NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans & Company will join communities nationwide to celebrate the importance of the tourism industry on a local, regional and national level during the 36th annual National Travel and Tourism Week (May 5 through May 11). New Orleans hospitality industry employees are invited to a Tourism Matters Pep Rally on Tuesday, May 7, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Champions Square to celebrate the 89,000 individuals who comprise the local hospitality industry. Details were shared in a press release.
At the event, attendees will hear from Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and industry leaders on the importance of tourism to our city and state. As the key focus of this event is celebrating the people who comprise the industry, there will be several awards and honors distributed, including an honorary King and Queen of the event, Tourism Matters service awards and a costume contest.
Guests will enjoy complimentary food from local food trucks Dirty Dishes, Frencheez and Diva Dawg along with entertainment by the Black Magic Drumline and Fat City Drum Corps, and costumed members of local krewes including the Merry Antoinettes, Rolling Elvi, Black Storyville Babydolls and Big Easy Rollergirls.
Travel supported 15.7 million American jobs in 2018 across all U.S. industries—that’s one in 10 American jobs, making travel the seventh largest employer in the private sector. In New Orleans, tourism is the largest industry, employing more than 89,000 people and a driving force behind the city’s operating budget.
