New Orleans City Awards

The city of New Orleans and New Orleans & Company (formerly the New Orleans CVB) have been recognized nationally for excellence. View a list of city accolades and New Orleans & Company awards below.

2024 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• New Orleans & Company wins "Best of Award: Best South CVBs/DMOs", Meetings Today, 2024
• New Orleans named one of "The best places to go for New Years", Conde Nast Traveller, 2024
• New Orleans & Company Wins 2024 Brand USA "Outstanding Video Storytelling Award Showcasing Diversity", Brand USA, August 2024
• New Orleans named one of 15 "Best Places to Travel in August 2024" - Travel+Leisure, May 2024
• "I can't remember enjoying eating anywhere in the USA as much as in New Orleans" - The Most Fun City In All Of America, According To Travel Expert Rick Steves, www.explore.com, 2024
• New Orleans has been voted one of the South’s Best by the readers of Southern Living. New Orleans is number 4 in the Top 25 Best Cities in the South. 
• New Orleans named Best Food Destination in the US (for the second year in a row) in the 2024 Travelers' Choice Awards, TripAdvisor, 2024
• New Orleans named in Time Out's Best Cities in the World To Visit in 2024, Time Out, January 2024

2023 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• New Orleans & Company won two 2023 Prevue Visionary Awards from Prevue Meetings+Incentives. New Orleans was named Best U.S. Destination for Meeting & Conventions – Small (under 500,000 populations) and New Orleans & Company was named Best CVB/DMO meeting and incentive planner support by region – Southeast.
• New Orleans has been named a 2024 Good Housekeeping Family Travel Awards winner.
• New Orleans is a 2023 Gold Winner in "Best U.S. Destination for Meetings & Conventions - Small (under 500,000 population), and New Orleans & Company is a 2023 Gold Winner in "Best CVB/DMO meeting & incentive planner support by region - Southeast", Prevue Visionary Awards, 2023
• New Orleans won three awards at the 9th annual TravelPulse #TravvyAwards in November. Thousands of votes were cast in more than 140 categories by readers of AGENTatHOME and TravelPulse.com. The awards include: 
  • Gold Best culinary destination- US 
  • ​Silver: Best tourism board- US 
  • Bronze: Best city destination- domestic 
• New Orleans & Company won a Recommend’s Readers' Choice Award for Best Destination – Culinary 
• New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood named #7 on the list of "The 40 Coolest Neighborhoods In The World", Time Out, 2023.
• New Orleans & Company awarded Best South CVB/DMO by Meetings Today, September 2023
• New Orleans voted as a Smart Star for Best DMO/CVB by Smart Meetings (2023 Smart Stars Winners) for 2023.
• New Orleans named top U.S. City for Neighborhood Restaurants by Food & Wine Global Tastemakers for 2023.
• New Orleans named the #1 Best of the Best - Best Food Destination in the US (and #9 in the World) in the 2023 Travelers' Choice Awards, TripAdvisor, 2023
• AFAR Magazine named New Orleans one of the 10 best places in the world to travel in April, because of Jazz Fest. New Orleans was one of only two U.S. cities recommended, along with international destinations Rome, Jordan, Spain, Iceland and French Polynesia.
• New Orleans & Company, in partnership with Dentsu Creative, was awarded a Gold Addy for Best of Show - Mosaic at the American Advertising Federation’s 2023 American Advertising Awards for its Plus One campaign. The Mosaic award speaks to the diversity and inclusion that was an integral part of the campaign. The Plus One campaign also has a cutting edge long-form virtual reality (VR) version, marking the first time a destination marketing organization has used VR. Plus One tells the story of New Orleans’ unique creativity through its people.
• New Orleans is featured in Southern Living’s Best of the South issue in April 2023. The seventh annual awards recognize readers' favorite Southern destinations, hotels, restaurants and more. The cover story features Hoda Kotb and why she loves New Orleans and wants her daughters to love New Orleans as well. Also honored:
  • Commander’s Palace – Best Locally Owned Restaurant in Louisiana
  • The Chandelier Bar at the Four Seasons – Best New Hotel Bar in New Orleans
  • The Joint – Best BBQ in Louisiana
  • Hotel Monteleone – Top 10 of the South’s Best Hotels
  • Parkway Bakery & Tavern - The Best PoBoys In New Orleans
• The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) received a top industry award for Best Airport in North America (5 to 15 million passengers per year) from the Airports Council International (ACI) World’s 2022 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) program. The ASQ awards highlight the world’s best airports as judged by their customers who are surveyed while they are in the airport. This is the second year in a row that MSY was awarded Best Airport in North America. MSY is one of only three airports in North America to win Best Airport recognition among those serving 5 to 15 million passengers per year.

