NEW ORLEANS — New developments and attractions are being developed and opened in the Crescent City, with new hotels, restaurants and experiences solidifying the city as a premier destination to visit and host trade shows and events.
The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC), home to 1.1 million square feet of contiguous exhibit space, has undergone extensive renovations as part of the $557 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which will also lay the groundwork for the development of a convention center headquarters hotel that will have a physical connection to the New Orleans Convention Center.
The CIP includes an upgrade to energy-efficient LED lighting in the exhibit hall, an information technology overhaul, the installation of New Orleans-themed charging stations and a 7.5-acre pedestrian park, among other transformations.
“Construction is underway to transform 140 meeting rooms and lobbies and replace 1.9 million square feet of traditional roofing with a new, energy-efficient roofing system. The new roof is designed to reflect heat more efficiently, and additional insulation will help increase energy savings. The new roof is scheduled to be completed in mid-2024. Our continued progress on this project is an important part of our overall goal to make NOENMCC more competitive in the events and meetings market, which will help us make an even greater economic impact on the city and region,” said Michael J. Sawaya, NOENMCC President and CEO.
Caesars Hotel & Casino New Orleans and Nobu Hotel New Orleans will open in 2024, within Caesars. The launch follows the multi-million dollar transformation of Harrah’s New Orleans. Featuring 340 guest rooms and a Nobu restaurant, the resort and casino is located at the foot of iconic Canal Street, steps from the famed French Quarter and less than a mile from the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center.
“The addition of Caesars New Orleans will provide added value to meeting planners with built-in benefits including the opening of multiple on-site restaurants from big names like Nina Compton, Emeril Lagasse, Bobby Flay and the team behind Nobu, as well as entertainment, shopping, spas and a new state-of-the-art gaming complex. The hotel will also offer exceptional incentive programs for corporate groups, making it an ideal addition to the city of New Orleans,” said Kelly Schulz, senior vice president of communications and public relations at New Orleans & Company.
Schulz also said nearly $1 billion in hotel renovations have been completed, are underway or are in the planning stages in the city.
On the transportation front, Breeze Airways announced it will offer new summer fares from Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Jacksonville and Louisville, among other cities, from July 5 through Aug. 8. Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission also announced milestones for passenger rail projects along the Gulf Coast and the I-20 corridor. Discussions are also underway for an additional line from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.
Attractions and experiences
New experiences are also in full swing in New Orleans, with the COOLinary New Orleans event taking place throughout August.th The annual culinary event allows people to try menus from more than 50 award-winning chefs, with many establishments also offering major bites at bargain prices.
In honor of 100 years of Disneyth To mark the anniversary, the National WWII Museum is hosting a new exhibition that traces the company’s contribution to the war effort through September 24, 2023. The museum is set to open the Liberation Pavilion on November 3, which focuses on the end of the war, the postwar years, and the lasting impact of World War II.
The city’s vibrant dining scene includes new additions such as King, a French brasserie located on the grounds of the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot that opened earlier this year, as well as Osteria Lupo, a restaurant that draws inspiration from northern Italy.
“With more than 1,400 restaurants in New Orleans, there is something for every taste and group size. Many of these restaurants offer private dining rooms to accommodate group reservations or receptions, making it easy to host a corporate culinary event,” Schulz said.
NOENMCC will host the inaugural NOLA Pickleball Fest, the world’s largest collector car auction Barrett-Jackson in New Orleans, and major medical conventions such as the American Academy of Optometry, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the NeurIPS conference throughout the remainder of 2023.
Reach and Michael Sawaya at (504) 582-3000