What’s New in New Orleans Hospitality Industry this August?

WHY IT RATES: New Orleans continues to celebrate its 300th anniversary with big events and new developments—Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor

As of May 16^th, the former New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau (NOCVB) has rebranded and is now officially known as New Orleans & Company – a name that better reflects the work that we do and the people we serve.

For more information on our new brand, click here.

Tricentennial:

— New Orleans is celebrating its 300^th anniversary throughout 2018.

As one of the world’s most unique and diverse cities, New Orleans will celebrate with its citizens and open its doors to the world to share the city’s rich history and culture. During the Tricentennial, New Orleans will celebrate its past accomplishments, the resilience of its people and set the course for the future.

— Salazar: Portraits of Influence in Spanish New Orleans will be on view at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, March 8^th-September 2^nd, in conjunction with the Tricentennial celebration of New Orleans.

— The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) will present The Orléans Collection, an exhibition of selections from the magnificent collection of the city’s namesake, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1689-1723).

On view from October 26^th, 2018 through January 27^th, 2019, The Orleans Collection will bring together, for the first time, a selection of 50 masterpieces from institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery, the Louvre, and the Rijksmuseum to tell the story of the collection’s formation, its reputation, and its impact in early 18^th century Paris.

— New Orleans’ celebrated artist and muralist, Brandan “B-mike” Odums, completed an enormous mural on the side of Little Gem Saloon to commemorate the city’s tricentennial.

The mural, which is located at 445 S. Rampart Street in the Central Business District, depicts famous jazz musician Buddy Bolden and his band. Bolden is believed to be “the first bona fide jazz musician.”

— Throughout 2018 several local businesses are offering special deals, packages, discounts and tricentennial-themed items that visitors and locals can take advantage of all year long. To learn more about the Tricentennial deals and packages click here.

For the full Tricentennial calendar, click here.

Upcoming Events:

— The 14^th annual COOLinary New Orleans Restaurant Month continues throughout the month of August, offering discounted menus from more than 100 restaurants across the city.

Participating restaurants will offer special two- and three-course lunch menus for $20 or less, three-course dinner menus for $39 or less and three-course brunch menus for $39 or less.

See all participating restaurants here.

— The 18^th annual Satchmo SummerFest is set to take place, August 3^rd – 5^th, at the Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint.

The festival is considered the only traditional jazz festival in New Orleans and celebrates the music and legacy of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.

— The 42^nd annual Whitney White Linen Night will take place in the Warehouse District, August 4^th.

This free event invites patrons of the arts to dress in white linen and browse more than 20 local galleries and museums on Julia Street.

Food and cocktails from more than 25 local restaurants will be offered throughout the evening.

— The 24^th annual Red Dress Run will paint the French Quarter red on August 11^th.

Both men and women will don red dresses and race throughout the French Quarter to support more than 100 local charities.

— The 17^th annual Dirty Linen Night invites art enthusiasts, August 11^th, to put on their dirty linens from the previous weekend and stroll through the art galleries along Royal Street to admire the art and sample food and cocktails from several local restaurants.

— The 47^th annual Southern Decadence events will take over the French Quarter, August 30^th – September 3^rd, for a weekend of LGBT parties, concerts, parades and revelry.

New Orleans is a major destination for LGBT travelers, affirming the history of diversity, tolerance and inclusiveness in welcoming all.

— Country Smooth Fest announced a two-day Country Music Festival at NOLA Motorsports Park October 20^th-21^st. Headliners of the festival include Hunger Hayes, Justin Moore and several others.

For a full list of events, click here.

Attractions:

— Seven not-for-profit museums in the French Quarter have joined forces to create the French Quarter Museum Association (FQMA), an effort to elevate the profile of history museums as an enriching cultural experience in city’s oldest neighborhood.

Current participating museums are The Historic New Orleans Collection, Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, the Beauregard-Keyes Historic House and Garden Museum, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, the Louisiana State Museum, the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the US Mint and the Catholic Cultural Heritage Center.

— Live Nation Entertainment recently announced the opening of The Fillmore at Harrah’s New Orleans, which will debut in early 2019. It will be one of the city’s premier live music venues.

The new 2,000-capacity venue, located inside Harrah’s Casino, will showcase incredible state-of-the-art production, vintage poster art, VIP amenities, dining options and friendly hospitality.

The Fillmore first opened in San Francisco in 1968. Fillmores around the U.S. now include: Charlotte, NC; Miami, FL; Silver Spring, MD; Detroit, MI; Philadelphia, PA and soon New Orleans, LA.

— The New Orleans School of Cooking was recognized as a top experience by TripAdvisor’s first-ever Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Their classes were rated as the No. 2 experience in the United States and the No. 6 experience in the World.

For a full list of awards and accolades, click here.

New Developments:

— City Hall announced the historic riverfront redevelopment projects that will open access to the city’s riverfront with 3.2 miles of contiguous space from Spanish Plaza to Crescent Park. The development has an estimated completion date of early 2020. The projects include:

Spanish Plaza - $7.5 million plaza renovation

Four Seasons - $400 million Renovation of the World Trade Center

Canal Street Ferry Terminal - $37 million state-of-the-art terminal

Ferry Pedestrian Bridge - $7.3 million new pedestrian bridge

Woldenberg Riverfront Park - $6 million park improvements

Moonwalk Park - $3 million park renovation

Esplanade and Governor Nicholls Street Wharves - $15 million conversion

Crescent Park - $31.2 million

— The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has announced an expansion to the plans for the new terminal, currently under construction, bringing the total number of gates from 30 to 35. The plans include a 2,200-car parking garage, a central utility plan and a ground transportation area.

The new terminal is now set to open February 2019.

The five-gate expansion and new opening date comes as the airport has exceeded all passenger enplanement targets and added new international airlift to Europe and South America.

The airport recently announced the addition of two new restaurants to join the updated airport’s terminal concessions: Café Du Monde and Shake Shack.

Several new developments have broken ground across the city. For a full list of developments, click here.

Airport:

— Condor Airlines returned to New Orleans with twice-weekly flights operating Thursdays and Sundays through September 30^th, 2018, from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA).

Meetings and Conventions:

Meetings (3,000 or more in attendance) includes:

— Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Foodservice & Hospitality Expo | August 4^th – 6^th

The Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO is the largest and most attended showcase of its kind in the region. The LRA invites companies to exhibit their products and services to an audience of thousands of restaurant owners and operators. A wide variety of special events and educational seminars are available.

Projected attendance: 12,200

— Ecological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting | August 5^th – 10^th

The ESA offers industry professionals business meetings, presentations and workshops centered around the theme of “Extreme events, ecosystem resilience and human well-being”.

Projected attendance: 5,000

— US General Services Administration (GSA) Smartpay Training Forum | August 7^th – 9^th

Geared toward industry professionals, the 3-day event will feature a comprehensive training schedule that will cover all aspects of how to successfully manage your charge card program, including a special GSA SmartPay 3 focus.

Projected attendance: 3,625

— Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles/Mystic Shrine Annual Imperial Session | August 17^th – 24^th

Members gather to learn through educational seminars and workshops

Projected attendance: 6,000

— National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) General Conference & Exhibition | August 24^th – 27^th

National Guard members from around the country gather in New Orleans for educational seminars, workshops and presentations.

Projected attendance: 4,000

SOURCE: New Orleans & Company press release.