Built to Unite

BTH Logo 3.0

New Orleans & Company is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming culture within its organization and in support of its members and partners, with this ongoing leadership recognized by the Forum for Equality through its Acclaim Award for Corporate Leadership.

Equity Audit

  • New Orleans & Company underwent an equity audit performed by Beloved Community, a locally based national nonprofit, to identify strengths and needs in operationalizing commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Supporting Small & Emerging Businesses

  • We host an annual tradeshow, Connections, providing small and diverse businesses a platform to showcase their products and services to larger industry leaders. This event fosters meaningful networking opportunities, empowers small businesses to promote their offerings, and inspires the hospitality and tourism industry to support and engage with local vendors.
  • We’ve partnered with the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on their Small & Emerging Businesses (SEB) Connect App, a platform empowering small business owners to bid, compete, and engage in valuable opportunities across the city. Through this collaboration, we’re driving inclusivity in the hospitality and travel industry by bringing more opportunities for small and emerging businesses. 

Founding Member of the local Anti-defamation League’s Corporate Council Against Hate

  • Know Be4 Training and Continue Training
  • Ongoing staff-wide training modules

DEI Leadership Series by Destinations International

  • Director of HR completed a 6-month DEI Leadership Series conducted by the Ladipo Consulting Group in partnership with Destinations International that included sessions focused on Emotional Intelligence, Effective Communication, Microaggressions, Unconscious Bias and Allyship.

 

Everyone's Welcome Here Logo

Everyone's Welcome Here Sticker Program

neworleans.com/welcoming

  • Gay Cities readers gave New Orleans the distinction of being named second most welcoming city in the world
  • New Orleans has earned top marks on the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index, reflecting a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion and equity.

LGBT Couple Enjoying New Orleans

LGBTQ Travel Content

neworleans.com/lgbtq

A city as inclusive as ours has a lot to offer LGBTQ+ visitors and locals, which is why our online LGBTQ+ Insider hub includes travel tips, family guides, can’t-miss attractions, and more. This resource is regularly updated with new information and even more opportunities for inclusive and welcoming community engagement.


Advancing Protections

Powering Progress & Advancing Protections. Our city leaders are working to improve life for LGBTQ+ people in New Orleans every day.

City Of New Orleans Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE)

OHRE works to promote and protect human rights and advocate for equity in local government.

Areas of focus:

  • Providing policy and technical assistance
  • Forging partnerships with residents and advocates
  • Providing training to City departments and to the community
  • Providing assistance and support to the Human Relations Commission
  • Creating a Welcoming City
  • Coordinating the City’s racial equity initiatives
  • Facilitating the City’s LGBTQ+ Task Force

Gender-Affirming Identification

In 2021, the New Orleans City Council unanimously passed R-21-406. The resolution urges representatives at the state and local levels to review their policies and remove any barriers that could inhibit transgender and gender non-conforming people from obtaining gender-affirming identification. The Council heard the guidance and testimony of representatives from the Real Name Campaign, the Forum for Equality, Louisiana Trans Advocates, and True Colors United.

HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN

New Orleans scored 94 on the 2024 Human Rights Campaign MEI Rating

• Non-Discrimination Laws 28/30

• Municipal Services 12/12

• Law Enforcement 22/22

• Leadership on LGBTQ+ Equality 6/8 + 5/5 Flex

OHRE participated in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) by submitting the first report on behalf of the City of New Orleans. OHRE engaged community stakeholders, advocates, and other City departments to identify and report human rights priorities and best practices. If you are interested in the report, you can read it here.


More Ways New Orleans Is Focusing On Inclusion

Mardi Gras Indians on Mardi Gras Day

  • In 2015, New Orleans & Company created the New Orleans LGBT Hospitality Alliance (NOLHA), a convening of queer community leaders and hospitality professionals who advise the city on equity and inclusion initiatives.
  • The LGBT Community Center of New Orleans is a board-run organization committed to changing the future for underserved demographics, as well as creating forums for queer people to collaborate and engage.
  • The Greater New Orleans Foundation operates LGBTQ+ Field of Interest funds to ensure community leadership is supported and secure for years to come.

