New Orleans Highly Ranked by Two Expert Travel Resources
August 3, 2011Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor rank New Orleans highly on best destination and least expensive travel lists
NEW ORLEANS –August, 2011–TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure both recognized New Orleans as a premier travel destination in two lists released in July 2011.
TripAdvisor analyzed prices of key vacation items- one night accommodations (four star hotel), item of food (pizza), an alcoholic drink (dry martini) and a taxi journey- in 15 cities and tracked prices against the U.S. dollar with their new TripIndex tool. New Orleans ranked the third most inexpensive city in the nation- with the price of a martini $3 less than any competitor, showcasing the city as a top nightlife destination as well.
Travel + Leisure readers ranked New Orleans the sixth best North American city for travel, one spot above last year’s number seven ranking. They also honored the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans for the best hotel spa in the region, along with ranking the Windsor Court, Roosevelt New Orleans and Loews New Orleans Hotel in the top 50 North American hotels, placing them sixth, 13th and 49th respectively.
Travel + Leisure readers voted on their favorite hotels, cities, islands, spas, cruise lines, airlines, tour operators and safari outfitters, and car-rental agencies. The 2011 World’s Best Awards reader’s survey results (listed by overall and regional rankings) and survey methodology are featured in the August issue of Travel+ Leisure magazine, on newsstand July 22 and online now at www.TravelandLeisure.com/worldsbest.
“TripAdvisor and Travel + Leisure readers are well versed in the travel industry, so it is a huge honor for New Orleans to be consistently recognized by them as a top travel destination,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Tourism is a $5 billion, image and perception-driven business, so we look to both awards to solidify our city’s status as a premier travel destination in the country as well as internationally.”
These key distinctions add to a list of awards New Orleans has been racking up including honors from AAA South Magazine, where New Orleans was recognized as Best Large City for a Weekend, Best Guy’s Getaway and Best Girls Getaway. Travel + Leisure also recognized New Orleans in 2010 as the top Singles City, and Best Urban Destination for New Years Eve. In addition, Priceline.com ranked New Orleans second on their list of the top 50 destination for the Fourth of July 2011.
The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is a nationally accredited, 1,000-member destination marketing organization and the largest and most successful private economic development corporation in Louisiana. We create $5 billion in new capital each year- more than any other business sector- by attracting millions of visitors, special events and conventions. The CVB and its members influence thousands of decision-makers and millions of visitors to choose New Orleans through direct sales, marketing, public relations, branding and visitor services at our New Orleans headquarters and offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago and four foreign countries. Consistently recognized as one of the top five CVBs in the country, the New Orleans CVB celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. For more information, please visit www.neworleanscvb.com.
With an eye for the authentic, the innovative, and the irresistible, Travel + Leisure® (www.travelandleisure.com, @travelandleisure) fuses expert reporting on culture, food, style and design with stunning photography, transporting readers to the places- and the travel experiences- that matter now. T+L, the monthly title from American Express Publishing and the long-standing authority in its field, has the largest audience of any travel magazine and is an indispensable guide for global nomads. Travel + Leisure has a network of international editions, including Travel + Leisure Mexico, Travel + Leisure Turkey, Travel + Leisure China, Travel + Leisure South Asia, and Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia.
TripAdvisor® is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and Instant Personalization) with seamless links to booking tools.
State Sales Tax Aug 5 & 6
August 1, 2011
BATON ROUGE – The majority of consumer purchases are exempt from state sales taxes during the 2011 Louisiana Annual Sales Tax Holiday on Friday, August 5, and Saturday, August 6.
The sales tax holiday exempts the first $2,500 of the purchase price of each eligible item from the four percent state sales tax. The law describes eligible items as “individual items of tangible personal property for non-business use.”
