New Orleans, LA

Key Highlights

Hotels	210
Total Sleeping Rooms	38,800
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	1,622
Committable Meeting Rooms*	140
Largest Exhibit Space	127,634 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	36,448 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $202
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $318
*Maximum for a single hotel

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New Orleans, LA Meeting Planning Overview

As a top year-round tourist destination with a reputation as a warm and gracious host, New Orleans has attracted the largest conventions and events in the world. Knowing that most of the city's 40,000 hotel rooms are located in and around downtown and the French Quarter, convention planners have no problem arranging convenient lodging for attendees.

Whether an event needs all the exhibit space in the Superdome, the more intimate meeting rooms of a Caribbean-style hotel or the special ambiance of a Mississippi River steamboat, New Orleans has the perfect space to create a successful and memorable gathering. Gather attendees for an extravagant cocktail party in the historic Elms Mansion decorated with hand-carved marble, 24-karat gold sconces and elegant hardwood floors. Host a seated dinner in one of Ray's on the River's four modern function spaces, all of which afford spectacular views of the Mississippi River and New Orleans skyline. Choose from one of 15 distinct private dining rooms at Antoine's Restaurant, which dates back to 1840 and showcases memorabilia from many distinguished patrons including Judy Garland, President Roosevelt and Pope John Paul II. New Orleans offers endless unique venue possibilities!

In addition to offering numerous special New Orleans event venues, the city is also the site of the Morial Convention Center, long recognized as one of the top convention centers in America. After $60 million in restoration work and several million more in renovation upgrades, the center has enjoyed a robust recovery after Hurricane Katrina and is better than ever. The 3.1-million-square-foot facility is known for its excellence in providing cutting-edge technological features such as state-of-the-art lighting, video and audio production facilities, satellite linking, videoconferencing and webcasting capabilities. Best of all, the center's award-winning catering staff prepares exceptional foods in step with a city known worldwide for its cuisine.

Located in the New Orleans Arts District, the Morial Convention Center is in the middle of dozens of art galleries and museums and within walking distance of hundreds of restaurants, shops, bars and jazz clubs in the French Quarter. It's easy for visitors to connect with river cruises, walking tours of the city's beautiful historic districts, boat tours of swamps and nighttime tours of the haunted hotels and restaurants of the French Quarter. Also scattered throughout the city are world-class museums such as the Louisiana State Museum, the Louisiana Children's Museum and the 1911 New Orleans Museum of Art, home to one of the nation's largest glass collections. The Audubon Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country, and the Aquarium of the Americas is rated among the top 5 in the nation.

New Orleans is also home to top research institution Tulane University, located in the Uptown District. The headquarters of Fortune 500 giant Entergy Corporation calls New Orleans home, and many companies, including AT&T, IBM, Harrah's, Capital One, Popeye's Fried Chicken and Zatarain's, have a significant presence in the city.

New Orleans, LA Area Destinations

Carrollton New Orleans, LA	French Quarter New Orleans, LA	Garden District New Orleans, LA	Kenner New Orleans, LA
Metairie, LA	Riverwalk New Orleans, LA	Warehouse District New Orleans, LA	West Riverside New Orleans, LA

About New Orleans, LA / Additional Info

New Orleans is one of the few cities in the world where just saying the name conjures strong images and feelings, and, for those who have visited, the "Big Easy" creates a deep longing to return. Known also as the "Crescent City," New Orleans spreads out across both sides of a bend in the Mississippi River 110 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico. Founded by the French in 1718, it was ceded to the Spanish Empire in 1763 and reverted back to French control in 1801. The back-and-forth fighting ended two years later when the United States bought France's vast North American holdings as part of the famous Louisiana Purchase. No longer a spoil of war, New Orleans entered a time of unprecedented growth as wagon trains carried millions of immigrants to the new western territories.

