Visitor Safety Statement

Overview

As one of the world’s most celebrated and iconic destinations for global meetings and conventions, leisure visitors, major cultural festivals and national sporting championships, New Orleans welcomes millions of travelers and countless corporations and organizations each year with revelry and joy. Our cultural authenticity, joie de vivre and the fact that we are organically built to host, result in an unequalled success and travel experience in New Orleans like nowhere else, with every trip and gathering producing a world class memory.

New Orleans & Company and its hospitality partners flourish with great relationships with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and Superintendent/Chief of Police Shaun Ferguson and his senior team. New Orleans & Company partners with and engages the top leadership of the NOPD on all elements, locations and activities of every gathering and convention so they may be available not only to meet and discuss all of a group’s priorities and requirements, but to ensure coverage around convention venues and all areas where specific events are occurring. NOPD creates a deployment plan designed specifically for the needs of that group.

As the world successfully emerges from the pandemic, the safety and wellbeing of our visitors and residents is our number one priority in New Orleans. New Orleans continues to host many major conventions and meetings, huge cultural events including the NCAA Final Four, French Quarter Festival, the world-famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Essence Festival of Culture, just to name a few. We ask visitors to use the same personal safety precautions, and to stay vigilant, as they would at home and in any metropolitan destination.

Downtown Public Safety Rangers

The Downtown Development District (DDD) created the Public Safety Ranger program as an integral element of Downtown’s public safety network. The Public Safety Rangers are a non-commissioned force of safety professionals who patrol Downtown on foot and on bicycle. They act as extra eyes and ears for the police and the DDD. Rangers are customer-friendly and provide visible coverage throughout Downtown. Visitors Downtown also can utilize the DDD Public Safety Rangers, who are on duty seven days a week from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Downtown SafeWalk escorts are offered free of charge within the Downtown DDD boundaries. Call or text (504) 415-1730 to check availability.

Common Sense Tips for Visitors to Any Major City

• Travel in groups and avoid walking alone on unlit streets at night.
• Pay attention when walking and using your smart phone as these devices have been the target of thieves nationwide.
• Do not leave your purse, backpack or briefcase unattended, especially not on the back of your chair.
• Be on the lookout for pickpockets. Consolidate your wallet. Don't bring every credit card and move it to your front pocket or/and wear a cross-body bag rather than a shoulder strap to keep your purse in front of you. Do not display large amounts of cash in public places.
• Consider removing your convention badge when leaving your hotel or meeting venue.
• When hailing a ride via a mobile app, confirm the identity of your driver before getting into the car.
• If you are intoxicated, please take a taxi, Uber or Lyft instead of walking or driving.
• Trust your gut instincts. If someone or something seems suspicious, leave the area, alert a police officer or Safety Ranger.
• If approached by strangers for con games, such as, “I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes,” do not participate. Simply smile and walk past them.
• Lock car doors. Stow valuables out of sight in your vehicle.
• Ensure that your hotel room door is fully closed and locked at all times.
• Remember that most laws enforced in your city are enforced here as well.