The city of New Orleans is rolling into 2009 with more major conventions, Mardi Gras celebrations and an abundance of festivals to greet visitors at every level. New Orleans CVB says despite the national economic downturn, leisure travelers have many reasons to choose the Big Easy as a budget-friendly destination. To show it is serious in doing all it can to attract motorcoach tours, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (New Orleans CVB) recently launched the NOLA Destination Fun Kit targeted specifically to motorcoach tour participants.
The kit is an innovative and interactive learning tool that showcases the unique history and culture of New Orleans, affectionately known as the Crescent City.
This initiative features music and trivia aimed to put visitors in touch with the surroundings long before they arrive. The bureau encourages all and tour operators to notify the New Orleans CVB of future visits to the city.
New Orleans CVB will send the informational package by mail to tour escorts. The kit includes a Jazzed about New Orleans music CD, a Forever New Orleans promotional video, as well as an Official Visitors Guide and the New Orleans CVB Motorcoach Rules and Regulations brochure.
In addition the normal learning materials, tour escorts also receive the NOLA Destination Fun Kit — a set of New Orleans trivia questions and prizes designed to create interaction between tour guides and their passengers that lends much more detail to the unique culture of the city, and to the visitor experience.
“The New Orleans CVB recognizes the importance of initiating and building partnerships with tour operators as well as relationships with visitors to our city,” says Lisa Holland, tourism sales manager for the New Orleans CVB. “By providing fun and interactive ways for the visitor to experience New Orleans, we believe they will appreciate the history and culture of the city and therefore return to learn more. After all, seeing is believing.”
New Orleans consistently ranks as one of the top five convention and visitor bureaus in the United States, and is the driving force behind the most important industry in the city — tourism.
Holland says the cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city—including the French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street, the Faubourg Marigny and Garden District—are thriving. In 2007 New Orleans welcomed 7.1 million visitors, nearly double the amount of visitors in 2006.
New Orleans highlights
The Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts reopened in January after a $27 million renovation. The building includes a state-of-the-art sound system, a new orchestra shell and enhanced lighting and is the home to several musical and theatrical performances.
In April the annual French Quarter Festival celebrates the food, music and culture of New Orleans with over 150 musical performances on 18 stages, and features the World’s Largest Jazz Brunch.
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation announced the lineup for the festival’s 40th anniversary in late April, early May. Jazz Fest 2009 includes performances by Wynton Marsalis, Dave Matthews Band, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett and the Brothers, Rebirth Brass Band Reunion with Kermit Ruffins.
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) celebrates 18 years of wine and food with a five-day extravaganza, May 19-23, 2009. The event brings together world-renowned winemakers, celebrated chefs and industry insiders for a showcase of signature events including seminars, wine dinners and the Royal Street Roll.
For more information, visit www.neworleanscvb.com. For more information on this program, contact Lisa Holland at lholland@neworleanscvb.com.