New Orleans, LA Travel and Things to Do Guide
New Orleans is one of the country's most distinctive meeting destinations. Known as the Crescent City for the way it curves along a bend in the Mississippi River, it pairs a globally recognized identity with serious convention infrastructure. Its compact, walkable core lets attendees move between sessions, hotels, and after-hours experiences without leaving the action.
The appeal is the atmosphere: live music, world-famous Creole and Cajun cooking, historic architecture, and a hospitality culture that treats guests like they belong. That energy gives events a sense of place generic destinations can't match, and the subtropical climate keeps the city active year-round.
New Orleans backs that character with real investment: roughly 22,000 hotel rooms in and around downtown and the French Quarter, a major riverfront convention center in the middle of a multi-year modernization, and easy air and rail access. Whether you're planning a citywide convention or an intimate gathering, you'll find event space in New Orleans that fits the program and the budget.
Why New Orleans is Ideal for Event Planning
The biggest advantage is proximity. The convention center, headquarters hotels, restaurants, and entertainment sit within a walkable downtown footprint, so most attendees can leave the car behind, which cuts shuttle costs and simplifies logistics.
Access and hospitality are just as strong. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) sits about 11 miles from downtown and moves more than 13 million passengers a year. Add a deep bench of venues, a nationally ranked culinary scene, and a workforce that knows how to host large groups, and you have a destination built to make planners look good.
Major Convention Centers
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The city's flagship venue and one of the largest convention facilities in the country, anchoring events along the Mississippi riverfront.
• 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space on a single level, the largest single exhibit hall in the U.S.
• 140 meeting rooms, a 4,000-seat theater, and two ballrooms, including the column-free 60,300-square-foot Great Hall with 25,000 square feet of pre-function space
• Roughly 3 million square feet of total space, LEED Gold certified
• In the middle of a $557 million modernization of meeting rooms, lobbies, and the exterior, plus a new linear park along Convention Center Boulevard
• A central transportation center for shuttles, taxis, and rideshares, with hotels, restaurants, and galleries within walking distance
It regularly hosts large conventions, trade shows, and citywide events, and consistently ranks among the country's top 10 for conventions held each year. The single-level exhibit hall and walkable hotel packages make it especially strong for large exhibitions.
Accessibility and Connectivity
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the region's primary gateway, about 11 miles from downtown, with a modern North Terminal that opened in 2019 and serves more than 13 million passengers a year across dozens of domestic and several international destinations.
• RTA streetcars run three historic lines (St. Charles, Canal Street, and Riverfront) connecting the French Quarter, Central Business District, and Uptown
• Buses and two ferries serve the city; a one-way fare is $1.25, with day passes on the Le Pass app
• The 202 Airport Express bus links MSY to downtown near the convention center
• Taxis, rideshares, pedicabs, and bike rentals cover short trips
For rail and highway access, the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal serves four Amtrak routes (City of New Orleans, Crescent, Sunset Limited, and Mardi Gras Service), and Interstate 10 runs directly through the metro area.
Headquarters Hotels and Accommodation
New Orleans offers roughly 22,000 hotel rooms, with about 26,000 across the broader downtown area, most of it near the convention center, Central Business District, and French Quarter.
• Hilton New Orleans Riverside - large riverfront property with extensive meeting space, next to the convention center
• New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District - event-friendly hotel steps from the convention center
• Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center - convention-adjacent with group-ready amenities
• Loews New Orleans Hotel - upscale CBD property suited to executive meetings
• Embassy Suites by Hilton New Orleans - all-suite option in the Arts/Warehouse District
• The Higgins Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton - boutique property next to The National WWII Museum
Many of these hotels sit within walking distance of the convention center, keeping room blocks and session venues close together.
Entertainment and Outdoor Activities
There's plenty to fill the hours around the agenda, from live music to river tours.
• French Quarter jazz clubs, live music, and historic walking tours
• River cruises, swamp boat tours, and nighttime haunted tours
• World-class museums, including The National WWII Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Louisiana Children's Museum
• The Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Encourage attendees to extend their stay and explore beyond downtown, from Uptown's oak-lined streetcar route to the city's historic neighborhoods.
Event Planning Support Services
New Orleans has a deep hospitality network to help planners pull events together.
• Venue sourcing across hotels, the convention center, and unique spaces
• Hotel room block coordination and citywide housing support
• Ground transportation and shuttle logistics
• On-site AV, production, and event technology
• Catering and group dining rooted in local cuisine
• Sustainability options, including a LEED Gold certified convention center
That range supports everything from small executive meetings to large citywide conventions.
Climate and Best Time for Events
New Orleans has a subtropical climate, so timing matters. June through November is hurricane season, with the highest risk of heavy rain and storms.
• Spring (March–May): Mild temperatures and the lowest rainfall make this the best window for outdoor and citywide events.
• Summer (June–August): Hot and humid with highs around 90°F; best for fully indoor programs at air-conditioned venues.
• Autumn (September–November): Warm early, cooling toward November; strong for indoor conventions once peak storm risk passes.
• Winter (December–February): Cooler, with January the coldest month around 55°F; comfortable for indoor meetings and holiday events.
Conclusion: New Orleans as an Event Destination
New Orleans gives planners a rare combination: a major riverfront convention center, thousands of walkable hotel rooms, easy air and rail access, and a culture that turns an ordinary agenda into something people remember. For meetings of nearly any size, there's event space in New Orleans to match the vision.
The appeal is the atmosphere: live music, world-famous Creole and Cajun cooking, historic architecture, and a hospitality culture that treats guests like they belong. That energy gives events a sense of place generic destinations can't match, and the subtropical climate keeps the city active year-round.