Today, with a city population of 274,000 people and a greater metro area population of 1.1 million people, New Orleans is home to one of the largest and busiest ports in the world and accounts for much of the nation's refinery and production of petroleum. The New Orleans skyline is dominated by 30 buildings that measure over 20 stories tall. One Shell Square, a 51-story structure in the heart of the Central Business District, is the tallest building in the city and the state. At 48 feet shorter, the Capital One Tower incorporates French Quarter-style balconies at street level along St. Charles Avenue. Although the 45-story Plaza Tower is not the city's tallest building, it is a prominent landmark due to its eclectic design and location outside of the main grouping of skyscrapers in the district. Other prominent New Orleans structures are the Louisiana Superdome, the New Orleans Arena and the city's new and old city halls.

Even after the devastating economic and physical blow dealt by Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has made a heroic recovery. With each passing month, New Orleans heals more of its wounds. In fact, many agree that the city is on track to become bigger and better than ever before.

Just six months after the 2005 disaster, musicians were again prancing down Bourbon Street during the annual Mardi Gras celebration. New Orleans remains a hotspot for cultural tourism, with over one million people flocking to the city each year to experience its multicultural heritage, unique personality and unparalleled treasures of music and cuisine.

A fun-loving city, New Orleans is the gracious host of some of the country's most famous events including Mardi Gras in February/March, the two-week-long New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in April, the Essence Festival on July 4, the French Quarter Festival in April and Super Bowls in January/February. Any day of the year, visitors can start off the morning with coffee and a mouthwatering beignet followed by a cruise on an authentic Mississippi riverboat. The young and old will enjoy exploring the mysteries of Southern Louisiana's primeval swamps and bayous or simply sitting down to a Cajun or Creole meal prepared by the finest chefs in America. Other New Orleans musts include shopping at the French Market, browsing through the Riverwalk Marketplace, having lunch or dinner at Muriel's, spending an evening of entertainment at one of the many French Quarter music clubs, riding on a New Orleans streetcar and relaxing with a refreshing New Orleans Hurricane cocktail from Pat O'Brien's.

New Orleans, LA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Central Time (CT)
Convention Center(s):

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 21,000

Airport(s):

Louis Armstrong International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Smoke-free Restaurants

Special Event Venues
158
Population
1,235,650
Restaurants
177
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
9.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

New Orleans, LA Area Destinations

	Population	Meeting Hotels	Hotel Rooms	Special Event Venues
Carrollton New Orleans, LA	-	15	450	5
French Quarter New Orleans, LA	3,888	10	1,366	14
Garden District New Orleans, LA	1,179	10	799	113
Kenner New Orleans, LA	66,702	13	1,995	14
Metairie, LA	138,481	16	2,393	3
Riverwalk New Orleans, LA	1,235,650	17	3,400	14
Warehouse District New Orleans, LA	-	17	-	14
West Riverside New Orleans, LA	2,706	8	4,091	5

Cities Near New Orleans, LA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Baton Rouge, LA	82 mi	1 hr 27 min	2 hr 49 min	USD $517+
Mobile, AL	144 mi	2 hr 20 min	3 hr 26 min	USD $550+
Jackson, MS	190 mi	2 hr 53 min	3 hr	USD $400+
Shreveport, LA	342 mi	5 hr 14 min	2 hr 57 min	USD $360+
Houston, TX	348 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 5 min	USD $185+
Memphis, TN	395 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 40 min	USD $175+
Dallas, TX	521 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 15 min	USD $322+

New Orleans, LA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	62	65	71	78	85	89	91	90	87	80	71	65
Avg. Low (°F)	43	46	52	58	66	71	73	73	70	60	50	45
Rec. High (°F)	83	85	89	92	96	100	101	102	101	92	87	84
Rec. Low (°F)	14	19	25	32	41	50	60	60	42	35	24	11
Rainfall (in)	5.1	5.5	5.3	4.8	4.9	5.6	6.6	5.9	5.4	2.8	4.5	5.3

Located on a bend of the Mississippi River about 110 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans has a subtropical climate. Like the tropics, summers are hot and humid with highs around 90°F. However, the winters are cooler than those in the tropics, with average temperatures around 55°F in January, the city's coldest month.

Annual precipitation averages 63.5 inches per year. From July to October, tropical winds can bring high tides and heavy rains to the area. The months of June to November constitute hurricane season. Since 1965, portions of New Orleans have been flooded by four different storms: Hurricane Betsy, Hurricane Georges, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The best time to visit New Orleans is in the spring, when temperatures are still mild and precipitation is at its lowest.

