Jennifer Gibson Schecter was once a tourist in New Orleans herself and is now proud to call NOLA home.
Two years ago, the streets of the French Quarter were empty, your favorite restaurant was closed or carry-out only, and Jazz Fest only happened on the radio and in our hearts. There is no denying that the global pandemic derailed tourism and left most in the industry questioning the future. National Travel and Tourism Week, being held May 1-7, 2022, is a time to look ahead and dream differently. Led locally by New Orleans & Company, this year brings the return of in-person events and a social media campaign to explore the #FutureOfTravel.
New Orleans & Company, formerly operating as New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, is a nationally accredited, 1,100-member destination marketing organization and the largest private economic development corporation in Louisiana. As part of its mission, it delivers National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) with a New Orleans twist. Planned events include a French Quarter parade May 3, and YLC’s Wednesdays at the Square and Hospitality Industry Job Fest May 4 .
“The future of travel is vital to economic recovery from the challenges brought on globally by the pandemic,” said Mary Beth Romig, associate vice president, public relations for New Orleans & Company. “We must welcome international visitors and professional meeting attendees back to provide stability within our hospitality industry and to sustain our culture bearers that make New Orleans such an outstanding destination.”
Romig said the importance of NTTW to New Orleans cannot be overstated.
“The pandemic literally shut down the travel and hospitality industry for well over a year. The return of this annual observation, held each May, is significant as travel, meetings, events, etc. have returned,” she said. “It is even more significant in New Orleans than other major destinations because the hospitality industry is a major economic engine for our region. A healthy hospitality industry is a major boost for tens of thousands of people who work in some capacity in hospitality.”
NTTW, which is organized by the U.S. Travel Association, incorporates various themes. Among them are that the “future of travel is” facilitating our recovery; rebuilding America’s workforce; more sustainable; greater mobility; seamless, secure and in-person; more globally competitive; and more inclusive. Destination marketing agencies can choose from those themes and create their own to facilitate the most powerful messaging for their region.
The NTTW French Quarter Parade on Tuesday, May 3, will kick off at 9 a.m.. Companies will register in advance, while locals and tourists are welcome to join the parade and the gathering at the end. The parade will culminate by honoring Champions of the Industry, people who represent New Orleans culture through cuisine, sports and the outdoors, arts and museums, and hospitality. As of the time of writing, the exact location and parade route are T.B.D.
Romig pointed out that the timing between Jazz Fest weekends might draw visitors staying in the French Quarter. Louisiana’s Lieutenant Gov. Billy Nungesser — whose role is to work with tourism leaders throughout the state — has been invited to attend, in addition to several other dignitaries and industry leaders.
On Wednesday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Hospitality Industry Job Fest will be held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in Hall B. More than 65 companies are participating with the goal of recovering the tourism and hospitality industry workforce. Priority has been placed on jobs that offer competitive wages, benefit packages and the opportunity for advancement and life-long professional growth. Beyond hotels and restaurants, companies such as Audubon Nature Institute, Habitat for Humanity and Orangetheory Fitness are slated to attend.
Many companies will conduct in-person interviews onsite and make immediate job offers, so job seekers are encouraged to bring résumés and be interview-ready. Advance registration is not required. LCMC Health will also be onsite to administer free COVID-19 vaccines.
Later that day, NTTW will be represented at YLC’s Wednesdays at the Square from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lafayette Square. New Orleans & Company is a partner and sponsor of the event series and will be incorporating the NTTW campaign into the May 4 concert featuring Shamarr Allen and Margie Perez.
In 2020, National Travel and Tourism Week was exclusively a virtual event, and in 2021 New Orleans & Company was able to safely hold a job fair. The return of the parade in 2022 is a sign that the future of travel is looking up.
Find more details online at NewOrleans.com/nttw/ and USTravel.org/events/national-travel-and-tourism-week and follow the social media campaign on Twitter and Instagram via @neworleansandco #nttw22 and #FutureOfTravel.
