Tourism Matters: May 2023

TOURISM MATTERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF REY ROYAL

Executive Team

Walter J. Leger III, President and CEO

Alice Glenn, Executive Vice President

Mark Romig, Chief Marketing Officer

Kim Priez, SVP, Tourism

8 4

5

Stephanie Turner, SVP Convention Sales & Strategies

Kelly Schulz, SVP, Communications and PR

Jeremy Cooker, VP of Marketing

Kevin Ferguson, VP of External Affairs

Tammie Boteler, VP of Finance

Brian Walker, VP of Information Technology

Laura Russett, Director of Administration

TOP CENTER BY ZACK SMITH

TOP RIGHT BY PAUL BROUSSARD

MIDDLE LEFT BY PAUL BROUSSARD

MIDDLE RIGHT BY PETER G. FOREST

BOTTOM LEFT BY PAUL BROUSSARD

BOTTOM CENTER BY ZACK SMITH

BOTTOM RIGHT BY PAUL BROUSSARD

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

PHOTO BY PETER G. FOREST, FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY

COVER PHOTOS

TOP LEFT BY PAUL BROUSSARD

A MESSAGE THE CEO from

Dear Friends of New Orleans & Company,

It is finally spring in New Orleans!

Happy festival season! We are now in the midst of Jazz Fest and for the second year in a row, New Orleans & Company is sponsoring the TODAY Show with Hoda & Jenna for a live broadcast from Jackson Square on Monday, May 1, 2023. TODAY with Hoda & Jenna will also tape a show on May 1st to be shown on May 2nd.

It’s great to see the city so busy, with locals and visitors enjoying our festivals, hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions. But tourism does not just happen on its own. The team at New Orleans & Company is working hard to bring opportunities such as the TODAY Show, to invite visitors to choose New Orleans, boost attendance at events, secure future business and market the city in innovative ways.

For example, with the June 8th re-opening of the Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium, we have another great opportunity to promote New Orleans as a family-friendly destination. From March – June, our new family marketing campaign, primarily through digital channels, will reach markets like Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, Monroe, Jackson, Hattiesburg, Birmingham, Mobile, Houston, Memphis, Little Rock, Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and Washington, DC.

The city continues to win awards, which is significant because it is voted on by travelers and customers:

• The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport received a top industry award for Best Airport in North America (5 to 15 million passengers per year) from the Airports Council International World’s 2022 Airport Service Quality program.

• AFAR Magazine named New Orleans one of the 10 best places in the world to travel in April, because of Jazz Fest. New Orleans was one of only two U.S. cities recommended, along with international destinations Rome, Jordan, Spain, Iceland and French Polynesia.

• New Orleans was recognized as one of the best food destinations in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best series. New Orleans was named as the number one Best Food Destination - United States as well as finishing within the top ten in the world.

• New Orleans is featured in Southern Living’s Best of the South issue in April 2023 , with a special cover story from Hoda Kotb on why she loves New Orleans.

• And our very own Convention Sales and Services team has been honored for excellence in customer service.

We continue our work to solicit and confirm thousands of meetings and conventions of all sizes that occupy multiple hotels and the convention center. As just a few examples this spring, we are hosting meetings of Fundraising Professionals (4,000 attendees), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (11,500 attendees), American Clean Power Association (7,000 attendees), and Heart Rhythms Society (11,500 attendees).

In this issue of Tourism Matters you will learn how we are working hard to restore international tourism, a segment that has been lagging since the pandemic. You may be surprised to know that New Orleans & Company has a global presence that is working around the clock for you. Also, I hope that you will join us for our celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, May 7-13. See page 10 for more details.

Sincerely,

Walter J. Leger III President and CEO New Orleans & Company

Member Spotlight GETTING N.O. to

Rey Royal

By Cal Palermo

Rey Royal, led by President Tomás Rey, is a local receptive services operator that works with international and domestic visitors creating specifically tailored itineraries. “We are going to give visitors an authentic experience and create something unforgettable,” said Rey. The itineraries include specialized private tours, off the beaten path stops and partnering with restaurants to create a specific menu for the guests. Tomás even translates the menus into their native language.

