It is no secret that the meetings and events industry is fiercely competitive. In Texas alone, nearly $9 billion is being reinvested in event and hospitality infrastructure. Emerging destinations nationwide are investing heavily in new headquarters hotels and, in some cases, multiple hotels. New Orleans must continue to evolve to remain competitive. If we fail to keep pace, we risk losing major events, meetings, conventions and conferences, and ultimately room nights, jobs, tax revenue and our long-term reputation as a premier host city.
The good news is, New Orleans is not waiting on the sidelines for new convention cities like Louisville and Oklahoma City to capture the business that should remain here.
At New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, we are taking major steps forward with the development of the Omni New Orleans. It will be the first convention hotel built in 40 years. There has not been a new convention hotel built since the Sheraton New Orleans in the 1980s.
Market feedback underscores the urgency. More than 82% of meeting planners have indicated that the addition of the Omni New Orleans would increase their likelihood of considering New Orleans for future events. In an industry where host city selection is fiercely competitive, this is a decisive signal that cannot be ignored.
At the same time, we are heavily investing in our facility. Through a $763 million capital improvement plan, the convention center is undergoing significant modernization with aesthetic redesign, enhanced sustainable features, and upgrades to the ballroom and pre-function and meeting spaces. These improvements ensure we continue to meet and exceed modern expectations for an ideal hosting destination.
But focusing on interior upgrades alone is not enough. Cities across the country are making bold, integrated investments in hotels, infrastructure and surrounding neighborhoods to secure future business. New Orleans must do the same.
Through our partnership with Omni Hotel & Resorts, Omni New Orleans will strengthen New Orleans’ position as a world-class destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and generating state and local tax revenues and supporting job growth.
The Omni New Orleans will attract major events and create substantial economic impact for the city and state. It will bring new business and opportunities to New Orleans. Our consultants project it would generate $213.6 million in economic impact each year and add 1,400 new permanent jobs and $15.2 million in combined state and city tax revenue. These are tangible, recurring benefits that support not only the hospitality industry, but the broader regional economy. The choice is clear: To remain the host of major events like the Super Bowl, New Orleans must build Omni New Orleans.
The cost of inaction is equally clear. We have been advised that if we are not able to build, we stand to lose 75,000 room nights per year and 1,400 jobs that will not happen; as a result, conventions and major events will start going to other cities, and small businesses will close.
This level of strategic investment is not optional. New Orleans must be prepared to compete in the fast-changing meetings and events space. Omni New Orleans is our solution to staying relevant in a global meetings market that continues evolving at unprecedented speed.
Convention center business fuels the New Orleans way of life – our culture and ability to host are deeply intertwined. We know when people come to New Orleans, they feel our culture radiate through every experience. We want to show that we are investing in modern spaces while preserving our authenticity. By embracing these changes and honoring our culture, we position our city as one that is Built to Host. This starts with investments like the Omni New Orleans.
Jim Cook is president and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the sixth-largest convention center in the nation. To learn more, visit MCCNO.com.