2022 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• New Orleans & Company wins Best CVB / DMO, as named in Smart Meetings' Smart Stars 2022, SmartMeetings, 2022
• New Orleans listed as the #2 Top Destination for Food Lovers - United States by TripAdvisor, 2022.
• New Orleans is a 2022 Gold Winner of Most Desirable City - Rest Of World by Wanderlust Travel Awards, 2022
• New Orleans & Company won the C&IT Award of Excellence, selected by their meeting planner subscribers who voted by ballot for Convention & Visitors Bureaus  that best served their corporate meeting needs, Corporate & Incentive Travel Award of Excellence, 2022
• New Orleans won Silver in the category "Best U.S. Destination for Incentive", Prevue Meetings' Visionary Awards, November 2022
• New Orleans & Company chosen by the readers of Meetings Today as one of the best DMOs in the South, Meetings Today, October 2022
• New Orleans & Company, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, and Sheraton New Orleans Hotel were all bestowed the Distinctive Achievement Award for 2022 in their respective categories by themeetingmagazines.com, September 2022
• New Orleans is #2 on the Top 10 U.S. Cities list, Travel + Leisure, August 2022
• New Orleans is #7 on the Top 50 U.S. Destinations list, Conference Direct Meeting Mentor Magazine, Spring 2022
• New Orleans is the #3 destination in the U.S. for City Lovers, Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice, 2022
• New Orleans named the #2 happiest travel destination in North America, Club Med, 2022

2020/2021 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• New Orleans & Company won 3 Travel Weekly Travvy Awards for U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support (Silver), Best Culinary Destination: North  America (Gold) and Best Luxury Destination: North  America (Bronze), November 2021.
• New Orleans was named the No. 4 spot of the "Top 15 Cities in the United States" by Travel + Leisure, September 2021
• New Orleans was named the No. 4 most popular place to vacation in America by Newsweek, September 2021
• New Orleans made Time's list of World's Greatest Places 2021, Time, July 2021
• New Orleans was named 2021's 3rd best summer travel destination by personal finance outlet WalletHub, May 2021.
• New Orleans was named the No.4 popular destination in the United States on the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards, January 2021.
• AFAR included New Orleans as one of three US destinations "Where We'll Go in 2021", December 2020.
• New Orleans & Company was recognized as a Platinum Choice Winner by Smart Meetings Magazine, December 2020.
• New Orleans & Company was awarded The Knot Best of Weddings 2021, November 2020.
• New Orleans & Company was selected as a 2020 Award of Excellence Winner from Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine, July 2020.
• Travel + Leisure named New Orleans the No.2 City in the United States in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2020.
• New Orleans was named the "South's Best Food City" by Southern Living, March 2020.
• New Orleans won a Gold Travvy Award for "Best Culinary Destination in the USA", February 2020. 
• New Orleans & Company won a Silver Travvy Award for "Best Tourist Board in the USA", February 2020. 
• New Orleans & Company won Gold in the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) Adrian Awards for the Tricentennial campaign 'The Big Easy Turns 300', January 2020.