Made in New Orleans Foundation (MINO)

  • Addresses disparities facing hospitality professionals of color

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Glass Leadership Institute (GLI)

  • Empowers young adults to fight hatred and bigotry in their own communities

Wheel the World

  • A leading platform and community for accessible travel, dedicated to helping travelers with disabilities find and book inclusive travel experiences worldwide
  • “This partnership with New Orleans & Company represents a meaningful step towards accessibility and inclusion,” said Álvaro Silberstein, CEO of Wheel the World. “It’s inspiring to see New Orleans’ commitment to creating a welcoming environment for people with disabilities, both travelers and locals alike. We are confident that this collaboration will have a lasting, positive impact on our community by setting a standard for accessible tourism that other destinations can follow.”

Travel Unity

  • New membership and sponsor

Youth Force NOLA

  • New Orleans & Company provides internships and is recognized as a Gold Star sponsor

Corporate Internship Leadership Institute- CILI

  • Provides internships for BIPOC Students

The Feather Fund NOLA

  • Benefits Mardi Gras Masking Indians
  • Raises funding to provide suit materials and decorative items for the sewing and construction of Aboriginal Indian suits
  • Sponsors programming to support the youth of New Orleans to encourage education, pride of community, and to stop the cycles of poverty and crime in our neighborhoods

Corporate Social Responsibilty

New Orleans is the most remarkable, unique, and welcoming city in the world. New Orleans & Company’s mission is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to our city for the economic, social and community benefit of New Orleans and its people.

Our internal CSR commitments have four key areas of focus: Sustainability, Business Community, Philanthropy, and Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in the Workplace.

Meetings & Connections

Meeting / Convention Attendees - Built to Host

New Orleans & Company provides opportunities for conferences and meetings to support our local community through CSR efforts. Our team can connect meeting planners and business professionals with local non-profit organizations that can help

them create a volunteer or donation activity for their group. We’re able to recommend non-profits that closely align with a conference’s CSR mission, creating a fun experience for attendees to give back while visiting our city. Visiting associations and corporations have the chance to donate time, money, and supplies while engaging in meaningful team-building activities.

We are proud to share testimonials from groups who have participated in CSR givebacks and left a positive impact on our community.

BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Goal: To help small and disadvantaged businesses connect with opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industry.

  • New Orleans & Company team members both serve on a variety of nonprofit Boards and volunteer with the organizations
  • New Orleans & Company created a procurement council made up of stakeholders in our industry and business community leaders to create and streamline better opportunities for small business owners to bid on work within our industry

Meeting Attendees

PHILANTHROPY

Goal: To fulfill our mission centered around supporting the community we serve.

New Orleans & Company provides opportunities for staff to donate time and money to nonprofit organizations. New Orleans & Company actively engages in:

  • donating school supplies to public schools
  • providing meals to the unhoused population
  • sponsorship and participation of Habitat for Humanity Women Build and Pride Build
  • partnering with Arnaud’s & the New Orleans Police Justice Foundation for the Annual Teddy Bear Drive to benefit the New Orleans Police Department, ten years running
  • hosting community health fairs for the hospitality and tourism workforce
  • donating to Toys for Tots during the holiday season
  • partnering with Home for Good New Orleans
  • volunteerism for Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans to help sort and package food for those in need
  • connecting conventions and meetings to local nonprofits to partner and support our community

HOME FOR GOOD

In partnership with the City of New Orleans, efforts to address homelessness have resulted in 166 people being housed from encampments, with 152 individuals remaining housed, representing a sustained success rate of over 90%.

A site-by-site approach has closed approximately 12–15 encampments in support of the long-term goal of rehousing 1,500 individuals, reflecting sustained progress in addressing homelessness.

  • Geographic targets based on highest risk and need
  • Consistent, daily outreach by CMs and trained staff (including Health)
  • Active and appealing landlord engagement strategies
  • Providing for basic needs (move-in kits)

Testimonials

2025

Planning and hosting an event in this city is truly unmatched. The partnership with New Orleans & Company, the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and the entire destination team was seamless, collaborative, and incredibly supportive every step of the way. 

