MCCNO has helped make New Orleans one
of the world’s top meeting destinations.
Changes include the addition of a new
façade, a 60,300-square-foot Great Hall, a
large outdoor pedestrian plaza, an LED lighting system, and high-density Wi-Fi capable of
serving 20,000 users simultaneously.
Outside of the MCCNO, attendees will
find one of the country’s most walkable cities. Within t wo miles are 22,000 hotel rooms,
as well as the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar,
which stops at popular neighborhoods such
as the Garden District and the French Quarter.
Also within walking distance is the Outlet Collection at the Riverwalk, the first downtown
outlet mall to open in the United States. Other
can’t-miss downtown attractions include the
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and
the iconic Mississippi River paddle wheelers.
Attendees can even live out the history of
the South through tours of historic homes
and plantations, or visit spirits from the past
during guided cemetery tours.
In New Orleans, food is an art form and
chefs are rock stars. With more than 1,400
restaurants in the Greater New Orleans area,
every attendee is sure to find something that
satisfies their palate. The city is well known
for its diversity, and its wide range of cuisines
reflects that. Whether it’s a VIP dinner at institutions like Commander’s Palace or Antoine’s
Restaurant, or a quick lunch at a local Cajun
dive, every meal in New Orleans is a delight.
Just like its cuisine, music is an integral
ingredient in the city’s inimitable culture.
From street performers to symphonies, jazz
funerals to world-renowned festivals, and
local Zydeco to headlining rock concerts, New
Orleans’ music scene continues to permeate
and enrich the city’s everyday life. Visitors
should do as the locals do and hit Frenchmen
Street for its seemingly endless line of clubs
and bars. Snug Harbor, The Spotted Cat Music
Club, and Preservation Hall are well-known
local jazz favorites, while Blue Nile, The Mai-son, and Tipitina’s are beloved by fans of funk.
Shopping in New Orleans is a favorite
leisure pastime, especially for international
visitors, who can shop tax-free. Popular stops
include Magazine Street, a six-mile stretch of
boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment.
Lakeside Shopping Center and The Shops at
Canal Place offer high-end designer stores
such as Saks Fifth Avenue. An afternoon
spent strolling the Garden District is always
a good idea, too — the historic neighborhood
is famous for its ornate mansions and the
beautiful Audubon Park. From there, after the
sun goes down, visitors can take the streetcar
to the French Quarter for drinks and a little
old-fashioned debauchery.
For more information: New Orleans Ernest
N. Morial Convention Center — Elaine
Williams, CMP, Director of Sales; (504) 582-
3023; m-s@mccno.com; mccno.com
Coming soon The New Orleans’ Convention Center District Development Project
will debut just in time for the city’s 300th anniversary in 2018. Surrounding the New
Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the project will add everything from a
new headquarters hotel to parks, art and cultural venues, and retail shopping.
CONVENTION CENTER SPECS
Exhibit space
• 1. 1 million contiguous square feet
Meeting space
• 1. 5 million square feet
Total meeting rooms
• 140
New Orleans Theater
• 4,032 seats
La Nouvelle Orleans
• 36,448 square feet
The Great Hall
• 60,300 square feet plus the 4,660-square-
foot Rivergate Room, the 5,700-square-foot
Lounge, and the 3,420-square-foot Terrace