» Rey Royal has locations throughout the South, Texas and the Midwest, but is based in New Orleans. Why make New Orleans your headquarters?

I am from New Orleans and my family has been living here since the colonial era. New Orleans was a natural location to start a receptive business, as it is an anchor to many of the travel itineraries throughout the South.

» From which countries do you have the most interest in New Orleans and why?

Our top three markets of international clients come

from France (#1), Belgium (#2), and the UK (#3), with Canada close behind. Our fastest growing market is Brazil. The French and Belgians choose us (New Orleans) due to our French heritage and our ability to offer many services in French. The English come here primarily for our fabulous live music scene and nightlife. Canada, Brazil and our other international clients choose New Orleans for these reasons as well as wellknown cuisine and the unique architecture here.

» What are international visitors most interested in experiencing while visiting?

We specialize in unique tailor-made activities and itineraries. Our private French Quarter, Treme and Garden District Walking Tours are the most requested. Fritzel’s Jazz Club is a very popular request with our international clients. As for restaurants, we offer all-inclusive dining options to Arnaud’s, Muriel’s and Palm Court Jazz Café, to name a few that offer a wonderful ambiance and a taste of Creole cuisine.

» What are some of the unique comments you get from visitors?

They never knew New Orleans was so kid friendly. They go back home and share with their friends that there are so many things to do for people of all ages. Also, they noticed the diversity of the city neighborhoods, how each neighborhood is completely different from one another. After leaving the French Quarter and venturing out into the Marigny or Uptown, they are stunned how each neighborhood in the city has its own personality.

» How did you deal with the pandemic and the lack of travel?

As most of our business was international prior to the pandemic, like most companies, we had to shift our strategy and started developing more of the domestic

and local markets, such as staycations, or short (drivable) destinations in and near the traveler’s home. These types of vacations allowed us to expand our client base while international travel was restricted and only helped expand our portfolio of clients. Ironically, this is what occurred with us during Hurricane Katrina, where we were primarily focused on Louisiana and nearby states and after the hurricane, we started offering the entire South and Midwest.

» What is the outlook for 2023 and beyond?

If numbers continue to grow as they are presently, 2023 is poised to be a banner year, substantially surpassing 2019’s numbers.

Employee Spotlight GETTING N.O. to Thu Tran

Senior

Account Executive, Tourism Sales

» When and why did you join New Orleans & Company?

I joined in 2014 after 15 years in hotel sales. My first hotel job was in college, working at the front desk at the Holiday Inn Metairie. I loved being the first person to welcome guests and talk about New Orleans. Getting promoted into hotel sales allowed me to welcome guests at a broader level, by booking family reunions, student, social and government groups. New Orleans & Company took my career to another level, helping drive the city’s entire economy instead of one hotel property.

» How has your role evolved at New Orleans & Company?

I am proud to be part of a small but mighty team that convinces hundreds of thousands of leisure visitors to come to New Orleans each year. We sell to markets including cruises, family reunions, destina-

tion weddings, domestic and international tour operators -- basically, any group that is not a meeting or convention. I started working with U.S. clients, and then moved to the European market. Now I help companies such as British Airways Holidays create New Orleans vacation packages and sell it to frequent travelers based in Europe.

» What was it like to sell travel during the COVID lockdown?

That was a difficult time. People were getting sick, losing their jobs, fearing the future. We are in the relationship business, but sometimes we get so busy we forget to ask our clients, how are you doing? COVID gave us the opportunity to check in with our customers on a personal level, to get to know each others’ families. We also used that time to sharpen our skills and refresh our itineraries so we could come back stronger when travel resumed.

» Your job involves international travel. Some people may think that is glamorous, but is it really?

I love my job but when we travel overseas to sell New Orleans, our schedule is jam packed. We have to

push through, no matter how hard it is adjusting to the time difference. After flying all night, we land and go directly to client meetings, working from 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. for multiple days to maximize our time. I did not sleep for three days on my first business trip to Europe. And one time in Paris, my hair dryer would not work, so I had to attend a client meeting with wet hair. Definitely not glamorous, but it is an honor to do this work.

