WHY IT RATES: New Orleans & Company takes home four awards at the 2022 Travvys and wins Wanderlust Travel Awards, including recognition as the Most Desirable City and Best Tourism Board. -- Janeen Christoff, TravelPulse Managing Editor

New Orleans & Company earned the prestigious Gold statuette for Best Culinary Destination – U.S.; Silver statuette in Best City Destination – Domestic; and Bronze statuette in Best Tourism Board – US at the 8th annual Travvy Awards. New Orleans was also awarded the “Most Desirable City” – Rest of World - by Wanderlust Magazine at the Wanderlust Travel Awards in the United Kingdom.

The annual Travvy Awards, presented by TravelPulse, part of Northstar Travel Group — where travel advisors vote on the best in the travel industry — were held November 2 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. The Travvy’s recognize the highest standards of excellence in the travel industry by honoring travel companies, travel products, travel agencies, and destinations for their outstanding achievements. Thousands of votes — cast by the travel professionals who sell the vast majority of these trips to tens of millions of consumers yearly — determined the very best in the travel industry.

As the UK’s longest running travel magazine, Wanderlust has been at the forefront of sustainable travel for the past 29-years. For the past 21 years, the Wanderlust Travel Awards have celebrated the best in travel and spotlighted the industry’s ultimate stars. The awards ceremony took place on November 8 at the Tower of London. Winners were voted on by an independent panel of expert judges and the readers of Wanderlust Magazine.

According to Wanderlust, “Louisiana's largest city has a distinctive vibrancy, which is why it has deservedly won this year's Wanderlust award for Most Desirable City (Rest of World). Music is its beating heart, with jazz, blues, reggae and rock filling the streets of the Marigny neighbourhood. Mardi Gras is one of the biggest carnivals outside Rio and unique to the 'Big Easy'. And don't get us started on the cuisine: gumbo, jambalaya and deep-fried southern chicken are main hitters on the menus that reflect the city's melting pot of cultures. We predict New Orleans joining many travel bucket lists in years to come.”

“It’s humbling to receive a Travvy Award, as our win was determined by those who know us best: travel advisors,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company. “And the honor of the Most Desirable City by readers of Wanderlust comes at the perfect time as we are working hard to restore international tourism levels from COVID. These awards are a testament to the dedicated professionals at New Orleans & Company and our partners. Their talent, grit, and passion for driving New Orleans’ cultural economy is unmatched.”

SOURCE: New Orleans & Company press release.