Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/799467
B M & T ••• November/December 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 52 AREA GUIDES sands, New Orleans can host just about any meeting. The city's world-class con- vention facilities offer flexible choices with varying levels of square footage, services and amenities. Meeting planners ranked the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center first out of forty destinations in the category of new or expanded convention centers in the Metropoll XIV, Volume II Report. The report also ranked the Center above aver- age in the Center's proximity to activities and hotel rooms, making it the ideal loca- tion for your event. The Center boasts more than one million sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, 140 meeting rooms, 2 ball- rooms and a 4,000-seat auditorium. 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' heritage. Conveniently situated in the central region of the US, New Orleans is ideal for travelers. The Louis Armstrong Inter- national Airport is just 20 minutes from city center. ••SHERVEPORT•• Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana's Other Side is a unique combination of Cajun and Texan. The destination offers affordable hotels, flexible meeting venues, including the 350,000-sq. ft. Shreveport Convention Center, immersive group experiences, and that famous Louisiana cuisine that visitors love. Meeting and event planners especially love that they don't have to sacrifice qual- ity for value when they meet here. Groups that book in Shreveport and Bossier City are rewarded with incompa- rable incentives, exceptional service and after-hours entertainment. Delegates love coming here because the destination boasts year-round festivals, a riverfront shopping venue, fun things to do, plus much more. Other meeting amenities the destina- tion includes, are more than 10,500 hotel rooms as well as three dozen attractions, seven casinos, more than 55 festivals and annual events and 500 local restaurants. The award-winning, Shreveport Regional Airport is serviced by Northwest, American, Continental, Allegiant and Delta airlines providing con- ference attendees many options of air- lines to choose from. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Shreveport/Bossier CTB (800) 551-8682 Shreveport Bossier AA Chamber of Commerce – 318-220-9098 • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Astor Crowne Plaza New Orleans 693 DoubleTree by Hilton New Orleans 367 Hilton New Orleans Riverside 1,622 Hyatt Regency New Orleans 1,193 EXHIBITION FACILITIES New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Total Exhibit Space One Million sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 140 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? New Orleans CVB (504) 566-5018 New Orleans Regional BlackChamber of Commerce – (504) 948-099 Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, skyline on the Red River Photo Credit: Sean Pavone