Meeting Planning in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Morial Convention Center

Located in the heart of the culturally vibrant Arts District just one mile from the French Quarter, the Morial Convention Center is the 6th largest convention center in the country. After $60 million in restoration work and several million more in renovation upgrades, the center has enjoyed a robust recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. With over 3.1 million square feet of enclosed space, its expansive facilities include 1.1 million square feet of continuous exhibit space, 140 meeting rooms totaling 232,827 square feet, two luxurious ballrooms, each over 30,000 square feet, and a 4,032-seat auditorium acoustically divisible into three separate sections. Completely handicapped-accessible, the center has ramps and elevators to access all event areas. The Morial Center provides cutting-edge technology that includes the latest lighting, video and audio production technology, a dual-system indoor cellular phone network, an 800-Mhz two-way radio system, high-speed Internet access, Wi-Fi in public areas, wireless phone rentals, satellite link, videoconferencing, video streaming and webcasting ability.

In a city where anything less than fabulous food is unacceptable, Morial Convention Center has set unrivaled culinary standards in its industry as one of the top 2 convention centers in the category of "Good Food Served." Guests to the center enjoy a wide range of dining choices without leaving the building, whether it's red fish for one, barataria for 10 or crawfish etouffee for 10,000. In addition to catered event meals, dining venues range from the elegant Ma Maison to the convenience of delicious food court selections from around the world.

Paired with New Orleans' popular destination appeal, the Morial Convention Center's spaciousness, flexibility and service continues to sustain the Crescent City's national leadership status, with the facility consistently ranking in the top 10 for hosting the most national conventions and tradeshows.

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Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Now better than ever, this New Orleans landmark has undergone a major post-Hurricane Katrina transformation. Continuous enhancements and upgrades make this facility one of the finest domed stadiums in the world. Offering more than 166,000 square feet of column-free main floor space and the ability to seat over 70,000 people, the Superdome is a premier facility that excels in hosting a wide array of events including private or public concerts, special events, general sessions, banquets, convention trade shows and sporting events. Home to Superbowls, Final Four tournaments, the Sugar Bowl, Rolling Stones concerts and Microsoft extravaganzas, the colorful legacy of the Superdome entices an incredible variety of programming.

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New Orleans, LA Meeting Venue Spotlight

New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau

The experienced Convention Services team at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau can help you schedule your next meeting at one of the city's dedicated, world-class convention centers including Morial Convention Center, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans Arena, John A. Alario Sr. Event Center, New Orleans Cultural Center, Pontchartrain Center or the Keifer UNO Lakefront Arena. For a more unique setting, the city has more than 60 hotels and boutique venues in the French Quarter with French or Caribbean style amenities. The Convention Services team also serves as a booking agent for the Morial Convention Center and will be happy to arrange personalized site inspections of any facilities of interest to your company, as well as a customized bid presentation or proposal for the company decision makers.

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Crowne Plaza Hotel New Orleans-Airport

The Crowne Plaza New Orleans Airport is conveniently located next to the Louis Armstrong International Airport in suburban New Orleans, just 20 minutes from downtown and the many French Quarter attractions. The Hotel is exquisitely styled and luxurious with 292 guest rooms and all the comforts of home including 42" Flat Screen TVs. An outdoor pool, state of the art Fitness Center and a Full Service restaurant & the Lobby Lounge provide the full service amenities you expect. 12.000 sq ft feet of flexible meeting space with HS Wi-Fi, high ceilings, unobstructed views, state of the art lighting and a dedicated Crowne Meeting Director will exceed your expectations as well as your attendees.

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New Orleans, LA Airport Information

Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY)

Approximate taxi fare: $37.06 USD

Located just 11 miles from the Central Business District, New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport is the busiest airport in Louisiana and one of the top 10 busiest in the Southeast. The airport offers service to over 30 cities across the country. Nine major carriers, including American, Continental, Delta and United, operate out of Louis Armstrong International.

Service to international cities is expected to resume in the near future as part of the airport's post-Hurricane Katrina recovery initiative. In 2009 AeroMexico began offering nonstop service between New Orleans and Mexico City and in 2010, Air Canada announced that flights between Toronto and New Orleans would resume.

