug. 14
· New Orleans Red Dress Run/Aug. 14
· Southern Decadence Festival/Sept. 3-6
· Project 30-90/Sept. 11
· New Orleans Burlesque Festival/Sept. 17-19
· Gretna Heritage Festival/Oct. 1-3
· Art for Arts’ Sake/Oct. 2
· New Orleans Film Festival/October
· Krewe of Boo/October
· Voodoo Music Experience/Oct. 29-31
· Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival/Oct. 16-17
· Halloween New Orleans/Oct. 28-Nov. 1
· Louisiana Swamp Festival/Nov. 6-7
· Words and Music Literary Festival/Nov. 18-22
· New Orleans Po-boy Preservation Festival/Nov. 21
· Christmas New Orleans Style/December
· Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival and Holiday Bazaar/December
Meetings and Conventions
· New Orleans is emerging as a burgeoning hub of entrepreneurial activity. Economic development organizations, such as Greater New Orleans, Inc. and the Idea Village, have come together with local entrepreneurial networks, such as Start Up New Orleans and 504ward, to mold a positive perception of New Orleans in the national business community. Investors from around the globe converged in New Orleans for Entrepreneur Week, March 20-27, 2010. This annual gathering, which is made possible by the New Orleans non-profit organization, The Idea Village, brought some of the nation's most innovative minds together for this one-of-a-kind event. Big Easy Blends was chosen as the winner of this year’s competition. In addition, the Downtown Development District in New Orleans hosted Launch Fest, “a fund conference for serious entrepreneurs” April 24-29, 2010.
· The Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE) had a record-breaking year in New Orleans April 19-21, 2010. With 13,000 attendees, IEEE hosted 709 registered exhibitors, more than ever before, and used 201,250 gross square feet of meeting space.
2010 Convention Calendar
· National Cotton Council of America/Jan. 4-7
· Association of American Law Schools/Jan. 6-10
· True Value Company/Jan. 6-8
· The Special Event/Jan. 12-15
· International Studies Association/Feb. 17-20
· Keller Williams Realty International/Feb. 20-24
· American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology/ Feb.26-March 2
· American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons/March 9-13
· Dunkin’ Brands, Inc./March 22-24
· Ace Hardware Corporation/March 26-28
· American Planning Association/April 10-13
· American Association of Petroleum Geologists/April 11-14
· Independent Champagne & Sparkling Wine Invitational/April 16-18
· Corenet Global/April 18-20
· Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (PES T&D)/April 20-22
· American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers/April 21-24
· Digestive Disease Week/May 2-5
· American Thoracic Society/May 14-19
· American Psychiatric Association/May 22-26
· National Apartment Association/June 24-26
· Healthcare Convention & Exhibitors Association/June 26-29
· National Education Association USA/July 1-3
· Academy of General Dentistry/July 1-6
· Lutheran Church Missouri Synod/July 17-21
· American Contract Bridge League/July 22-Aug. 1
· Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc./July 29-Aug. 4
· International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association/Aug. 9-13
· Water Environment Federation/Oct. 2-6
· National Funeral Directors Association/Oct. 10-13
· Cable Connection Fall (CTAM: Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (Oct. 18-20) and Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (Oct. 20-22))
· Medical Group Management Association/Oct. 24-27
· National Association of Realtors/Nov. 5-8
· Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (Annual National Computing Conference)/Nov. 13-19
· American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists/Nov. 14-18
· Gerontological Society of America/Nov. 19-23
· Diversified Business Communications/International Workboat Show/Dec. 1-3
· International Association for Exhibition & Events/Dec. 7-9
Tourism Industry Statistics at a Glance
- 2009 visitor numbers: 7.5 million
- 2009 visitor spending: $4.2 billion
- 2008 visitor numbers: 7.6 million
- 2008 visitor spending: $5.1 billion
- 2007 visitor numbers: 7.1 million
- 2007 visitor spending: $4.8 billion
- 2006 visitor numbers: 3.7 million
- 2006 visitor spending: $2.8 billion
- 2004 visitor numbers: a record-breaking 10.1 million
- Visitor numbers in an average year: 8.5-9 million
- Taxes: $250-300 million in tax revenues … more than any other business sector
- Economic impact of tourism: $7 billion
- Employment: Nearly 70,000
- Hotels: 210 and 35,500 hotel rooms
- Restaurants: 1,104
- Airport: As of July 2010- 127 daily flights, 15,499 seats serving 35 cities
About the New Orleans CVB
The New Orleans CVB is the driving catalyst for New Orleans’ largest industry, strategically leading national and international marketing, public relations and visitor services efforts that attract millions of visitors, events, conventions and festivals. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2010. For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.
Media Contact
Jenn Lotz
504-566-5019
jlotz@neworleanscvb.com
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