NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau announced the following convention schedule from March 1-31:
• Commodity Classic
March 3-5, 2016
Projected attendance: 10,000
Commodity Classic is where America's farmers meet with success. Commodity Classic is open to all friends of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum—from growers to member associations to agribusiness to farm media. It’s a one-of-a-kind convention and trade show—farmer-focused and farmer-led. You’re guaranteed to walk away with ideas and energy that will have a profound and profitable impact on your farm. That’s why growers from across the nation come back year after year after year.
• Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) Community Banking LIVE® National Convention
March 6-10, 2016
Projected attendance: 3,000
The ICBA represents the largest constituency of community banks of all sizes and charter types in the nation, and is dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of the community banking industry. ICBA Community Banking LIVE® provides attendees with updated information from industry experts and policymakers, educational offerings, networking opportunities and an exhibit hall filled with products and services to help them stay profitable and competitive.
• Sun Belt Conference – Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship
March 9-13, 2016
Projected attendance: 10,000
The 2016 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Championship presented by First Bank and Trust will take place from March 10-13, while the Women’s Basketball Championship will take place from March 9-12 at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. The eight teams with the best conference winning percentages will compete for the Sun Belt Championship and a berth into the NCAA Men's and Women’s Basketball Championships.
• UBM, LLC’s Tissue World
March 14-17, 2016
Projected attendance: 2,500
Established in 1993, Tissue World is the leading global event series serving the tissue industry worldwide. Having events in Shanghai, Istanbul, Milan, New Orleans and Sao Paulo it offers an integrated and intertwined platform consisting of exhibitions, conferences and a magazine providing an unmatched on and offline meeting place to do business, exchange ideas and learn year-round.
• Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA)’s HPBExpo
March 16-19, 2016
Projected attendance: 8,000
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo is North America’s largest indoor-outdoor living showcase. Every year, more than 350 leading hearth, patio and barbecue manufacturers and suppliers exhibit and demonstrate their latest home heating solutions: grills, grilling accessories and fully-equipped outdoor kitchens; casual patio furniture and outdoor accents; water and landscape features; all-weather entertainment products and more. It’s also a one-stop-shop for retailers nationwide to find not only the latest products for their showrooms, but also the latest services and technologies for their companies.
• American Marketing Association (AMA)’s International Collegiate Conference
March 16-19, 2016
Projected attendance: 1,600
The AMA International Collegiate Conference is one of the best investments aspiring marketers can make. More than 1,500 marketers in New Orleans will join to take their marketing to the next level through professional development, cutting edge career advice, competitions, networking and fun.
• Worldwide Spirit Association’s National Competition
March 19-20, 2016
Projected attendance: 2,000
Cheer and dance teams from around the country will gather in New Orleans to compete for the championship title.
• Miller Coors, LLC’s Annual National Distribution Convention
March 21-24, 2016
Projected attendance: 3,100
MillerCoors will be hosting its domestic beer distributors and key sales and marketing employees to lay out sales and marketing plans for the remainder of the year.