Amenities abound at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Advanced baggage check-in, free wireless Internet access, tax-free shopping, lounges and financial services are all available to make the passenger experience more comfortable. The airport also features a cell phone pick-up lot, ticketless parking, and 5,500 spaces combined between its short and long-term facilities.

Airline carriers serving Louis Armstrong International Airport

Air Tran
American
Continental

Delta Airlines
JetBlue
Northwest

Southwest
United
US Airways

New Orleans, LA Train Information

New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal

The New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, with its famous, restored mural on the walls, is the major hub in the South for Amtrak, which services the city with three trains. The Sunset Limited currently operates between New Orleans and Los Angeles; the Crescent operates between New Orleans and New York City, and the City of New Orleans line operates between New Orleans and Chicago. An intermodal transportation facility, the terminal provides space for Greyhound Lines' intercity bus service.

New Orleans, LA Public Transportation

New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) Bus Line

With a reputation for clean and safe transportation, the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority operates one of the largest fleets of buses and trolleys in the nation. The buses run to several major stops around New Orleans, including Elysian Fields Avenue, Judge Perez Drive and Chef Menteur Highway. Two express routes serve eastern New Orleans. The E-2 Airport Bus, operated by Jefferson Transit, provides weekday service to downtown New Orleans from the upper level of the airport at Entrance number 7. The E-2 bus travels downtown to Tulane and Loyola avenues, just two blocks from Canal Street. NORTA bus one-way fare is $1.25, with an additional $0.25 for transfer. Express bus one-way fare is $1.50.

Trolley Service

New Orleans' famous trolley lines are back to full, pre-Katrina service to the delight of locals and visitors. In 2011, NORTA announced the expansion of its streetcar network and is currently building two new streetcar lines at UPT/Loyola Avenue and the French Quarter. Trolley fare is $1.25.

New Canal Street Line

In 2004, the new Canal Street Line returned after a 40-year absence. The route ties into the existing Riverfront Streetcar Line from Esplanade Avenue to Canal Street and travels along Canal Street from the Mississippi River to a streetcar terminal at City Park Avenue and the Cemeteries.

Riverfront Line

Opened in 1988 to an enthusiastic public, the 1.9-mile Riverfront Streetcar Line was the first new streetcar line since 1926. Seven bright red streetcars now service the Riverfront line, which includes 10 stops between Esplanade Avenue and the Morial Convention Center.

Historic St. Charles Avenue Line

Named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the St. Charles Avenue Line has been in continuous operation since its inception in 1893. Trolley cars travel the entire length of the celebrated St. Charles Avenue, from the Central Business District to the charming Garden District and Uptown.

Algiers Ferry Service

In continuous operation since 1827, the historic Canal Street Ferry connects downtown New Orleans with the Algiers Point neighborhood on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Pedestrians and bicycles ride free while automobiles are charged $1 for a one-way fare with a free return trip. Ferries leave daily from the West Bank every 30 minutes on the hour and half hour beginning at 6 AM. Ferries depart from the East Bank on the quarter hour and three-quarters hour with the last ferry leaving at 12:15 AM.

For more information: 506-376-8180

Airport Shuttle

Shuttle service is available from the airport to hotels in the Central Business District. One-way shuttle fare is $15 per person and round-trip fare is $30 per person. Ticket booths can be found on the lower level in the baggage claim area. There is a three-bag limit per person.

For more information: 866-596-2699

Car Rentals

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty car rental agencies have offices located on the lower level of the airport.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful in New Orleans and rates may vary. Cab rides cost $28 from the airport to the Central Business District for up to two persons and $12 per passenger for three or more passengers. There may be an additional charge for extra baggage. A standard $1 fuel surcharge is added to the total fare. Taxi pick-ups are located outside the airport's baggage claim area on the lower level.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Baton Rouge, LA	82 mi	1 hr 27 min	2 hr 49 min	USD $517+
Mobile, AL	144 mi	2 hr 20 min	3 hr 26 min	USD $550+
Jackson, MS	190 mi	2 hr 53 min	3 hr	USD $400+
Shreveport, LA	342 mi	5 hr 14 min	2 hr 57 min	USD $360+
Houston, TX	348 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 5 min	USD $185+
Memphis, TN	395 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 40 min	USD $175+
Dallas, TX	521 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 15 min	USD $322+