New Orleans backs that character with real investment: roughly 22,000 hotel rooms in and around downtown and the French Quarter, a major riverfront convention center in the middle of a multi-year modernization, and easy air and rail access. Whether you're planning a citywide convention or an intimate gathering, you'll find event space in New Orleans that fits the program and the budget.
Why New Orleans is Ideal for Event Planning
The biggest advantage is proximity. The convention center, headquarters hotels, restaurants, and entertainment sit within a walkable downtown footprint, so most attendees can leave the car behind, which cuts shuttle costs and simplifies logistics.
Access and hospitality are just as strong. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) sits about 11 miles from downtown and moves more than 13 million passengers a year. Add a deep bench of venues, a nationally ranked culinary scene, and a workforce that knows how to host large groups, and you have a destination built to make planners look good.
Major Convention Centers
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
The city's flagship venue and one of the largest convention facilities in the country, anchoring events along the Mississippi riverfront.
• 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space on a single level, the largest single exhibit hall in the U.S.
• 140 meeting rooms, a 4,000-seat theater, and two ballrooms, including the column-free 60,300-square-foot Great Hall with 25,000 square feet of pre-function space
• Roughly 3 million square feet of total space, LEED Gold certified
• In the middle of a $557 million modernization of meeting rooms, lobbies, and the exterior, plus a new linear park along Convention Center Boulevard
• A central transportation center for shuttles, taxis, and rideshares, with hotels, restaurants, and galleries within walking distance
It regularly hosts large conventions, trade shows, and citywide events, and consistently ranks among the country's top 10 for conventions held each year. The single-level exhibit hall and walkable hotel packages make it especially strong for large exhibitions.
Accessibility and Connectivity
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is the region's primary gateway, about 11 miles from downtown, with a modern North Terminal that opened in 2019 and serves more than 13 million passengers a year across dozens of domestic and several international destinations.
• RTA streetcars run three historic lines (St. Charles, Canal Street, and Riverfront) connecting the French Quarter, Central Business District, and Uptown
• Buses and two ferries serve the city; a one-way fare is $1.25, with day passes on the Le Pass app
• The 202 Airport Express bus links MSY to downtown near the convention center
• Taxis, rideshares, pedicabs, and bike rentals cover short trips
For rail and highway access, the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal serves four Amtrak routes (City of New Orleans, Crescent, Sunset Limited, and Mardi Gras Service), and Interstate 10 runs directly through the metro area.
Headquarters Hotels and Accommodation
New Orleans offers roughly 22,000 hotel rooms, with about 26,000 across the broader downtown area, most of it near the convention center, Central Business District, and French Quarter.
• Hilton New Orleans Riverside - large riverfront property with extensive meeting space, next to the convention center
• New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District - event-friendly hotel steps from the convention center
• Hyatt Place New Orleans/Convention Center - convention-adjacent with group-ready amenities
• Loews New Orleans Hotel - upscale CBD property suited to executive meetings
• Embassy Suites by Hilton New Orleans - all-suite option in the Arts/Warehouse District
• The Higgins Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton - boutique property next to The National WWII Museum
Many of these hotels sit within walking distance of the convention center, keeping room blocks and session venues close together.
Entertainment and Outdoor Activities
There's plenty to fill the hours around the agenda, from live music to river tours.
• French Quarter jazz clubs, live music, and historic walking tours
• River cruises, swamp boat tours, and nighttime haunted tours
• World-class museums, including The National WWII Museum, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Louisiana Children's Museum
• The Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Encourage attendees to extend their stay and explore beyond downtown, from Uptown's oak-lined streetcar route to the city's historic neighborhoods.
Event Planning Support Services
New Orleans has a deep hospitality network to help planners pull events together.
• Venue sourcing across hotels, the convention center, and unique spaces
• Hotel room block coordination and citywide housing support
• Ground transportation and shuttle logistics
• On-site AV, production, and event technology
• Catering and group dining rooted in local cuisine
• Sustainability options, including a LEED Gold certified convention center
That range supports everything from small executive meetings to large citywide conventions.
Climate and Best Time for Events
New Orleans has a subtropical climate, so timing matters. June through November is hurricane season, with the highest risk of heavy rain and storms.
• Spring (March–May): Mild temperatures and the lowest rainfall make this the best window for outdoor and citywide events.
• Summer (June–August): Hot and humid with highs around 90°F; best for fully indoor programs at air-conditioned venues.
• Autumn (September–November): Warm early, cooling toward November; strong for indoor conventions once peak storm risk passes.
• Winter (December–February): Cooler, with January the coldest month around 55°F; comfortable for indoor meetings and holiday events.
Conclusion: New Orleans as an Event Destination
New Orleans gives planners a rare combination: a major riverfront convention center, thousands of walkable hotel rooms, easy air and rail access, and a culture that turns an ordinary agenda into something people remember. For meetings of nearly any size, there's event space in New Orleans to match the vision.
Weather and Seasonality
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. The best time to visit New Orleans is in the spring, when temperatures are still mild and precipitation is at its lowest.
| Month | High/Low °F | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|
| January | 62°/43° | Medium |
| February | 65°/46° | High |
| March | 71°/52° | High |
| April | 78°/58° | High |
| May | 85°/66° | High |
| June | 89°/71° | Low |
| July | 91°/73° | Low |
| August | 90°/73° | Low |
| September | 87°/70° | Low |
| October | 80°/60° | Medium |
| November | 71°/50° | Medium |
| December | 65°/45° | Medium |
