ISRI 2007 Convention and Exposition: New Orleans News

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The biggest news is that an ISRI delegation went to New Orleans immediately after ISRI’s board meetings for our second and most important pre-convention visit. As you know, this was my second trip to the city after Hurricane Katrina. For the rest of the group, it was the first. In fact, it was the first trip ever to New Orleans for ISRI Meeting Planner Dana Henry.

You’ve heard what I think of New Orleans already. I thought you might prefer to hear about the city from the perspective of ISRI’s first spouse, Jo Cozzi. After the trip, Jo wrote a letter being sent to all 2006 ISRI attendees with her views on the trip. You can read it here (PDF).

Jo’s letter gives you a good idea of what to expect from our next convention venue, but it doesn’t talk about some of the changes that are coming to the ISRI convention that should make the convention a better experience from beginning to end. Many of the items below are still in the planning stages, but it gives you an idea of what’s new:

The other noticeable difference will be the food. While it is always good at ISRI conventions and always good in New Orleans, the chefs at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center have truly kicked it up a notch.

Speaking of food, Frommers, the world-renowned travel guide people, have recently issued a report on travel to New Orleans. You can read it here.

Finally, the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is August 29. In the coming weeks, news media from all over the world will descend on the city. Experience tells us that these reporters will spend far more time on the lack of progress than they will on the progress. Throughout these news posts, we have never discounted the difficulties the city has encountered. The city is certainly still feeling the affects of the hurricane one year later. Just remember that, as these reporters file their stories from neighborhoods not yet rebuilt, they are staying in 5-star hotels, eating in 5-star restaurants, and enjoying the historic charm of the city when not on camera. That is the “tale of two cities” New Orleans continues to face today. They have fought hard to bring back tourism and trade and they have achieved that success. But there is still much work to be done.

August 29 will be a day to remember the victims of Hurricane Katrina, to be proud of the generous support that ISRI provided to hurricane relief, and a day to look forward to doing even more as we contribute to the ongoing economy of the city next April.

New Orleans has passed its first big test with the American Library Association convention held in the city June 22 - 27. By all accounts—even those from the network news—the convention was a great success.

"I also have never felt so welcomed to a city. It's true there is no other place like New Orleans, and I hope many conventions and visitors will come soon to enjoy all the city has to offer," said ALA President Leslie Burger.

Reports from the convention suggest the only serious issue faced by the librarians was finding flights into the city. Currently, there are 107 daily flights into New Orleans, only about 70 percent of the pre-hurricane airline traffic. However, airlines are responding to demand and more flights are expected in the coming months.

In an earlier entry, I had mentioned the Fairmont and Ritz Carlton hotels. Both have announced they plan to reopen in December 2006, completely renovated. The Hilton (which, like our convention hotels, was not appreciably damaged by the hurricane) has announced a planned $50 million renovation to its property on the banks of the Mississippi.

A June 29 news report says that the National Association of Realtors, who will hold their annual convention in New Orleans in November, report that advance registrations are setting a record pace. Already, more than 8,000 people—nearly 1/3 of expected attendance—have already registered for their convention.

ISRI will make its second pre-convention visit to the city next week immediately after the ISRI Leadership Meetings in Washington. So visit this blog again soon for a complete report shortly thereafter.

For now, check out New Orleans in the News at http://www.neworleanscvb.com/articles/index.cfm/action/articles/typeID/2.

June 22, 2006

It's been a busy three weeks at ISRI since my last posting that has included some travel—more on that later.

This New Orleans News Update should be entitled "Bad News/Good News." There seems to have been a lot of both in the past few weeks.

Bad News/Good News 1
The biggest "bad/good" news event of the past week was news of a spate of gang-related crime that resulted in six murders in the city last weekend. It was a top story on nearly every newscast in America. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin went so far as to ask the state's governor to call out the National Guard in response.

My first thought on hearing this was not good. Here is just another challenge ISRI has to overcome in marketing the convention. But then I looked at it another way: This very well may be the best example yet that New Orleans is remaking itself into a better and safer city for the future!

This is the first serious wave of crime the city has experienced since the immediate aftermath of the hurricane and New Orleans showed they weren't going to just roll over for the gangs. Nagin's decision to ask for National Guard assistance was a smart idea—an attempt to get a handle on gang violence quickly and strongly. Putting an end to this violence now will only help make sure the city is safer when we get there next April.

