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New Orleans CVB In Action

Section: Community

New Orleans CVB In Action

Issue Number 3 * April 16, 2009

Dear CVB Members and Stakeholders of New Orleans’ Tourism Industry,

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) understands how difficult it is to survive and attract visitors in these unprecedented times for the national economy and global travel industry. This is the third issue of the New Orleans CVB in Action, a new publication which will provide:

details of the CVB’s aggressive 2009 sales, marketing and public relations action plan to attract visitors and meetings, and how you can leverage that action plan to be more successful
immediate, specific tips to help you market your business
updates on national grassroots campaigns such as Meetings Mean Business to defend our industry when travel -- especially corporate and incentive meetings -- are being portrayed negatively by the national media and the federal government
breaking news and research from national industry organizations on which I serve as an Executive Committee member such as the U.S. Travel Association and Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)
success stories about new business wins, positive press, customer testimonials and other accomplishments from New Orleans’ tourism industry

I welcome your feedback about this new publication and your suggestions to advance the city’s critical tourism industry. Thanks for your partnership and all that you do for the great City of New Orleans.

Sincerely,

J. Stephen Perry

President and CEO

New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau

National Initiatives

I am pleased to represent New Orleans’ hospitality industry and help shape national travel policy as a new member of the U.S. Travel Association’s Executive Committee. My fellow executive committee members include Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts; George Fertitta, CEO of NY & Company (the CVB of New York City); Christine Duffy, President and CEO of Maritz Travel; and Shane Berry, Senior VP/General Manager of Merchant Services for American Express Company.

I recently completed two national board meetings for U.S. Travel Association and DMAI. I will provide an update when I return from a tradeshow and client visits in Washington D.C. this week.

CVB Marketing

We are launching a new web-based lead response and tracking system for CVB-issued convention sales and tourism leads. The new system will enhance customer service, save time and allow hotels to view leads in one centralized location online. The system also will provide the ability to respond to the CVB, include attachments and copy customers.

Save the Date for an important learning opportunity: the Travel Weekly New Orleans Forum will be held May 28th at the New Orleans Marriott from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. High-level travel industry experts will speak about their perceptions of the city and provide marketing recommendations to members of the hospitality community. Details to come.

Clients and Media Hosted in New Orleans

Following is a list of the clients, VIPs and influencers that the CVB has hosted recently, or will host later this month:

Microsoft’s vendor planning team, in preparation for their 2009 Conference
The American Embassy in Belgium, to brainstorm ways to increase travel from Belgium to New Orleans
A reporter from Hemispheres Magazine, the in-flight magazine of United Airlines that reaches 5 million passengers per month, for a positive travel story on New Orleans
Leaders of the National Black MBA Association, in preparation for the September 2009 Annual Meeting
Bookit.Com, a meeting to discuss a new marketing tool, which will feature New Orleans as the first domestic city
Leaders of the American Society of Hematology, to prepare for the December 2009 Annual Meeting
Leaders of National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, in preparation for their 2010 Conference
Travel Writer Phil Trip of The Sunday Telegraph, the newspaper of Sydney Australia, for a feature story on why to visit New Orleans
Brazos Valley Tours, to explore New Orleans for 2010 motorcoach groups
Leaders of Mary Kay, in preparation for their 2011 Conference
Orbitz Worldwide, a meeting to discuss future domestic and international marketing opportunities
Leaders of the American Association of Blood Banks, in preparation for their 2009 Conference
Novo Nordisk Pharma GmbH of Germany and its ground agent Come-Together of California, to conduct venue sites for a group coming in June
Leaders of Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, in preparation for their 2009 Conference
St. Agnes Academy of Houston, Texas, to prepare for a Spring 2010 visit
Leaders of International Roofing Expo, in preparation for their 2010 Conference
Great Rail Journeys (UK), to conduct site inspections for an Amtrak tour to New Orleans
Heritage Clubs International, hosted a FAM for 34 directors of this social travel network
Leaders of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in preparation for the 2012 Conference
Four travel-focused radio broadcasters for live remotes during French Quarter Festival

Showcasing New Orleans on the Road

Several of our Convention Sales team members and I will attend the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) 2009 Springtime Expo, in Washington D.C. Over 2,000 meeting professionals attend this event covering all markets including government, associations, and corporate organizations.

Later in the month, our Convention Sales team will participate in a networking event for Washington D.C.-area meeting professionals at a baseball outing, hosted by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

The Tourism Department attended the Travel South Showcase in Kissimmee, Florida, and conducted meetings with domestic and international tour operators. Travel South USA is the official regional destination marketing organization for 12 southern states, including Louisiana.

Our Midwest Regional Convention Sales Managers exhibited at the Hospitality Sales and Marketing International (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings Show in Chicago, with 1,137 planners registered.

Our Regional Sales Managers represented New Orleans at Meeting Professional International (MPI) events in Chicago and New York, as well as a joint MPI/PCMA education meeting in Chicago.

The Tourism Department exhibited at the CLIA Cruise 3 Sixty event in Ft. Lauderdale to meet with buyers of cruise packages.

Public Relations News

The CVB was honored with a cover story in the March 23, 2009 issue of PRWeek magazine. PRWeek is a trade magazine for public relations and communications practitioners in the US, providing news, profiles, techniques and ground-breaking research. The New Orleans CVB was chosen above all other organizations in the travel industry for a case study.

The story, “Back on Track: Three Years After Katrina, the New Orleans CVB is Spreading a Message of Hope and Hospitality,” highlights our award-winning post-Katrina PR strategies to attract visitors, overcome brand impairment, manage daily crisis situations, and serve as advocates for tourism.

Tip of the Week: Help Generate Positive Press

Did you know that the CVB's Public Relations and Communications Department hosts approximately 700 journalists per year on group and individual press trips? Each trip produces positive news coverage about our culture and reasons to visit, resulting in hundreds of articles, blogs and TV segments for consumer audiences worldwide. If you would like an opportunity to showcase your venue, product or service to our visiting journalists, please contact Media Services Coordinator Christine DeCuir at 504-566-5090 or cdecuir@neworleanscvb.com.

Success Stories

The New Orleans CVB was instrumental in negotiations to attract the first direct international fight since Katrina, and resolve a date conflict to keep Voodoo Fest in New Orleans:

AeroMexico, the global airline of Latin America, plans to launch six weekly, non-stop flights on July 6 between New Orleans and Mexico City, with convenient connecting flights to San Pedro Sula, Honduras on 50-seat ERJ 145 regional jets. The route represents the first new international flight service to be announced for New Orleans since 2005. This win represents a successful public-private partnership between Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Mayor Nagin, the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans CVB, Greater New Orleans Inc., Ochsner Health Systemand the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

On March 30th, an agreement was reached between officials at the New Orleans City Park and Voodoo Festival Producer Stephen Rehage, to hold the 2009 Voodoo Experience on Friday, October 30, Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1. The festival will be held in the same location as last year, in and around Roosevelt Mall. An amendment to the Voodoo Festival’s existing 10-year contract with City Park was signed. The meeting was held at the CVB, followed by a press conference.

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