» What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career in tourism sales?

I would give them the same advice I give to my kids: every path is different. You have to do what you think is best. Don’t ever pass up a great opportunity because of what someone else wants. When you do get that first job, listen to anyone who has been in that business. I would sit outside of the sales manager’s door to listen and observe. Learn as much as you can. Be a sponge. You don’t know what opportunity will come your way, but when it does, take the chance.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY

RESTORING International Tourism

BY RHONDA COOK

New Orleans & Company’s mission is to showcase New Orleans as a world class destination, and bringing international visitors here is a key part of our mission. We do that by promoting and positioning the city with our comprehensive strategy of direct sales and marketing which targets international third party travel professionals. That includes tour operators, travel packagers, online travel agencies, social group planners and cruise lines, all under the leadership of SVP of Tourism Kim Priez.

In fact, New Orleans & Company works with representatives in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Italy and Australia to help drive international visitors here.

COVID brought the travel industry to a screeching halt, not only domestically but globally. That shutdown caused thousands to lose jobs, and economically impacted cities and areas across the world that depend on tourist dollars. Now nearly three years later, international travel numbers to the United States have not reached pre-pandemic levels.

Part of the reason is international visa wait times. Global average wait times for U.S. visitor visas dropped below 150 days in January for the first time since 2021, according to the U.S. Travel Association. They still, however, remain higher than 400 days for India, Brazil, Mexico and top inbound visa-requiring markets (excluding China).

The U.S. Travel Association, the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the U.S. travel industry, has been working tirelessly working to bring down those wait times. “Our international travelers are coming here to New Orleans and then they can disperse around the state to see other places. We take our role as being the magnet to attract visitors seriously,” said Walt Leger, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “There have been some lingering effects on international travel post pandemic. Imagine living in a country and you want to travel to the United States and you go to apply for a visa and you get

told, come back in March of 2024. That is a barrier to travel that is just not acceptable.”

New Orleans & Company works closely with the U.S. Travel Association to solve issues such as visa wait times. Leger serves on the group’s Executive Board and its Meetings Mean Business Coalition. Priez serves on the IPW Planning Committee, among the many leadership roles she has held in her 30plus years in the travel industry. Kelly Schulz, SVP of PR, chairs the U.S. Travel Communications Advisory Board of her peers nationwide. These volunteer positions give New Orleans a seat at the

table, ultimately shaping national travel policy and increasing international visitation to New Orleans.

The U.S. Travel Association estimates a loss in 2023 of 2.6 million visitors and $7 billion in spending due to international travelers’ inability to secure a visitor visa.

Meanwhile, one of the biggest upcoming opportunities that New Orleans & Company, as well as other travel industry entities have is the international trade show known as IPW.

IPW is the leading international inbound travel trade show, where U.S. travel exhibitors connect with travel buyers and media from more than 70 countries to promote their product, negotiate future business and build relationships.

New Orleans & Company will send representatives from our executive office, tourism sales and PR teams along with our UK and Mexico incountry sales representatives to IPW 2023 in San Antonio in late May.

At IPW, travel buyers, including international tour operators, wholesalers and receptive operators, meet face-to-face with sellers of U.S. travel product representing accommodations, destinations, attractions, retail, transportation companies and more. Here, they conduct travel business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of around-the-world trips.

Business booked at IPW delivers $5.5 billion in future travel in the U.S. The face-to-face business conducted during the event directly effects the trajectory of international travel for years to come.

New Orleans & Company uses the opportunities at IPW to bring international journalists to our city, as well as international travel planners… all while helping build our global brand. In fact, because of IPW, New Orleans & Company has had the opportunity to host international journalists who decided to visit New Orleans before the conference and others who chose to extend their trips to the U.S. after IPW to come here.

While international travel is still not expected to make a full recovery until 2025, events like IPW offer

opportunities to grow the number of international visitors in the United States. The National Travel and Tourism Office’s international visitation forecast projects that by 2027, the U.S will see its international visitations increase to 91 million. That’s 115 percent of 2019 prepandemic levels.

U.S. Travel will be releasing its next forecast—which will include projections on total international, overseas, Canadian and Mexican visitations—in June 2023.

