NEW ORLEANS -- Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the
Crescent City, like many destinations, saw some business go away,
but it also faced challenges involving the rescheduling of the
Super Bowl as well as events surrounding Mardi Gras.
Because professional sports schedules were disrupted following
the attacks in New York and Washington, the Super Bowl was
rescheduled for the following week.
However, the new date, Feb. 3, coincided with the National
Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention, which was slated
to bring 30,000 people to town Feb. 2 to 5.
To resolve the conflict, NADA agreed to switch its convention to
Jan. 26 to 29; the Super Bowl originally was scheduled to take
place Jan. 27. Mardi Gras celebration officials also had to
rearrange some events.
Parades that were to take place the weekend of Feb. 1 were moved
to the last weekend in January to avoid overlapping with Super Bowl
festivities.
"There was some shifting, but it all worked out," a New Orleans
Conventions and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman said.
Clients coming to the city during Super Bowl and Mardi Gras will
notice a stronger police presence.
There will be "hundreds of additional police officers on the
streets and at the Louisiana Superdome," according to Marlon
Defillo, deputy chief for the New Orleans Police Department.
Travel New Orleans, an inbound operator based in the Crescent
City, is selling Mardi Gras and Super Bowl packages. The firm pays
10% to 12% commission.
For more details, call (800) 535-8747 or visit www.travelneworleans.com.
Some of the properties with space available during Mardi Gras
festivities include the 597-room Hotel Monteleone, the 452-room
Ritz-Carlton New Orleans and the 250-room Hotel Monaco.