The city is genuinely Built to Host—from world-class convention infrastructure and experienced vendors to a destination team that understands what planners need and anticipates challenges before they arise. The Convention Center staff delivered with professionalism and pride, making even the most complex logistics feel effortless. 

What truly sets New Orleans apart is how the culture shines through immediately. Music, food, history, and authentic local spirit welcome you the second you arrive, creating an experience that goes far beyond the meeting rooms. Our attendees felt it, our exhibitors felt it, and our staff felt it. 

New Orleans doesn’t just host events—it elevates them. We couldn’t ask for a better destination or partner.

Brittany Tyrrell, CMP, Senior Meeting & Events Manager
Irrigation Association

2025

New Orleans & Company was an exceptional partner for our Annual Meeting this past November. Their marketing expertise and extensive media connections significantly elevated our visibility—both before the conference and throughout our time in the city. Their team went above and beyond to ensure strong coverage and engagement, and it made a real difference in the success of our event. A special thank-you to Jessica Holtzman, Janine Raffray, and Abbey Palagi for their outstanding professionalism, responsiveness, and support. We couldn’t have asked for better collaborators.

Jeff Martin, Sr. Director, Development & Member Relations
American Anthropological Association

2025

Working with New Orleans & Company was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. Their team was professional, creative, and truly captured the spirit of the city in the promotional video they created for our event. The video brought the energy, charm, and culture of New Orleans to life. New Orleans is an unforgettable destination with world-class food, music, and hospitality, making it the perfect place for any event. We couldn’t have asked for a better partner to help showcase such a vibrant city!

Kenny Brodbeck
National Demolition Association, 2025 Annual Convention & Expo

2025

We had a wonderful time in New Orleans and the brochure and guide that New Orleans & Company provided were truly welcome additions to our welcome bags. The staff and accommodations in our downtown hotel, were wonderful and made an impression on our group - everyone was so pleasant to work and interact with. Our attendees noted while visiting local businesses and restaurants, how happy and welcoming the employees are at museums, shops, and restaurants. Thanks again for helping make our conference a great experience.

Confidential Company
Annual Summit, 2025

2025

New Orleans truly lives up to its reputation as being ‘Built to Host’! The city elevates hospitality and customer service to the next level. From hotel partners to the convention center, every detail is handled with care to ensure your event is a success.

Stephanie Dumey, CMP, Director of Meetings
American Academy of Audiology

2025

New Orleans & Company significantly enhanced our Sales Kick-Off by bringing the vibrant culture of the city directly to our attendees. We had the lucky opportunity to engage with them to create several interactive events. The Café du Monde vignette, tarot reader, Mardi Gras Indian dancers and second line band provided authentic and memorable experiences that energized our team throughout the long conference days. Their local expertise extended beyond entertainment, as they helped us plan a meaningful volunteer opportunity in the community. Their seamless partnership with the Royal Sonesta and connection to a great local photographer streamlined our operations, allowing us to focus on our core event. New Orleans & Company truly delivered impactful local experiences.

Confidential Company
Corporate Sales Kick-Off

2024

Our Society held its annual conference in New Orleans in April 2024.  First, let me say that our New Orleans & Company contact, Libby Fein, is absolutely the best!  She was so welcoming and helpful during both our site visit and conference.  The New Orleans & Company team is wonderful too, and our staff says thank you!  I’ve never worked with a Convention and Visitors Bureau like this, and it was a great experience!

We had just over 1,000 attendees at our conference, and everyone loved how we incorporated bits of New Orleans culture into it, thought the food, second line, etc.  Our attendees had all positive comments about the city, activities, hotel and staff.  I just wish I had more time to see more of it!

Thank you again for all your efforts to make our attendees feel welcomed, at home and excited about the city of New Orleans!”

Karla Schultz
Executive Director, Society of Pediatric Psychology

2024

What sets New Orleans & Company apart is their unique ability to connect both the community and their clients. They seamlessly bridged our needs with the best local resources, helping us create an event that was not only successful but also deeply rooted in the vibrant culture of New Orleans. Their extensive network and strong community ties enabled us to access the finest venues, services, and experiences the city has to offer.

