How locals emphasize the “New” in Orleans
New Orleanians have been innovating for more than 300 years: starting the first Black daily newspaper in the United States, inventing the bananas Foster experience at Brennan’s and fine tuning the modern microscope at Tulane University, to name a few. That creative juice is still going strong in the birthplace of jazz. The melting pot approach to riffing on what is possible was center stage last month as the hospitality industry in this tourism-driven economy came together to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) at Hyatt Regency New Orleans.
According to New Orleans & Company, which supports a “virtuous cycle” between tourism businesses, visitors and residents, more than 89,000 people are directly employed in tourism in the city. And more good things are in the works as evidenced by the cranes completely remaking Harrah’s New Orleans Casino.
Read More: New Orleans Celebrated GMID by Illustrating Why Meetings Matter
While I was visiting, The Big Easy was celebrating New Orleans Entrepreneur Week (NOEW) at historic Gallier Hall and fun/funky Generations Hall with a pitchfest that addressed “culture tech” (redefining the relationship between consumers and creators of everything from music and film to gaming and Web3), health innovation and “EATrepreneurs.” Yum.
Stay Up
New on Canal Street is Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, which transformed the World Trade Center into 341 elegant guest rooms with 20,500 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor meeting space and a central chandelier lobby bar that earned it a best in the city reputation—quite an honor is a destination known for inventing the Sazerac. Part of the renovation included construction of Vue Orleans, an interactive museum, 33rd story observation deck and meeting venue that merges storytelling in three languages, technology and location to educate and enchant visitors—a confluence of cultures, if you will. The Four Seasons catering team regularly reinvents the space by staging receptions, dinners and awards programs with the city as the backdrop.
Advance the Earth
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was groundbreaking when it opened in 1985 as a reuse of Louisiana World Exposition halls. It now boasts more than 1.67 million sq. ft. of meeting space and earned LEED Gold-certification last year. Under President and General Manager Michael Sawaya, the center of the New Orleans meetings universe named after the city’s first Black mayor is getting greener and prouder. A new Capital Improvement Plan will brighten, pay tribute to the historic city architecture and, eventually, open up a portal to the Mississippi River with a third-floor addition.
Read More: Meeting Spaces Work to Keep the Earth Clean and Green
A 40-acre hotel, retail and entertainment district has received approvals and will include a Topgolf attraction. A new “front porch” minimizes traffic, infrastructure improvements reduce electricity usage and boost connectivity, 42 acres of new roof protects the investment, while a new director of sustainability and corporate social responsibility enhances the building’s legacy. Lauren Parr, a Louisiana native, Smart Women in Meetings Award winner, vice president of meetings with American Geophysical Union and a panelist at the GMID celebration, applauded the city for recent advances. She moved her annual event to the city for the first time and appreciated the partnership to address climate change issues. “Meetings change lives,” she said.
Never Forget
Orleans Casino
Another riveting only-in-New Orleans encounter that honors the city’s industry while building the future is The National WWII Museum. This boundary-breaking campus will debut a Liberation Pavilion in the fall that tells the personal story of the aftermath of the war. To support the endowment and the dozen events at the facility each year, the museum’s nonprofit owns The Higgins Hotel New Orleans, Curio Collection by Hilton, across the street. With 230 guest rooms, a rooftop restaurant, 11,000 of its own Art Deco-inspired space and lots of museum pieces, it is a tribute to the boats built in Higgins Louisiana factories that have been credited with helping to win D-Day.
This article appears in the digital-only May 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
