St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, New Orleans

Louisiana is a meeting-friendly state with destinations for every kind of meeting. Whether your group is corporate, association or government affiliated, there’s a place for you. New Orleans draws attendees from across the country and the world with its bounty of lodging for any budget, chef-driven restaurants and top-tier entertainment. Baton Rouge, the state capital, is home to policymakers and legislators but also offers the kinds of amenities that can boost meeting registration and draw attendees in. Across the state near the Texas line, Shreveport-Bossier, just 20 miles east of the Texas-Louisiana line, offers groups a highly affordable meeting destination with plenty for attendees to see and do.

New Orleans

Chicago-based Aon held its Mortgage Analytics Day event at Hotel Monteleone last fall. This was the company’s first-ever New Orleans meeting. “Many of our attendees had never been to New Orleans so we thought it would be a fun, memorable destination,” says Nanette Maffia, executive assistant at Aon. “This group tends to do better in smaller boutique hotels vs. large chains so the Hotel Monteleone was a perfect fit. It is centrally located with restaurants, music and local culture all within walking distance.”

Hotel Monteleone checked all the boxes. Maffia says she liked the fact that Hotel Monteleone is smaller than some other options yet was able to accommodate the group’s spatial needs. “We also loved the historic character of the property. The hotel is awe inspiringly beautiful and the Carousel Bar is the crowning touch. Most of our group went down to the Carousel Bar once sessions ended, prior to attending our dinners. The bar is beautiful to look at, and the live entertainment makes it worth the stop,” she says.

The group also held a dinner at the hotel’s rooftop bar as well as off-site at The Court of Two Sisters. “I know a few of our attendees ventured out on their own to explore nearby restaurants prior to the start of our meeting. Arnaud’s and Galatoires were mentioned by a few,” Maffia says.

Wonderful amenities, amazing food and fair pricing were just some of the reasons the company chose the hotel. Maffia says the hotel treated some of her VIP attendees to ‘New Orleans themed gift baskets upon arrival, which included local chocolates and pralines.”

In addition to “meeting rooms that were the perfect size” for this group, Maffia says the Hotel Monteleone staff were a significant asset. The staff at the Hotel Monteleone is amazing. Our assigned meeting planner was wonderful, very prompt in answering emails and offering suggestions to make our experience even better. Our guestroom booking contact was excellent with all communication regarding our room block. Once we were onsite, the entire banquet staff took care of our every need, and by far the best AV crew we have ever worked with,” she says.

Should they return to New Orleans in the future, Maffia says, “Hotel Monteleone would be the first property I would reach out to, to check availability.”

Hotel Monteleone, a New Orleans favorite

The city itself also played a significant role in the meeting’s success. “New Orleans was a great place to hold our meeting, and I’d definitely bring a group there again. It’s easy to get to, very walkable and has some of the best restaurants in the country, plus hotels to fit every need. You’ve also got amazing live music at your fingertips. If you’re planning a walkable group dinner from your hotel, I highly recommend doing a second-line parade. Our planner at the hotel recommended the Storyville Stompers. I reached out to [the founder] Woody Penouilh, who was fantastic to work with and gave our attendees a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Blue Janis, global event strategist, ESN Independent by Maritz in Vero Beach, FL, has worked with many different groups, noting that Maritz has clients in every sector including financial and insurance. In the spring, Janis brought a group to the city for an annual conference. They were headquartered at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans in the city’s downtown area, within walking distance to the French Quarter, Arts District and the Mississippi riverfront.

“New Orleans is a vibrant city,” Janis says. “Groups typically have great pickup when having their meetings in New Orleans. There is a great selection of hotels offering competitive rates and plenty of venues for entertainment. The lift into New Orleans is excellent from all U.S. regions.”

New Orleans & Company is a big part of the planning. He says, “I copy the CVB on every RFP.”

The National WWII Museum is a popular New Orleans venue that offers event space.

While Janis has used many different hotels in the city for different groups, he likes the Hyatt Regency New Orleans for a variety of reasons. “I recommended this particular hotel for several reasons, including the price, concession package and ample space available for the group, as well as familiarity with the chain,” he says, adding that the feedback from groups has been very positive and he wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Hyatt Regency New Orleans again in the future.

This particular client has very specific needs regarding meeting room size and ideal room shape. “They require at least 25,000 sf with a podium centered on the long wall,” Janis says. “Often, hotels don’t have a room of that size available, or they aren’t willing to offer that much space for a small meeting. But the Hyatt Regency New Orleans can work with that space requirement and is able to provide exactly what we need.”

New Orleans is, of course, known to people across the globe, but it’s worth pointing out that its arguably most well-known asset is by no means its only asset. “I assume that most of us are familiar with New Orleans,” Janis says. “The city is an excellent destination for meetings of any size. New Orleans accommodates large, small and everything in between. If you haven’t been to New Orleans,” Janis adds, “make a point of going. There is so much more to the city than Bourbon Street.”