New Orleans, LA Image Gallery

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Bourbon Street

Photo Credit : New Orleans CVB / Richard Nowitz

New Orleans, LA Area Discounts and Promotions

1 Meeting. 4 Rewards. The New Orleans Marriott & Renaissance Hotels.

New Orleans is one city, four all. And now when you book your 2014 meeting by December 31, 2012 at one of the five Marriott and Renaissance hotels located throughout the city, you’ll get your choice of four fabulous rewards. Choose from:

• 6% credit to the master bill

• One complimentary room per 40 cumulative rooms occupied

• No attrition

• Complimentary Internet in the guest rooms

• 14% discount on audio visual equipment rental

• Double Marriott Rewarding Events Points

• 14% off food and beverage

• 14% off parking for attendees.

Whether seeking the elegance of JW Marriott, the uniqueness of Renaissance Hotels, or the service and style of Marriott Hotels & Resorts, we have a hotel to suit your needs in New Orleans. All of our hotels are conveniently located throughout the city – in the French Quarter, near the convention center or in one of the trendy New Orleans neighborhoods. And all provide the authentic atmosphere, contemporary amenities and passionate service you expect.

With total meeting space ranging from 5,000 to 80,000 square feet, our New Orleans hotels will provide the meeting venue that’s just right for you. So whether planning an intimate, executive board meeting or a large-scale, over-the-top event, now is the time to create your ultimate meeting experience in New Orleans.

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A Meetings Masterpiece that’s the Whole Package

No other city inspires creativity quite like New Orleans and Hyatt Regency is a work of art inspired by meeting planners. The completely redesigned property features everything meeting planners have told us they want – from 1,193 guestrooms and 200,000 square feet of flexible event space with state-of-the-art technology to incredible restaurants including Borgne, the latest restaurant by Chef John Besh, Starbucks™, and a 24-hour fresh market. All with a level of service, style, and attention to detail only Hyatt can provide. Located downtown on Loyola Avenue on the newest streetcar line, Hyatt Regency New Orleans is centrally located adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and New Orleans Arena and just blocks from the French Quarter and Morial Convention Center. The hotel boasts two 25,000-square-foot ballrooms, 70 versatile meeting and banquet rooms, 19 executive level meeting rooms, seven permanent boardrooms, and more than 80,000 square feet of exhibition space, highlighted by a new 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall. All meeting rooms and ballrooms offer modern technology and cutting edge amenities to ensure that every meeting and exhibition detail is executed with ease and precision. Hyatt’s ability to accommodate one large group or several small groups simultaneously offers planners exceptional space versatility and functionality unlike any other hotel in the region.

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New Orleans Enriches Your Soul and Your Bottom Line

New Orleans is less than a three hour flight from almost everywhere in the U.S. Once here, you can leave the rental car at the airport as you are only steps away from the French Quarter, convention center, riverfront, shopping, the Arts and Warehouse district and 21,000+ affordable hotel rooms in the downtown area. World-famous dining options from $7 to $70 Unique venues, entertainment, dining, shopping and art galleries First class meeting facilities and built-in themes make meeting planning effortless 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space at the Morial Convention Center complemented by 140 breakout rooms.

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Hotel Monteleone

For over a century, Hotel Monteleone has been the venue of choice for successful business events, meetings, and conferences. From our on-staff meetings coordinator to our state-of-the-art Private Business Center, our New Orleans meeting space will suit your every need. At Hotel Monteleone, the largest hotel in the French Quarter, you’ll find remarkable attention to details that make for a successful gathering, no matter what the size. In total, Hotel Monteleone provides 24 meeting rooms over 24,000 square feet of beautifully decorated meeting space. With such a wide array of space, Hotel Monteleone can accommodate theater seating, classrooms, banquets, trade shows and conventions effortlessly. Our meeting space also provides high-speed wireless Internet access in all meeting rooms and we offer in-house audio/visual and lighting services, a full service business center, and a staff that knows how to make your event set a new standard for excellence.

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