BEADS the

Global Meetings Industry Day

In late March, leaders in the New Orleans hospitality industry met at the Hyatt Regency to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) - an international day of advocacy showcasing the value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities. GMID is led by Meetings Mean Business, an industry-wide coalition comprised of over 60 convention & visitor bureaus and hospitality organizations.

The #GMID23 theme was #MeetingsMatter, spotlighting the economic and societal importance of face-to-face meetings, a critical message to share with decision makers which underscores the multi-layered benefits that come from meeting in person.

The goal of the event was to continue to educate our local community about the importance of meetings and events and their positive impact on the city. Communicating the economic, cultural, and societal importance of meetings is a priority for New Orleans & Company.

It is through meetings and events that people come together, drive economic activity, and solve problems. The revelation of new science, new technologies, and new products serve as catalysts to drive commerce.

The highlight of GMID – New Orleans was a panel discussion that included various leaders in the hospitality and meetings indus-

try both locally and nationally. The hour-long conversation ranged from the future of the meetings industry to the impact different organizations have in the communities they meet in as well as the importance of engaging with a younger professional audience.

“When we were in New Orleans in 2021, we did a lot of work with Community Garden,” said Parr. “We were very interested in how we are feeding people and how we are offering historically marginalized communities opportunities for fresh fruits and vegetables. What are we doing to encourage that.”

“Me being a native in Louisiana, I wanted to have the opportunity to give back to the city and to provide additional jobs and revenue for the city post COVID-19,” said Tucker.

“There’s nothing more exciting to me than reading about some innovation or development that get discussed in a meeting in New Orleans and is now spreading around the globe and having an impact,” said Leger. “Whether it’s a medical or scientific advancement or just economic growth that has stemmed from collisions that just kind of happen when meetings occur and people come together.”

FRATERNITY, INC. DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RYAN E. TUCKER, MPA, MIDDLE

NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY SVP, CONVENTION SALES/STRATEGIES STEPHANIE TURNER, MIDDLE: AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION SVP MEETINGS & LEARNING LAUREN PARR, MIDDLE RIGHT: PROFESSIONAL CONVENTION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (PCMA) PRESIDENT AND CEO SHERRIF KARAMAT, FAR RIGHT: NEW ORLEANS & COMPANY PRESIDENT AND CEO WALT LEGER, III

FAR LEFT: KAPPA ALPHA PSI

LEFT:

Celebrating National Travel and Tourism Week

As a city known for travel and tourism, New Orleans hosts countless festivals, events, meetings and conventions each year and consistently showcases the authenticity of our food, music, culture and most importantly the unrivaled hospitality of our community. We are a worldclass destination that is Built to Host because of the incredible members of our tourism industry. Our people are what keep the millions of visitors and hundreds of conferences coming back year after year. Our joie de vivre speaks to all, and we want to share that with the world.

Travel unites. It allows us to share our culture across the nation – even across the world. It produces and energizes business opportunities, leads to innovation and inspiration, and strengthens economies. Travel and tourism’s role in growing the economy, creating employment opportunities, uniting communities, and sharing cultures in cities across the country cannot be understated. The significance of this industry led Congress to pass a joint resolution to recognize the first week in May as National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) in 1983. This event is shared and promoted annually by the U.S. Travel Association and New Orleans & Company is proud to participate once again. In 2023,

NTTW will be held May 7 – May 13 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary. This year’s NTTW theme is Moving Forward to show how travel and tourism impacts and encourages forward thinking, creativity, new employment opportunities and contributes to the success and ingenuity in our communities.

From May 8-12, New Orleans & Company will join destinations

across the country to highlight the magnitude of the hospitality industry and how vital tourism is to our economy both locally and statewide. NTTW gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation to the thousands of hospitality workers, New Orleans & Company members, community partners, and culture bearers that keep our city thriving.

Please join us as we recognize all those that contribute to the vitality of our city’s hospitality and tourism industry not just during National Travel and Tourism Week, but year-round.

For more information on National Travel and Tourism Week and how you can participate, visit www.neworleans.com/nttw.