2019 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• Forbes included New Orleans as one of the "25 Best Places to Visit in 2020", December 2019. 
• Conde Nast Traveler named New Orleans one of “the Best Places to Spend Christmas in the U.S.”, December 2019. 
• New Orleans was named one of Insider’s “20 Most Festive Places to Spend the Holidays in the U.S.”, November 2019. 
• Fodor’s included New Orleans in its list of “The Most Romantic U.S. Destinations to Spend the Holiday Season”
• New Orleans was named the fourth best large city by Conde Nast Traveler's 2019 Readers' Choice Awards. 
• New Orleans was included on Newsweek’s “Best Christmas Vacations 2019: 10 Top Picks For Beach Escapes, City Breaks, Romantic Getaways”
• TripAdvisor® named New Orleans a “Most Excellent City Overall”, October 2019.
• Travel + Leisure named New Orleans the No.3 City in the United States in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2019.
• TimeOut named New Orleans the No. 2 best city to visit in the United States in 2019.
• Southern Living named New Orleans the No.3 city in "The South's Best Cities 2019" and the No.2 city in "The South's Best Food Cities 2019", March 2019. 
• AFAR featured New Orleans on their "Where To Go In 2019" list, January 2019. 
• Smarter Travel named New Orleans one of "The 10 Best U.S. Cities to Visit in 2019", December 2018.
• Forbes included New Orleans on their list of "The 38 Cheapest Places To Travel In 2019", December 2018. 
• Business Insider featured New Orleans on their list of "The 3 best places to travel every month of 2019", December 2018.
• Fodor's included New Orleans on their "Fodor's Go List 2019", November 2018. 
• Southern Living named New Orleans the No.3 city in "The South's Best Cities 2019" and the No.2 city in "The South's Best Food Cities 2019"

2018 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• TripAdvisor featured New Orleans on their list of "15 of the Best USA Trips to Take in Your Twenties", August 2018
• The New Orleans School of Cooking's classes were named the No.2 experience in the United States and the No.6 experience in the world on the first-ever TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards, June 2018.
• New Orleans is No.1 on TripAdvisor’s list of “10 Best Foodie Vacations in the USA”, May 2018.
• New Orleans is No.5 on TripAdvisor's "10 Best Food Cities & Food Tours in the World", May 2018.
• Expedia Viewfinder has named New Orleans one of the “Top-Rated Vacation Destinations in North America”, May 2018.   
• National Geographic Traveller UK has named New Orleans No.1 on their list of of the “Top 10 Music Cities in the USA”, May 2018.
• Fast Company has named New Orleans one of the "Best Cities for Biking in the U.S.", May 2018.
• HometoGo has named New Orleans in their list of "Top 50 Cities for Nightlife", May 2018.
• TripAdvisor has named New Orleans one of the "10 Best Food Cities in the World", April 2018.
• Southern Living readers recognized New Orleans the "South's Best Food City" in their "South's Best" list, March 2018. 
• TripExpert named New Orleans the "Best North American Destination" in their "Experts' Choice 2018", March 2018. 
• Resonance and National Geographic have included New Orleans in their list of "America's Best Small Cities", January 2018.
• The New York Times has featured New Orleans as their No.1 Destination on their list of "52 Places to Go in 2018", January 2018.
• The Irish Times included New Orleans in their list of "52 Places to Visit in 2018", January 2018.
• AARP has named New Orleans No.1 in their list of "Top U.S. Destinations for 2018", January 2018.
• The Globe and Mail's "Top 12 Travel Destinations to Keep Your Sights on for 2018" features New Orleans, January 2018.
• Expedia's Viewfinder Travel Blog has named New Orleans in the "18 Cities that Must be Seen in 2018", January 2018.
• Thrillist has named New Orleans in their "18 Best Places to Go for a Big Trip in 2018", January 2018.
• Robb Report's "Best Places to Travel in February" features New Orleans, January 2018.
• Harper's Bazaar UK named New Orleans in their list of "Places Everyone Will be Going on Holiday in 2018", January 2018.
• Travel + Leisure featured New Orleans in their roundup of "Best Places to Travel in the U.S. in February", January 2018.
• Bloomberg included New Orleans in their list of "Where to Go in 2018", January 2018.
• CNN Travel's "Best Vacation Spots for 2018" features New Orleans, January 2018.
• The Los Angeles Times included New Orleans in their roundup of "Where are you Going in 2018", January 2018.
• TripAdvisor Blog's "30 Top USA Cities to Visit in 2018" featured New Orleans, January 2018.