The Louisiana Department of Revenue encourages shoppers to retain receipts for school supplies, uniforms, and educational equipment required by schools. Expenses paid this year are eligible for tax deductions on 2011 Louisiana Individual Income Tax Returns due May 15, 2012. In order to claim the deductions, you must be able to claim the student as a dependent on your state individual income tax return, and you must be able to provide documentation for the expenses. Visit www.revenue.louisiana.gov/schooldeduction for more information.Read
Today Louisiana mourns the passing of Eugene Schreiber
July 25, 2011
Eugene Joseph Schreiber, who served as Managing Director of the World Trade Center (WTC) of New Orleans for 32 years, died on July 20 of complications from leukemia. Gene was passionate about the city of New Orleans, and under his direction, from 1979 to 2010, the city’s World Trade Center organized more than 1,500 seminars, conferences, country briefings, inbound and outbound trade missions, and other international trade programs in support of Louisiana’s export-import growth, port activity, and economic development.
Eugene will be greatly missed by those all over the world and by the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Group. Rest in Peace.
USCVB Goes Mobile
July 20, 2011
Earlier this week we posted an article about the NOCVB and how the incorporated mobile technology for visitor to New Orleans. Now here is an article about other cities adapting the new phase of marketing. Mobile Marketing…
Full Article of USCVB goes Mobile
NOCVB Innovates Mass-Comm Through Texting
July 18, 2011
Summary: The platform allows users to text their location and interest to a dedicated short code. The MeNetwork database then sends a text message back with information on local restaurants, bars and retailers offering deals and promotions specific to the request.
The CVB and MeNetwork also noted the service reaches visitors regardless of the type of phone they have and simply combines deals with the search.
Click Here to Read the Full Article
Good News: Tourism Rebounds in Gulf Coast
- Hotels and restaurants sat largely abandoned at the height of the spill, but a year later, the tourists are back, the beaches are crowded, restaurants have waiting lines and many hotels are charging pre-oil-spill rates again.
- To cope with the price of gas, many hotels are participating in the Giving Tanks promotion, which offers gas cards and discounts for vacation travelers, according to Rowe.
-And this year, the rooms were filled with tourists, not BP cleanup workers.
Click for Gulf Coast Tourism Full Article
Windsor Court Rated in top 10 Hotel in Gulf South
July 15, 2011The Windsor Court has been named the No. 6 spot in the Top 50 US/Canada Big City Hotels in Travel + Leisure’s 2011 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey.
Click Here: Windsor Court get Top 10 Rating in US
witti (Women in Travel & Tourism International)
July 13, 2011
The Event
Women in Travel & Tourism and The Court of Two Sisters Invites you to a special Reception and Dinner in New Orleans, in conjunction with the DMAI Annual Convention.
Women in Travel & Tourism International (witti) is an exciting new organization whose mission is to enhance the success of women in the travel and tourism industry through peer-to-peer networking, mentoring, lead sharing, and giving back to the global travel community in meaningful ways.
Help us launch this new organization committed to promoting, connecting, and celebrating women in travel and tourism.
Click here to register for the upcoming witti launch event at one of New Orleans’ premier restaurants: The Court of Two Sisters in the heart of the historic French Quarter.
The Organization
Women in Travel & Tourism International (witti) is an exciting new organization whose mission is to enhance the success of women in the travel and tourism industry through peer-to-peer networking, mentoring, lead sharing, and giving back to the global travel community in meaningful ways. The first steps to organize this dynamic group have been taken, and we are now establishing our Founder’s Circle,
The women and partner organizations who will help determine the directions of the organization’s key tenet: Connecting, Supporting, and Promoting Women’s Contributions in Travel and Tourism.
The specific benefits witti will offer include: 1) Networking, through conferences, a listserve, and gatherings at major tourism conferences; 2) Lead sharing; 3) Education; and 4) Community service, to entail the funding of projects that help women in developing nations develop the skills and acquire tools to establish tourism-related businesses.