PHOTO BY PETER G. FOREST, FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

MONDAY, MAY 8

Transportation Appreciation Day

Lunches will be offered to taxi and ride share drivers as well as bus and streetcar drivers and distributed at the airport, convention center and RTA headquarters.

WEEK AT A GLANCE

TUESDAY, MAY 9

Random Acts of Kindness Day

To recognize the contributions hospitality workers make to the success of our industry, we will have surprises throughout the day and encourage all businesses to show appreciation to their staff in their own way.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10

YLC Wednesday at The Square

We will celebrate in true New Orleans style at YLC Wednesday at the Square with great food and drinks from local vendors and music from Miss Mojo and Nigel Hall. The event is free to attend.

Rally

THURSDAY, MAY 11 Pep

The main event for the week will be an industry wide pep rally to recognize Champions of the Industry, individuals who have gone above and beyond in service not just  in the hospitality industry but also in their own communities, with food, music, a costume contest and more.

FRIDAY, MAY 12

Community Service Day

New Orleans & Company will host an industrywide community service event.

PHOTO BY PETER G. FOREST, FOREST PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC

*DATES AND EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Leisure Events Calendar BE A TOURIST

May

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

MAY 4-7

Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots/Esplanade Ridge

www.nojazzfest.com/

National Travel and Tourism Week

MAY 7-13

www.ustravel.org/events/ national-travel-and-tourism-week

Food Fight New Orleans: Battle of the Best New Orleans Dishes

MAY 26

Crescent Park

www.foodfightnola.com/

Bayou Bougaloo

MAY 19-21

Mid-City

www.thebayouboogaloo.com/

New Orleans Greek Fest

MAY 26-28

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral

www.gfno.com/

PHOTOS BY PAUL BROUSSARD

June

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE)

JUNE 7-11

Central Business District/ Downtown, Arts/Warehouse/Convention District, French Quarter www.nowfe.com/

37th Annual French Market Creole

Tomato Festival

JUNE 10-11

French Market www.frenchmarket.org/ event/37th-annual-creoletomato-festival/

Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival

JUNE 11-12

Louis Armstrong Park www.jazzandheritage.org/events/ louisiana-cajun-zydeco-festival/

New Orleans Restaurant Week

JUNE 19-25

City Wide www.neworleans.com/ restaurantweek/

ESSENCE Festival of Culture

July

Go 4th on the River

TUESDAY, JULY 4

New Orleans Downtown Riverfront www.go4thontheriver.com/

Bastille Day Fete

JULY 14

Garden District/Uptown www.af-neworleans.org/bastilleday/

San Fermin New Orleans Running of the Bulls

JULY 14-16

The Sugar Mill/Central Business District/Downtown, Arts/ Warehouse/Convention District, French Quarter www.nolabulls.com/

Tales of the Cocktail

JULY 23-28

New Orleans Pride

JUNE 9-11

City Wide www.neworleanspride.org/

JUNE 29-JULY 3

Caesars Superdome/Warehouse/ Convention District www.essence.com/ essencefestival2023/

The Ritz Carlton/Central Business District/Downtown, French Quarter www.talesofthecocktail.org/events/ tales-of-the-cocktail-new-orleans/

COMPANY’S COMING

May

Argentum 2023 Senior Living Executive Conference

MAY 8-10

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

The 2023 conference will be an elevated educational experience that recognizes the unique challenges facing senior living professionals today. Attendees will get the chance to connect face-to-face with a community of peers who have re-emerged resilient and ready for what’s next.

www.argentum.org/event/2023-senior-living-executive-conference-expo/

7K Metals

7kX New Orleans 2023

MAY 10-13

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

The 7kX Annual Member Convention gathers 7k Metals Members together for company-wide education, community-building experiences, and local exploration.

www.sevenktoday.com/get-ready-for-7kx-new-orleans/

Heart Rhythm Society

Heart Rhythm 2023

MAY 18-22

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

The Society’s annual Heart Rhythm meeting is the premier EP event every year and brings together the largest gathering of heart rhythm professionals from around the world to exchange ground-breaking science, cutting-edge technologies, and life-saving therapies to improve the care of arrhythmia patients.