It also was the first time I have disagreed with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau's "spin" on an issue. You can see their newsflash on the issue at here (PDF). It leads by telling people that the violence occurred outside the areas that convention visitors travel. That's true, by the way, but regardless of where it occurred, it must be stopped. If having the National Guard come in will help stop it early and stop it hard, I'm all for it.

New Orleans is not the only city in America facing gang-related crime issues. In fact, there's a report from our favorite city of Las Vegas that gang-related shootings are up 50 percent in the past year. Just like New Orleans, the vast majority of this trouble happens away from the strip. But it is a problem in every big city.

Bad News/Good News 2
This one is more on the humorous side. The bad news is that the meter maids are back in New Orleans, so get ready to feed meters and dodge parking tickets! The GOOD news is that, if ever there is a sign of progress, it is that the city has time and staff to deal with parking meters. On balance, I think the good news wins here again!

You can read about it in the New Orleans Times Picayune. The link may ask you for your zip code and birth year before it allows you read it.

Bad News/Good News 3
Former convention chair Mark Lewon called me to tell me about a story he had seen in the Dallas Morning news in early June that gives a fairly objective look at the rebirth of New Orleans' convention business. ISRI is providing a forwarding link to the story at http://www.isri.org/conventionstory.

The rest is all good news.

This week, New Orleans gets its first really big test of its ability to handle big conventions as the American Library Association holds their meeting in the city. This group is 4 ½ times larger than ISRI's best convention and will be taking up three times the space at the convention center that we use. You can read about the city's preparations at here.

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (NOCVB) has been collecting a lot of positive news stories about the city (wonder where they got the idea?). You should check out the site for an update on a lot of the things we like best about the city. Finally, there's a report from Maritz Travel Company, which recently moved its international sales meeting from their company headquarters to New Orleans and brought about 3,000 travel agents with them. Read the statement from Martiz President and CEO Christine Duffy:

"As the industry leader in meetings, events and incentive travel, Maritz and people have experienced premier locales around the world. Without doubt, New Orleans has been and continues to be a top destination for large groups that want first-class entertainment, food, facilities and service, and a truly unique cultural experience. With the help of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the city's world-renowned hospitality, our recent sales conference was a huge success. We toured the city, stayed in luxury accommodations, ate at fabulous restaurants and experienced authentic New Orleans entertainment at its best. Maritz' sales force is thrilled to report back to clients that New Orleans is open for business, and ready for their next incentive trip or meeting."

—Christine Duffy, President and CEO, Maritz Travel Company, June 14, 2006

June 1, 2006

June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season and is obviously a day that means a lot to the City of New Orleans. For the most part, the news has marked the date with a little more positive spin.

Tonight’s NBC Nightly News aired once again from the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans from atop a new flood wall erected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Reporters did several interviews with Corps personnel to learn more about the improvements in New Orleans’ flood protection. They noted that the old flood walls were sunk into the levees only 15 feet. The new walls are sunk to a depth of 60 feet.

“It’s the equivalent of a 12 story building, with 10 stories of it sunk into the ground,” said the Corps’ spokesman. He also noted that the new flood wall was so strong “it will be here after the pyramids.”

New Orleans held the inauguration for reelected Mayor Ray Nagin this week at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, where ISRI’s convention will take place. Nagin won the runoff election held last month. One news commentator remarked that, while Nagin tends to make statements that are a little shocking, at least he’s proven to be an honest mayor.

New Orleans unveiled an exciting new redevelopment project for the area around the Superdome and the Hyatt Regency hotel. The new Jazz District will include an amphitheater, a park, and a first-class new renovated Hyatt hotel. Check out the details at: neworleanscvb.com/articles/index.cfm/action/view/articleID/477/typeID/12/sectionid/3

Anyone reading these news updates knows their purpose is to keep ISRI convention attendees up-to-date with the progress in the city with the ultimate goal of making people confident they will have a great experience at our convention next year. Since the news media seems intent on covering the bad news, we want to make sure everyone hears the good news as well.

But I also want to keep it real, not just a sales job.

After my last posting, I received an e-mail from an ISRI member who had just returned from New Orleans having attended his son’s graduation from Tulane. Their experience of New Orleans wasn’t very good, a combination of service problems and some very bad luck.

