During the citywide year-long celebration of New Orleans’ Tricentennial, it would be possible to think just for a moment that Mark Romig had cloned himself.
As president and CEO of the 2018 NOLA Foundation, in addition to his “day job” of president and CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC), Romig was in every curve of the city attending and speaking at a range of events. From Mardi Gras royalty to actual royalty, Romig worked with hundreds of people to represent our city’s 300th birthday.
“There are many women and men in our community who should be recognized for passion and focus in their respective careers, and to be considered even close to any of them is very humbling,” said Romig. “This honor challenges me to strive to continue learning and growing each day that I am lucky to be alive.”
In 2018 there were three specific projects that Romig found the most meaningful.
The first, he said, was creating a partnership that should achieve results in early 2019 with 504HealthNet to help promote healthcare services to hospitality workers. 2018 was also the planning and execution of the visit to New Orleans by the king and queen of Spain as part of the Tricentennial. Romig was also part of the introduction of the New Orleans Slave Trade app and marker project.
With 2018 filled with external events, Romig hopes 2019 will bring opportunities to focus inward and hone his team.
He said he plans to “continue to find ways for the team at NOTMC to grow and develop their skills and experiences…and to be the best mentor and advisor I can to my team.” Romig sees that happening by continuing to focus on creating opportunities for the diverse businesses in the tourism sector and advancing the growth of the economy.
As a native New Orleanian, Romig’s commitment to and advocacy of New Orleans is ceaseless.
He credits his parents, Jerry and Janice Romig, for demonstrating the importance of community and follows their examples by serving on numerous boards and commissions.
“I love my city and I love what I do,” he said. “I feel very lucky to be from New Orleans, and it hits home with me how important families are to our culture of hospitality. Growing in the shadow of my family, especially my mom and dad who have given so much to New Orleans, has been the best leadership training ever.”
