Dear Friends of New Orleans & Company, 

July is traditionally one of the more challenging periods for our industry, which makes the work of creating demand all the more important. This month, New Orleans welcomed major sporting, culinary, and hospitality events, earned prestigious recognition, and continued building momentum for the remainder of the summer travel season 

Below are a few highlights of our continued progress toward achieving our strategic goals. 

Strategic Goal One: Deliver the Most Innovative and Exceptional Sales and Service 

  • Destination Marketing Accreditation - I am proud to share that New Orleans & Company holds an eight-year reaccreditation through Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program. This highly regarded credential signals that our organization successfully complies with rigorous industry standards in governance, finance, management, and communications. The reaccreditation reflects the strength of our organization and the commitment of our team to serving our members, partners, and community with excellence, transparency, and accountability.  
  • Sales Team’s Successful Efforts - The Convention Sales team has secured more than 200,000 room nights for 2027, underscoring our strategic focus on creating future demand and strengthening the city’s meetings and conventions pipeline.  
  • A Busy Fourth of July Weekend - New Orleans welcomed another ESSENCE Festival of Culture, contributing to a busy Fourth of July weekend and strong hotel occupancy across the city. A highlight of the weekend was Michelle Obama’s appearance, which kicked off festival programming with a live conversation connected to her IMO: The Look podcast. 
  • X-Games Championship - New Orleans also made history by hosting the inaugural MoonPay X Games League Championship at the Caesars Superdome. The event featured the world’s top skateboard, BMX, and Moto X athletes and reached audiences through national television and global streaming coverage. Congratulations to the X Games team, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, ASM Global, and all of the partners who helped deliver an incredible weekend of competition and entertainment. Hosting this first-of-its-kind championship demonstrated that New Orleans has the venues, experience, and hospitality infrastructure needed to successfully execute innovative global sporting events. 

Strategic Goal Two: Make New Orleans a Great Place to Live, Work, and Visit 

  • An Irreplaceable City -New Orleans was recently named to the World Monuments Fund’s 2026 Irreplaceable America list, which recognizes historic places whose preservation is essential to the richness and complexity of American history. New Orleans was the only entire city included on the list. The designation recognizes our historic neighborhoods as one of the country’s most distinctive cultural landscapes, shaped by Indigenous, African, European, and Caribbean influences and expressed through architecture, music, foodways, and neighborhood life. The local nomination was initiated by Kristin Gisleson Palmer, Executive Director of the Preservation Resource Center, to make the case that the entire city, rather than a single monument, building, or district, is the irreplaceable site. PRC worked with the Historic Preservation program in Tulane University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment, the Louisiana Landmarks Society, The Ella Project, and The Water Collaborative to develop the submission and highlight the connections among architecture, culture, water, community stability, and traditional skills. 
  • The Needed Support - To drive summer visitation, New Orleans & Company launched a promotion offering a $100 Visa digital gift card to guests who book a qualifying reservation of at least two nights through NewOrleans.com. Running from July 6 through September 30, while supplies last, the promotion encourages visitors and residents planning staycations to explore more of the city while supporting local hospitality businesses. 

Strategic Goal Three: Create and Own a Clear, World-Class Brand for New Orleans 

  • Culinary Excellence -  New Orleans welcomed leading culinary talent for the return of the Americas selections of Bocuse d’Or and the Pastry World Cup, held July 25 and 26 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in conjunction with the Louisiana Restaurant Association Showcase. New Orleans first hosted these prestigious international competitions in 2024, becoming the only U.S. city ever to do so. The return brought teams from across North and South America to compete for a coveted spot in the 2027 Grand Final in Lyon, France. For the past several months, our team worked diligently alongside our partners to prepare for this remarkable weekend. New Orleans welcomed some of the most accomplished chefs, pastry artists, culinary leaders, and rising talent from across the Americas, and Team USA earned gold in both competitions.  
  • James Beard Taste of America - New Orleans has also been selected as the national kickoff city for the James Beard Foundation’s 2026–2027 Taste America series, presented by American Express and Resy. The 20-city national program will begin September 16 at The Josephine, bringing together chefs, special guests, and diners to celebrate the independent restaurants that anchor communities and shape America’s culinary identity. The kickoff will feature all 20 members of the Foundation’s TasteTwenty class, an annual group of culinary leaders whose creativity and leadership are helping shape the future of American dining. Dickie Brennan will serve as Host Committee Chairman alongside many of New Orleans’ leading chefs and hospitality professionals, including New Orleans & Company’s Alice Glenn. Being selected to launch this national series follows the success of Bocuse d’Or, the Pastry World Cup, Tales of the Cocktail, and North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, adding another significant national culinary event to the city’s calendar.
  • 2026 World’s Best Awards - New Orleans also earned significant recognition from Travel + Leisure readers, who ranked New Orleans the fourth-best city in the United States and Canada in the publication’s 2026 World’s Best Awards. This honor reflects continued traveler enthusiasm for the city’s dining, music, neighborhoods, and distinctive visitor experience.
  • Tales of the Cocktail - Returned from July 19 through 24. Founded in New Orleans in 2002 as a walking tour of historic cocktail bars, Tales has grown into the world’s premier cocktail festival and the annual meeting place for the international bar and spirits industry. Tales welcomed bartenders, distillers, cocktail enthusiasts, and spirits professionals from around the world to exchange new ideas, products, and techniques. Its continued success highlights New Orleans’ longstanding influence on cocktail culture and the broader hospitality industry. 

Strategic Goal Four: Build International Tourism 

  • International Audience - The return of Bocuse d’Or, the Pastry World Cup, and Tales of the Cocktail brought international competitors, their guests, judges, journalists, and industry professionals to New Orleans. Our PR team hosted and supported international journalists, editors, influencers, and content creators representing Mexico, Germany, Argentina, and the United Kingdom as well as domestic journalists. These hosted media visits also strengthen relationships with global storytellers and help generate future coverage in key international markets. These efforts are also helping prepare New Orleans for IPW 2027, when the city will welcome travel buyers, media, and tourism leaders from across the globe.
  • Mexico Education Tour - The Tourism team, led by Olivia Markase, recently hosted four leading tour operators and travel buyers from Mexico for a comprehensive three-day familiarization tour of New Orleans. The visit was coordinated in partnership with our in-country representation firm in Mexico and provided firsthand exposure to the city's hotels, attractions, culinary scene, and visitor experiences. Strengthening the Mexican market remains a strategic priority as part of our long-term efforts to grow international visitation and further diversify New Orleans' global visitor base. 

Next up, COOLinary New Orleans and Museum Month, two signature August programs that invite residents and visitors to support local restaurants and cultural institutions while experiencing more of what makes our city unlike anywhere else. 

Thank you to our team, members, and partners for your continued dedication. Your work continues to strengthen our economy and introduce New Orleans to new audiences around the world. 

Thank you for your partnership. 

Sincerely, 


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