2017 DESTINATION AWARDS AND HONORS

• Conde Nast Traveler's "Best Places to Travel in February" included New Orleans, December 2017.
• ESSENCE released their "5 Beyonce- Inspired Trips You Should Take in 2018" with New Orleans included, December 2017.
• New York Times featured New Orleans in the "10 Bargain Destinations for 2018", December 2017. 
• Thrillist included New Orleans in their list of "Best Places to Travel in February", December 2017.
• USA Today named New Orleans in their list places "Where US Travelers Will Explore in 2018", December 2017.
• Associated Press included New Orleans in their "Where to Go in 2018" roundup, December 2017.
• AAA Via Magazine included New Orleans on their "8 Great Places to Visit in 2018", December 2017.
• Business Insider named New Orleans among the "13 Best Places to Travel in February", December 2017.
• Architectural Digest named New Orleans one of the “10 Places with the Wildest New Year’s Celebrations on the Planet”, December 2017.
• New Orleans was named one of Zagat’s “30 Most Exciting Food Cities in America,” December 2017.
• TripAdvisor has named New Orleans one of the “20 Best Winter Sun Getaways America has to Offer”, December 2017.
• Conde Nast Traveler named New Orleans No.5 of their “18 Best Places to Travel in 2018”, December 2017.
• New Orleans was featured on Rough Guide’s list of destinations to visit in 2018, December 2017.
• Travel + Leisure announced their “50 Best Places to Travel in 2018”, and New Orleans was named among the list of national and international destinations, December 2017.
• Frommer's Travel Guides included New Orleans as one of the “Best Places to Go in 2018”, December 2017.
• Influential travel blog, The Points Guy, included New Orleans on their “18 Amazing Places to Travel in 2018” list, December 2017.
• USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice named New Orleans as a “Best Place to Ring in the New Year”, December 2017.
• PopSugar.com named New Orleans one of “The World’s Top 10 Most Glamorous Cities to Ring in the New Year”, December 2017.
• USNews.com highlighted the “Best Winter Getaway” destination in each state, naming New Orleans as the best getaway in Louisiana, December 2017.
• Fodor's Travel listed New Orleans on their “Go List” as one of their 52 destinations to visit in 2018, November 2017. 
• Garden & Gun named New Orleans one of the South’s 10 Best Food Towns in their October/November 2017 issue.
• Galerie Magazine has named the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in New Orleans City Park one of the "World's 10 Most Beautiful Sculpture Parks", August 2017. 
• TravelWeekly has named New Orleans one of the "United States' Best Music Experiences", July 2017. 
• Food & Wine named New Orleans one of the Best Food Cities in the World in their July 2017 issue.
• Travel + Leisure named New Orleans the No.4 City in the United States for the fourth consecutive year in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2017.
• Conde Nast Traveler has named New Orleans' hotel, The Ace Hotel one of the "Best New Hotels in the World," April 2017.
• TripAdvisor has named New Orleans one of the "Top Value Cities for an Epic Getaway," April 2017. 
• Southern Living has named New Orleans one of the "South's Best Cities", March 2017.
• Southern Living has named New Orleans' restaurant, Commander's Palace, the "South's Best Restaurant", March 2017. 
• Expedia Viewfinder has named New Orleans one of the "Most Creative Places in America" as a part of their list of America's Most Artistic Towns, March 2017. 
• TripAdvisor Vacation Rentals has featured New Orleans on their list of "Valentine's Day Travel Ideas in the Most Romantic Cities", February 2017. 
• Trivago has named New Orleans the No.2 "B&B Destination for Valentine's Travel" in the world, February 2017.
• Fox Sports has named New Orleans the "Number One Super Bowl Host City", February 2017. 
• Travel + Leisure has named New Orleans one of "America's Most Charming Cities", January 2017. 
• TripAdvisor named New Orleans one of the "20 Best Girlfriend Getaways You Can Take Without a Passport", January 2017.