Women and Partner organizations in the Founder’s Circle will help shape witti’s mission and global programming as we seek to serve women in our industry. You also will be invited as special guests to speak at the inaugural meeting of witti in Orlando, 2012, as well as benefit from listings on our website and in promotional materials.
witti plans to hold two meetings annually — at Pow Wow (incorporating former FIT Brunch founded by Sharon Gaiptman of Alaska) and annually in partnership with the ONE Travel Conference each January. Our first meeting will follow the ONE Travel Conference January 15-17 in Orlando, FL. At the Hilton Orlando, Bonnet Creek.
witti will also hold special events in conjunction with other conferences held by National Tour Association, and is approaching other Associations to co-host events at their annual conferences. And, of course, we’ll create a vibrant online community through a web site and social media where we can all click, connect, and confer.
Let Them Know
Get involved now by e-mailing your response and areas of service interest (i.e. membership, bylaws, communications, etc.) to Laura Mandala at Laura@MandalaResearch.com. We hope you’ll say “YES!” to becoming a part of this extraordinary group, together we will plan, strategize, and connect to help women in travel and tourism everywhere.
Witti Statement
witti’s mission is to enhance the success of women in the travel and tourism industry through peer-to-peer networking, mentoring, lead sharing, and giving back to the global travel community in meaningful ways to serve women in the travel.
witti is founded and led by Laura Mandala, managing director of Mandala Research & Consulting and former VP/Research with U.S. Travel. witti is supported by the Collie Gorg Group (CGG), a management firm based near Washington DC specializing in growing organizations and associations. CGG has experience with managing groups within travel and tourism and involvement with many travel, convention, and destination marketing organizations.
Tip of the Week: How to Find the Best Travel Rates
July 11, 2011
Here is an interesting article that explains to you the best time to purchase plane tickets. Thinking of making an international visit to Louisiana? Now you should be.
http://www.farecompare.com/travel-advice/tips-from-air-travel-insiders/
(this tip brought to you by Louisiana Tax Free Shopping)
COOLinary Restaurant Promotion
NEW ORLEANS—July 7, 2011— New Orleans has announced the line-up of more than 35 world-class restaurants for its seventh annual COOLinary restaurant promotion, offering special two and three-course lunch menus for $20 or less and three-course dinner menus for $35 or less, August 1-31, 2011.
The event celebrates the famous, authentic cuisine of New Orleans and its culinary community, which according to Tom Fitzmorris and www.nomenu.com, currently boasts 1,205 restaurants. The COOLinary promotion runs throughout the month of August, coinciding with New Orleans summer hotel rates, a year-round unparalleled nightlife scene and one-of-a-kind attractions—making for the perfect summer vacation destination.
“Food is at the core of New Orleans’ culture, and for the past seven years, COOLinary has extended a special invitation for visitors to dine at the city’s most prestigious and beloved restaurants,” said Kim Priez, Vice President of Tourism Sales for the New Orleans CVB. “This promotion creates an opportunity to enjoy signature meals from our award-winning chefs, all inspired by fresh Louisiana produce and products.”
Restaurants participating in COOLinary 2011 include: 5 Fifty 5, 7 on Fulton, Antoine’s Restaurant, Bayona, The Bombay Club, Bon Ton Café, Bourbon House, Brennan’s Restaurant, Brigtsen’s, Café Adelaide, Café Degas, Café Giovanni, Commander’s Palace, Charlie’s Steak House, The Court of Two Sisters, The Crazy Lobster, Desire Seafood & Oyster Bar, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Emeril’s New Orleans, Feast, GW FINS, Latil’s Landing of Houmas House Plantation & Gardens, Lüke, M Bistro at The Ritz-Carlton, Mike’s on the Avenue, Mulates Cajun Restaurant, Muriel’s Jackson Square, One Restaurant & Lounge, Palace Café, The Pelican Club, Roux on Orleans, Royal Palm, Restaurant August, Sazerac Restaurant, Ste. Marie and Tujague’s Restaurant.
Visit www.coolinaryneworleans.com to see the growing list of restaurants and to learn more about COOLinary New Orleans. Unique specials as well as the latest information and menus from participating restaurants are also available on the official COOLinary website.
