Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1483470
B M & T ••• November/December 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 46 AREA GUIDES L O U I S I A N A MEETING PLANNERS DISCOVER GREAT SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY IN THE BAYOU STATE B Y B U C K S A M U E L S When you make a list of all the unique things Louisiana has to offer visitors, you quickly see the long-lasting influences of the French, Spanish and African ances- try. The state's past is well preserved in the architecture, music, food and lifestyles – which include amazing festi- vals – and of course in museums of his- tory and fine arts. It is not an accident that Louisiana clings to the phrase: "Laissez les bon temps rouler." Let yourself get lost in the traditions passed down through genera- tions. Come visit during Mardi Gras when costumed riders parade and magnificent balls are thrown from New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Shreveport and beyond. • • NEW ORLEANS • • Whether it's just a couple dozen people or a convention with tens of thousands, New Orleans can host just about any meeting. The city's world-class convention facilities offer flexible choices with varying levels of square footage, services and amenities. Meetings in New Orleans, like every- thing else in this city, stay with you long after you've unpacked your conference materials. More than just meetings, they can be game-changing gatherings that inspire free-flowing ideas and forge deep connections. You're company when you're here, and are welcome back any- time! The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, routinely voted one of the nation's top facilities by meeting plan- ners, features more than 1.1 million sq. ft. of exhibit space, 140 meeting rooms, a 4,000-seat auditorium and a 60,300-q. ft. divisible, column-free ballroom with 25,000 sq. ft. pre-function area.. Constantly expanding and improving, the convention center was designed by America's tech giants and remains one of the most advanced in the nation. Not far away on Poydras Street, you'll discover that the Mercedes-Benz Superdome has undergone a major trans- formation. You'll find redesigned Club Lounges, additional escalator access and an outer surface that wows passersby. Next door to the Dome is the Smoothie King Center, another technology-driven facility with several premium meeting spaces. And near the new Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, the Pontchartrain Center offers 46,080 sq. ft. of column-free exhibit and assembly space as well as 14,681 sq. ft. of multi- use meeting rooms. With its diverse venues, robust infra- structure and more than 26,000 hotel rooms, New Orleans has earned its spot at the top of the list of major meeting des- tinations in the United States. Accommodations range from the 693- room Astor Crowne Plaza (32,000 sq. ft. of meeting space); and the 367-room DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans (16,488 sq. ft.); to the 280-room Embassy Suites New Orleans (6,000 sq. ft.) ad the 341-room Four Season's Hotel New Orleans (28,000 sq. ft.). Music is where New Orleans' first set- tlers found common ground and no other city loves music more. Nowhere else does it occur more effortlessly or more joyously. Jazz, America's only original art form, was born here while Rhythm & Blues, Gospel, Cajun and Zydeco all express the rich melting pot that is New Orleans' her- itage. If you are think- ing about bringing a meeting or event to New Orleans, be sure to contact Donna Glover, Vice President – National Accounts and Tradeshows, for New Orleans & Company. Her team will provide you with all the support you need for a very suc- • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Astor Crowne Plaza 693 DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans 367 Embassy Suites New Orleans 280 Four Season's Hotel New Orleans 341 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Pontchartrain Center Total Exhibit Space 46.080 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 7 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? New Orleans & Company (800) 672-6124 New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce – (504) 948-0991 New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center photo credit: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial C.C.