Jeff Ross, from American Compressed Steel in Kansas City, reports service problems at the Marriott Renaissance Pere Marquette (not one of ISRI’s hotels), a flat tire on his rental car, street signs that haven’t been replaced yet, and a 1 ½ hour wait to return his rental car at the agency. After all that, his flight was cancelled leading to a 12 hour trip through Houston and Dallas to return to Kansas City.

“…the root problem is the amount and quality of help all over the town,” Ross said.

No doubt, the city is facing the struggle between the availability of personnel to handle the jobs and the number of jobs available to give employees incentive to return to the city. It was one of the major concerns I addressed with New Orleans officials on my trip there in February. Both the hotels and the convention center have plans in place to make sure they are adequately staffed for our convention next April, even if it means importing staff from other hotels around the country. They’ve made a lot of progress in the 9 months since the hurricane. With 10 ½ more months to go before ISRI returns, let’s hope that progress will continue.

Despite the problems on his trip, Ross remains a fan of New Orleans. “I am looking forward to the day that New Orleans is back and can handle the good size conventions. My family loves the town. I am sure that New Orleans is responsible for at least 5 of the extra pounds I have gained in the last 4 years. My son has applied to Tulane's MBA program for next year, and if he indeed goes that way, I look forward to another few pounds.”

May 17, 2006

It was another week of news stories that fail to paint the whole picture of New Orleans. USA Today and The Washington Post both wrote stories about the city. USA Today was focused on this week's election for mayor. The Washington Post did a story that talked about the disparity in recovery between the middle-class Lakeview neighborhood and the low-income Ninth Ward. Neither had much of a mention of what's going on downtown.

As soon as I read the story in the Post (6:30 a.m.), I wrote the reporter to express my concerns about missing the story of downtown recovery. To my surprise, he wrote back a few hours later—and admitted I was right! You can read our e-mail exchange by clicking here.

The map below shows the city of New Orleans and is color-coded to show where the flood damage occurred. The areas mentioned in most of the stories you see are marked in red: Lakeview and the Ninth Ward. Notice that every place we encounter in New Orleans—hotels, convention center, French Quarter, Garden District, Business District—are all in green. These areas were never flooded! That's why their recovery has been so fast and so strong.

Speaking of updates, here are a few of interest:

All but three downtown hotels are open for business. The Fairmont, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Hyatt remain closed for renovation. The Fairmont and the Ritz-Carlton were located just at the edge of the city's flooding and sustained little damage, but they are using this time as an opportunity for a complete makeover. The Hyatt, which is located next to the Superdome, is the one hotel that really got hit badly by the storm—a function of its design that amplified the force of the hurrcane's wind. They still have a good bit of work to do.
Over 1,000 of the city's restaurants are open for business. Keith Levey, our contact at the convention center, reports that the only major restaurants that remain closed are three of the Brennan family's more famous, none of which were severely damaged, just ready for a makeover. Commander's Palace will reopen in early August, Mr. B's will open in June, and Brennans will open sometime this summer—no date set yet.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau has created a video update on the events in New Orleans. You can watch it by clicking here (Windows Media Player. 3:38.).
I reported earlier that the Superdome will open Sept. 25 with the first home game of the New Orleans Saints. USA Today is reporting that season ticket sales for the Saints has broken all records.

I have one favor to ask. If you're reading this news update, share it with anyone you know who attends ISRI conventions. It's important that people know that New Orleans will be ready for ISRI. Just copy either of the links below and put it in an e-mail to your friends and coworkers.

I'll be on vacation next week. Check for the next update on June 1.

Thanks!

May 11, 2006

The New Orleans Jazz Festival finished up last weekend with terrific news for the city. Attendance at the festival appears to have matched or exceeded 2005’s attendance of 400,000. Official attendance figures will be out later this month.

Recently, ISRI President Robin Wiener received a letter (click here, PDF file) from Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu thanking ISRI for its decision to hold its 2007 convention in New Orleans. “We are committed to the success of your meeting in our city and state, and I can think of no better city to host the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ meeting,” Landrieu said.

As Lt. Governor, Landrieu heads up the state’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. He is also one of the two candidates left in the runoff for Mayor of New Orleans. The New Orleans Convention and Visitors’ Bureau has provided an update to renovations at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. As of this week, crews have completed carpet replacement for the entire first floor of the building and in 90 of the Center’s 140 meeting rooms on the upper levels. Exterior remodeling is about 70% complete and the work to eliminate the orange décor, changing it out to a more modern blue/gray is about 60% complete.

