New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Leaders Receive “Power 25” Honors from New Orleans CityBusiness

New Orleans CityBusiness, a weekly business newspaper, has named three members of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority to its “Power 25” ranking including Jerry Reyes, president of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority and General Manager of the Westin Canal Place Hotel; Don C. Hubbard, commissioner of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority and proprietor of Hubbard Mansion Bed and Breakfast, and Michael J. Sawaya, executive vice president of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority and Convention Center president. The “Power 25” represents the most influential people in the New Orleans Hospitality and Tourism industry.

Reyes, Hubbard and Sawaya were chosen for this honor through an anonymous nomination process and were ultimately selected for their long list of contributions to the New Orleans hotel & tourism industry, as well as their contributions to the local New Orleans community.

Jerry Reyes is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years of hotel industry experience. He is an MBA graduate of the University of New Orleans, where he serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Hospitality Administration Department. Reyes currently serves as the General Manager of the Westin Canal Place Hotel, a position he has held for three years. Under his leadership, the Westin recently completed a $30 million revitalization, including renovations to all 462 guestrooms and suites, architectural improvements and an interior redesign. He also hosts a podcast about the industry with his identical twin brother called “The Hospitality Twins .”

Don C. Hubbard is an esteemed civil rights leader, community activist and entrepreneur who owns and operates the Hubbard Mansion Bed & Breakfast on St. Charles Avenue. Through the years, he has received numerous leadership awards, including the Avery C. Alexander Civil Rights Award, Marlin Gusman “Living Legends Award” and New Orleans Chapter Urban League “Man of the Year.”

A 43-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Michael J. Sawaya came to New Orleans in 2018 from San Antonio, TX. Since his arrival, he has been a shepherd of the New Orleans events industry, embarking on an ambitious $557 million five-year capital improvement plan – the largest in the facility’s 37-year history. Under Mr. Sawaya’s leadership, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was named as a National Top Workplace for 2021, the only convention center in America to hold that title.

“I believe I can speak for Jerry and Don when I say that we are honored to be listed as three of New Orleans CityBusiness’ most influential people in the New Orleans Tourism and Hospitality industry,” says Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center president. “It is through the collaboration of these talented individuals that the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is uniquely positioned to thrive in a post-pandemic environment. Our work on the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority is turning heads and blazing a trail that is sure to be an example for the tourism industry not only locally, but nationally as well.

You can read more about the Power 25 list in the April 23 edition of New Orleans CityBusiness, and on their website, www.neworleanscitybusiness.com.

(From the left): Jerry Reyes, Don C. Hubbard & Michael J. Sawaya