NEW ORLEANS — Just in time for Southern Decadence, a five-day festival that celebrates the gay community and attracts more than 125,000 revelers to the French Quarter, the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC), in collaboration with the Gulf South LGBT Chamber, has introduced the first-ever guide to LGBTQ-owned businesses in New Orleans.
The comprehensive guide, available in print and online, will help locals and visitors alike support the LGBTQ community. It features information on LGBTQ resources, including Ambush – the official guide for Southern Decadence, a top ten list of LGBTQ “Must-Dos”, a map with points of interest throughout New Orleans, descriptions of gay bars, a colorful compilation of upcoming festivals, and a thorough list of LGBTQ-owned businesses, complete with contact information.
The guide not only showcases New Orleans as a top tourist destination, but also further establishes the Crescent City as a vibrant and welcoming locale for LGBTQ travelers.
It is the second publication released this year, with support from the tourism industry. NOTMC also partnered with McKenna Publishing to produce “Welcome – A Guide for Black Tourists to New Orleans”, which spotlights African American-owned restaurants, shops, and other tourism-related businesses in the city.
“We are thrilled that we have added yet another great resource for our LGBTQ visitors and locals to experience our city,” said Mark Romig, president and CEO of NOTMC. “A city as diverse as New Orleans needs to offer resources that provide an inclusive environment for every resident and visitor to our city. Whether it’s Welcome or the LGBTQ Business Guide, every day we strive to be a welcoming and inviting city for everyone, and these business guides reinforce that belief.”
In the guide’s introduction, Romig writes: “No matter your plans, you’ll be sure to have a fantastic story to tell. New Orleans is ranked regularly as a top global destination, and GayCities listed New Orleans as the second Most Welcoming City for the second straight year. More than 18 million visitors traveled to the city in 2018 alone. Visitors fall in love with the city’s unique culture that is steeped in LGBTQ history with events that date back over 70 years.”
The print version of the guide is available at several hotels and restaurants throughout the city, including Arrow Cafe, Mona Lisa, and Nesbit’s Markets.
“This is an exciting partnership between our LGBT Chamber and New Orleans Tourism in support of our community,” said Dustin Woehrmann CEO and creative director of Communify, the agency that designed the new LGBTQ guide. “This guide will continue to support the foundation of inclusivity of New Orleans and welcome the LGBTQ community to do business in our city.”
This year’s Southern Decadence takes place from Thursday, Aug. 29 through Monday, Sep. 2. For more information, including details on events, visit: www.southerndecadence.com
Suzanne Pfefferle Tafur is the associate news editor of BizNewOrleans.com