You can check out the new look of the convention center by going to mccno.com/presentations/coolblues.html.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, the convention center has been hosting events since mid-February. The Center’s larger conventions begin this month. Here’s a listing of some of the conventions at the center:

Helen Brett Enterprises, Inc. (Gift Show) May 19-22 Halls E & F

USA Volleyball May 27-June 3 Halls D, E, & F

Air & Waste Management Association June 20-22 Halls D & E

American Library Association June 24 – 27 Halls F, G, H, I, & J

So you can get a perspective on the size of these meetings, ISRI’s Exhibit Hall will be in Halls E & F in 2007.

May 3, 2006

A lot of news from New Orleans in the past week:

The city is in the middle of what appears to be a very successful 37th Annual Jazzfest. The crowds have been good. The weather has cooperated, for the most part, and the musicians on the stages have been first rate. Music fans at Jazzfest will be treated to the likes of Fats Domino, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffett, the Dave Matthews Band, Paul Simon, Lionel Ritchie, Allen Toussaint, Elvis Costello, Etta James, Pete Fountain, and several dozen other famous and not-so-famous musicians.
Another Brennan's family establishment is serving again. Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, famous for some of the best beef and seafood around, has reopened in its French Quarter location.
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas announced that they will reopen in time for Memorial Day
Both the French Quarter and Downtown locations of W hotels in New Orleans have celebrated a grand reopening.

Speaking of hotels, all the major hotels have been extremely diligent to make sure health and safety standards are maintained at excellent levels. Many have gone through hospital-quality environmental remediation programs—just to be on the safe side. The managers of our hotels (Sheraton and Marriott) tell me they are regularly performing air-quality tests to insure the health and safety of guests. Air testing isn't something new, but the frequency of tests has been boosted to give added peace of mind.

If you have questions or concerns, e-mail me at chuckcarr@isri.org.

April 28, 2006

Welcome to ISRI's New Orleans Update weblog!

Check this space for news, information, and answers to common questions concerning the 2007 ISRI Convention and Exposition, April 17-21, 2007. If you have questions or concerns about our New Orleans venue, please e-mail me at chuckcarr@isri.org.

A lot of things have prompted this method of communicating about New Orleans: questions I received while at our 2006 convention in Las Vegas, comments I heard that made it clear people are not aware of the progress in the city, and the overwhelming amount of bad news we see on TV.

Just last night (April 27), Brian Williams, anchor of NBC Nightly News, gave his newscast from the Lakeview section of New Orleans. The background was a row of flooded homes that still have not been repaired. His stories focused on frustrations with FEMA, the challenges faced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the levees, and the continuing struggles of individual residents trying to rebuild.

There is no question that New Orleans continues to struggle with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But what the news fails to show is the amazing recovery of downtown New Orleans—the part that tourists and convention-goers will encounter.

New Orleans today is truly a tale of two cities: the one we see on the news each night that highlights the problems of Hurricane Katrina and the downtown area that is quickly returning to normal. If you think about it, there's no surprise here. The news is looking for ratings and bad news gathers more ratings than does good news.

It's also no surprise that downtown is recovering quickly. The business community of New Orleans knows how their bread gets buttered. Conventions, tourism, and the port of New Orleans are the economic anchors of the city. The city is doing everything it can to return this part of life to normal as quickly as possible. And they are succeeding.

The Port of New Orleans saw a return to 100% of pre-Katrina cargo tonnage last February, months ahead of predictions.
Harrah's Casino, a major tourist attraction, reopened its doors a week before Mardi Gras (and it was packed when I was there)
The Brennan family began reopening their famous restaurants one week after Katrina hit. By September of 2006, they'll all be back open. The famous ones like Brennans and Commander's Palace will be completely renovated and modernized.
The jewelry, art, and antiques businesses that are the lifeblood of retail in the French Quarter are back open and thriving.
Crime statistics show that crimes committed in the city have dropped significantly since Hurricane Katrina.

If anything, New Orleans is cleaner and safer today that it was when we had such a great time there in 2005. The only thing missing from New Orleans are the crowds, which are thinner today because people have been scared off by TV news!

This first blog submission was a little long. The rest won't be. But do watch this space for news and information. And mark your calendars for April 17-21, 2007. You're not going to want to miss next year's convention!

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