New Orleans & Company truly lives up to their reputation. They are the epitome of hospitality and professionalism, and their passion for showcasing the best of New Orleans is palpable. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication. If you're looking for a partner who is committed, connected, and truly "built to host," look no further than New Orleans!

Jennifer Broering
CMP, Director, Conferences, Association for Talent Development

2024

New Orleans and Company knows how to roll out the red carpet for events. More than that, they know how to build relationships that matter and enhance the experience for all the participants. The ELCA Youth Gathering was a giant success due to the work of Allison and Rachel with New Orleans and Company. They welcomed us with open arms and worked their magic behind the scenes to ensure a wonderful event for our 15,000 high school students. They celebrated our successes and problem solved our challenges. Our team leaders love New Orleans for all the obvious reasons – food, culture, music, and more. I love New Orleans for the way the people of this city welcome the stranger. We aren’t strangers anymore! New Orleans is truly a city Built To Host.

Tammy Jones West
2024 ELCA Youth Gathering Director

2024

The team at the Ernest N. Morial convention center and New Orleans and Company was incredibly helpful and professional during our event. The team was thoughtful, responsive, and quick to act as needed. The city is always so welcoming it's easy to have a great event in New Orleans!

Brandon Sparling, CEM, CMP
Manager, Events and Meetings, True Value Company

2024

I wrapped up my annual meeting this weekend and it was a big success. We had gorgeous weather, a great hotel, fabulous partners to help make everything come together. I want to give a huge shout out to Donna Glover, Tynel Foster, Summer Hansen Davey and the entire New Orleans & Company team for their outstanding contribution to our event. We are not a citywide or some high-profile group, but they treated us like royalty from day one. Our meeting was also happening at the same time as this up-and-coming singer named Taylor Swift (I think she'll be big someday LOL), but they never stopped checking in to make sure we were okay and had everything we needed to ensure our event was successful. It was the attention to detail and the little things they did to make us feel valued and to make our attendees feel welcome. So, thank you. And kudos to you; it's true... New Orleans is built to host!

Ada Phillips, CMP
Director of Meetings and CME, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS)

Friends & Partners

Need a hand? These organizations are here to help.

Gulf South LGBTQ Champer of Commerce Logo

Gulf South LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce

gslgbtchamber.org

You don’t have to wonder how you can support LGBTQ+ businesses in the Greater New Orleans region. The Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce is a network of queer-owned and allied businesses that work together to foster a more inclusive, more visible professional ecosystem. Use their directory to find LGBTQ-owned businesses, meet Chamber members, and discover how LGBTQ+ businesses impact and improve our city in this handy guide.

Forum for Equality Logo

Forum for Equality

forumforequality.org

At a time when legislative attacks against LGBTQ+ people are becoming increasingly common, organizations like Forum for Equality are organizing, mobilizing, and making positive change. This grassroots organization has been advancing LGBTQ+ civil rights at regional and state government levels since 1989, in addition to educating and engaging local communities.

House of Tulip Logo

House of Tulip

houseoftulip.org

Did you know that 1 in 3 transgender and gender non-conforming people in Louisiana reported experiencing homelessness in their lifetime? House of Tulip was formed in response to this reality and provides zero-barrier housing to TGNC, as well as connects community members to gender-affirming services.

IGLTA International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association Logo

International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association

iglta.org

If you notice anti-LGBTQ+ laws being discussed or passed in state legislatures, you may ask yourself if boycotting a destination within that city is helpful in getting those laws to change. Our position, as well as IGLTAs, is that these types of boycotts will likely do more harm to local communities than the state government as a whole. Instead, we invite you to visit those municipalities that are fighting for LGBTQ+ inclusion, while also donating to groups fighting back against those laws like the ACLU, Louisiana Trans Advocates, and HRC NOLA.

Beloved Community Logo

 

Beloved Community

wearebeloved.org/

We turn commitment into action. At Beloved Community, our mission is to build sustainable change. We do so by supporting regions to further their collaborative journey for racial and economic equity, and by centering our most marginalized populations as we advance towards the beloved community. 

This looks like empowering teams to drive change through equity audits and thought partnership; guiding leaders through capacity-building sessions + equity work plans; and curating customized frameworks for operationalizing equity commitments.