Dear Friends of New Orleans & Company,

Happy New Year! It’s been a picture-perfect few days for New Orleans Eve festivities, the Allstate Sugar Bowl parade, and a thrilling sold-out game between Georgia and Ole Miss at the Caesars Superdome. We salute NOPD, Troop NOLA, the National Guard and all law enforcement professionals for their service.

On a more somber note, we also held a four-day mourning period declared by Governor Landry to honor the victims of the January 1, 2025 terrorist attack. That tragic day forever changed so many lives and families. We continue to remember those we lost, to honor the strength of the survivors, and to thank the first responders, whose actions saved countless lives.

This past year, we affirmed that no act of terror can dim the unique light that New Orleans shines upon the world. We remain committed to unity, respect, and the enduring humanity that allows our city to be a place where people come together, convene, celebrate, and experience joy in a truly special way.

That spirit and light will carry us into a new year for New Orleans’ most important industry. 

We have many exciting opportunities this year such as Rockin’ 1000, Savannah Bananas, Hondo Rodeo, Sail 250, Zurich Classic and LIV Golf, Bocuse D’Or, Pastry World Cup, WWE Money in the Bank, Fit Fete and much more. Execution of a transformative plan, Vision 2035, is underway. And in the first quarter we will welcome major meetings and conventions including the American College of Cardiology and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, each welcoming at least 10,000 people from around the world and acting as powerful economic engines.

As we forge ahead into 2026, I must acknowledge the New Orleans & Company team’s accomplishments in 2025 to deliver significant impact against all odds. For example:

  • In 2025 alone, New Orleans & Company’s Convention Sales team booked more than 1.7 million hotel room nights and the Tourism Sales team booked more than 541,000 hotel room nights. That’s conservatively over $400m dollars in direct sales. That means jobs, direct bookings for our hotels, and economic impact for our city, state and region. When travelers stay in hotels it means business for our restaurants, tour guides, shops, cultural attractions, museums, music venues and more.
  • The New Orleans & Company Convention Services team issued more than 471 business leads for our members. They also conducted 115 sites, reached out to 413 clients for Group Marketing/PR support, staffed 55 conventions, and planned 61 events for the Sales team. This means business for our community and exceptional service that allowed our Convention Sales team to book more than 1.6 million hotel room nights this year.
  • New Orleans & Company’s PR team assisted more than 1,200 journalists and influencers, including nearly 500 on personalized itineraries to experience the city’s culture. The team supported major PR moments including Super Bowl LIX, Amtrak Mardi Gras, UNESCO and Michelin, and hosted the Today Show, Good Morning America, and CBS Sunday Morning, generating positive media coverage that inspires visitation.
  • Across digital platforms, New Orleans & Company’s Marketing team generated nearly three million engagement and more than 10 million website sessions on neworleans.com, reflecting strong interest and visibility for New Orleans.
  • New Orleans & Company’s Membership /External Affairs team provided valuable education, networking, business development and other opportunities to our members and partners. This means a more inclusive, accessible, sustainable and welcoming destination for all who choose New Orleans as a place to live, work, learn and visit.
  • New Orleans & Company’s new Event Productive Executive Sam Joffray, in his first nine months on the job, confirmed new events for New Orleans in 2026 including the Maestri Classic, Rockin’ 1000 and Fit Fete. New events mean more demand for the city, more jobs, and economic impact for our city, state and region.

None of these things happened by chance. Momentum isn’t established by luck, rather momentum is a function of discipline accelerated.  It is the result of every person at New Orleans & Company leading with professionalism, expertise, integrity, collaboration, and a relentless commitment to this community.  It’s the thousands of small actions, done well, that lead to results down the line. Thank you for your partnership. We could not do it without you.

So happy new year and cheers to 2026. And now we also can say Happy Mardi Gras!

Sincerely,

Walter J. Leger III
President & CEO
New Orleans & Company