Indeed, there is. The city has a lot going on as it plans for the future with a variety of critical infrastructure projects that should make New Orleans an even greater draw for groups. The airport is at the top of that list. In March, discussions continued on the master plan for the airport that has been developed over the past two years with input from airlines, regional leaders, economic development and hospitality partners and the public. To meet the needs of a growing city and expanded traffic, the future will include 10 to 15 additional gates to support expanded airline operations, an improved roadway system and an additional parking garage, among other things.

For groups with a focus on sustainability, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has been awarded its second LEED Gold certification — one of only two convention centers in the country to receive that designation two years in a row. This year, some meeting-friendly hotels are undergoing significant renovations, including the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Hilton New Orleans on St. Charles Avenue and Omni Royal Orleans. Recently completed renovations include the JW Marriott New Orleans and New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District, while the former Bank of New Orleans building now houses two new hotels within it, the Fairmont New Orleans Hotel & Resort and the Element by Marriott New Orleans Downtown.

There are many restaurants for potential off-site functions, and a very popular and unique venue, The National WWII Museum, which offers event space.

Southern University’s Human Jukebox Marching Band in Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

The Society of Louisiana CPAs in Metairie, LA, has held multiple meetings in Baton Rouge across multiple months. Executive Director & CEO Ron Gitz, CPA, CGMA says the capital city is an easy commute for many members from around the state, most of whom drive in, but that’s not the only reason it works well for meetings. “Baton Rouge is a great place for a meeting because it’s a ‘small’ big city, and it’s also a college town. Everything you need is close by. The downtown area is great because you can walk everywhere — and it’s right on the Mississippi River,” he adds. “These events have been held in Baton Rouge for several years and have always been highly successful.”

The fact that Baton Rouge is the state capital adds another worthy dimension. “Being the capital city matters,” Gitz notes. “It offers lots of history to learn from and interact with. There are also a ton of great restaurants with everything from Louisiana/Cajun offerings to fine steakhouses and seafood. And entertainment ranges from LSU athletics to concerts and live-music venues.”

The CPA society gets an assist from Visit Baton Rouge, the city’s CVB. “We work with the amazing staff at Visit Baton Rouge,” Gitz says. “They help us with everything – even things we don’t think about. They are more than willing to not just introduce us to hotels, restaurants, and other venues, but are happy to go with us to meet with them.”

The group uses multiple hotels for the various events, including Baton Rouge Marriott, Crowne Plaza Executive Center Baton Rouge, Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel and Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. Gitz says that location, pricing, number of spaces available and quality of sleeping rooms are all factors in their hotel decisions, pointing out that Cypress Summit, for example, has four sessions going on concurrently throughout the majority of the day, making ample space a priority.

“We have used conference space at all of the above-mentioned hotels,” Gitz says. “AV is very easy to work with at all of the properties. If we have an issue, they are very easy to reach and quick to respond. Wi-Fi connectivity has also been great at all facilities. At times, we have had the need to use hard-wired internet to broadcast a couple of the events, and that has worked great as well. Staff members are very attentive to our needs and respond quickly when needed.”

He says he’s been very happy with these locations. “We have used each of them multiple times over several years, and I am sure we will continue to use all these hotels in the future. Staff members are easy to work with and accommodating to our needs,” Gitz adds.

Bottom line, he continues, is that attendees absolutely love the hospitality and the ‘welcome home’ approach and vibe. He encourages planners and groups to consider Baton Rouge. He says, “Y’all Come visit Baton Rouge. The State Capitol, the history, the people, the food, the culture, the southern hospitality — Baton Rouge has it all! And you can walk everywhere if you are in the downtown area.”

Already popular with many groups, Baton Rouge is looking to the future with a major redevelopment of the River Center complex in the downtown area. The project, approved last fall, will include an expanded downtown convention center and a brand-new full-service convention hotel among other things. Visit Baton Rouge President & CEO Jill Kidder says, “It will transform the riverfront into the vibrant destination we’ve always envisioned and bring us closer to leapfrogging the competition in the economically impactful convention market.”

Margaritaville Resort Casino in Bossier City

Shreveport-Bossier

Groups get two cities in one on Louisiana’s western side, both affordable and friendly. Among its initiatives this year is a Meeting Planner Rewards Program, which offers financial incentives for planners who bring a new group to the cities, and the Show Me Your Badge program, which provides a warm welcome for conference and convention attendees, and boosts local businesses as well. The program encourages attendees to explore the downtown district while supporting local restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. It’s win-win for the city and for attendees, who simply present their conference badge at participating businesses to receive special discounts, promotions or offers.

“A goal of Visit Shreveport-Bossier’s destination master plan is to develop a unified convention center district to provide a dynamic meeting and convention attendee experience,” says Stacy Brown, president & CEO of Visit Shreveport-Bossier. “Programs like Show Me Your Badge help extend the visitor experience beyond the convention center and into the heart of downtown, allowing our guests to discover the incredible businesses, food and culture that make our community special.” Groups can sign up for the program at visitshreveportbossier.org/show-me-your-badge.

Wherever groups choose to meet in Louisiana, they’ll find vibrant, interesting and meeting enhancing destinations ready to greet them. Few states can match the welcoming vibe that comes so naturally to Louisiana. It really is like coming home — even if you’ve never been there! I&FMM