www.hrsonline.org/latest-from-hrs/heart-rhythm-2023

The American Clean Power Association

CLEANPOWER 2023 Conference & Exposition

MAY 22-25

Conventions Calendar

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

CLEANPOWER unites the most knowledgeable minds in clean energy to chart the future of this powerful industry and discuss the opportunities ahead. As previous attendees attest, the conference grows clean energy businesses by gathering key decision makers and stakeholders across the wind, solar, storage, hydrogen, and transmission industries for discussion, deal making, networking and fun.

cleanpower.org/expo/

Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE)

2nd Annual Early Childhood Conference

Foundations for Success

and the 2023 Teacher Leader Summit

MAY 30-JUNE 3

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

The LDOE 2nd Annual Early Childhood Conference will provide opportunities for education and training for childcare providers, teachers, and administrators in all aspects of Early Childhood. The 2023 Teacher Leader Summit is an annual professional development conference that brings together Louisiana birth to grade 12 educators and content experts.

www.louisianabelieves.com/early-childhood-conference-2023 and www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/classroom-support/teachersupport-toolbox/teacher-leader-summit

June

Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)

2023 (SBC) Annual Meeting & Pastors’ Conference

JUNE 6-15

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

The Annual Meeting will feature four full days of equipping and inspiration. With nearly 200 ancillary meetings, events, and gatherings throughout the week, attendees will connect with leaders and laypersons from around the country to be encouraged, equipped and mobilized for Kingdom work.

sbcannualmeeting.net/

Crawford Contractor Connection (CCC) The CCC Conference & Expo

JUNE 14-16

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center www.contractorconnection.com

Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) 2023 AWHONN Convention

JUNE 17-21

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

During the 2023 AWHONN Convention, participants will be challenged to Get Ready for What’s Next by understanding pioneering methods to address current and diverse challenges, exploring methods of translating diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts, and learning how to address injustices that impact health and well-being using interprofessional collaboration.

www.awhonnconvention.org/

American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 2023 ANNP National Conference

JUNE 20-25

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

Attendees will get a week filled with continuing education, exclusive keynote speakers, legislative and policy updates, hands-on workshops, lively exhibitors and unparalleled collegial networking opportunities. With a focus on “Restoring, Recharging and Renewing the Nurse Practitioner Community,” this conference offers something for every nurse practitioner.

www.aanp.org/events/2023-aanp-national-conference

July

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society 30th Quadrennial Convention

JULY 22-28

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

In July 2023, the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church will hold its 30th Quadrennial Convention celebrating 143 years as an organized society. The organization is involved in some of the most diversified cultures of missions at home and overseas covering landscape as diverse as West, Central and South Africa, England, India, Guyana, and the Caribbean Islands.

www.amez.org/latest-events/

National Medical Association (NMA)

2023 NMA Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly

JULY 29-AUGUST 2

Hyatt Regency New Orleans

The National Medical Association’s Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly is acclaimed as the nation’s foremost forum on medical science and African American health. Each year, African American physicians and other health professionals from across the country convene to participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, discuss health policy priorities, and to share experiences through networking opportunities.

www.convention.nmanet.org

PHOTO BY JUSTEN WILLIAMS

MUSIC to EARS our

What people are saying about New Orleans

“It is with utmost enthusiasm I relay my recent experience with New Orleans & Company. From our first meeting in July, to the final globally televised Miss Universe event in January, the team at New Orleans & Company consistently proved themselves to be great partners. Together, we worked to ensure the best possible experience for our staff, crew and the delegations who traveled from around the world to attend the pageant. For our field production team, when they hit a roadblock or needed creative input, New Orleans & Company stepped in to assist and help pave the way for a smooth production. Additionally, we were able to access their strong ties to the New Orleans community and the state of Louisiana to maximize the two-week period leading up to the event. They were all generous with their time and guidance. I have produced Miss Universe events in many countries and cities over the last 20 years and I can say without hesitation, the working relationship with New Orleans & Company was one of the most positive I have ever experienced.”

PAULA SHUGART, PRESIDENT | MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION