New Orelans, college bowl games, conventions, and tourism

from yesterday's New Orleans Times Picayune (12/20):

College football, off-season convention put N.O. ahead of the tourism game for 2008, and Carnival's right around the corner
Thursday, December 20, 2007
By Jaquetta White

"Six teams, three games and one meeting of economists are adding up to few hotel rooms left in the Crescent City during what hospitality officials are describing as the busiest two-week stretch since Hurricane Katrina.

At least 150,000 visitors are expected through Jan. 7, starting Friday with the New Orleans Bowl and followed by the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 and the BCS championship game Jan. 7. In between is the six-day American Economic Association's annual meeting. The projected economic impact is $500 million.

"It's about the best thing that could happen to start off the year from a hospitality standpoint," said Fred Sawyers, president of the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association and general manager of the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. "The gods have smiled on us here; everything is working out well."

Although it's the smallest of the games, the New Orleans Bowl is expected to produce an economic impact of $15 million to $20 million. The game pits the University of Memphis, which played in the bowl in 2003 to record crowds, against Florida Atlantic University, which will be competing in its first bowl." ...

"The economist meeting is expected to draw about 8,000 guests to the city Jan. 4-8, a week that does not usually carry a major meeting. A meeting that size has an average economic impact of about $10 million, said Mary Beth Romig, a spokeswoman for the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

But it's the unprecedented occurrence of two BCS games within one week that has the industry talking of Super Bowl-sized crowds and spending." ...

"Sugar Bowl officials estimate that the two games will combine to have an economic impact of $400 million, about equal to the Super Bowl XXXVI, adjusted for inflation, in New Orleans in 2002." ....

"It will be especially difficult to find an empty hotel room in the city Jan. 5, 6 and 7. Those nights leading up to the LSU -- Ohio State matchup are already sold out citywide." ...

"The Ritz-Carlton is sold out for the championship game and nearly sold out for the Sugar Bowl, even with a four-night minimum stay requirement, hotel manager Zachary Curry said." ...

"In fact, the interest from Hawaii fans has been the surprise highlight for hoteliers, who initially worried that the distant school's fans would not travel in large numbers. But the college sold out of its initial allotment of 13,500 tickets and requested 1,000 more." ...

"Hawaii's excitement about the game may turn into a financial windfall for local businesses, because Hawaii fans are making a long vacation of their jaunt to the mainland, booking five- to seven-night stays in New Orleans." ...

"Airport Director Sean Hunter said he expects charter flight activity into Louis Armstrong International to increase significantly four or five days before both the Sugar Bowl and the BCS championship game. Several airlines have added flights in preparation for the games, but charters are usually necessary to carry such large crowds into and out of the city from one location." ...

"The best part of this unprecedented bowl season is that it is only the beginning of much to come for the city and specifically the hospitality industry.

Mardi Gras is Feb. 5, less than a month after the championship game. The NBA All-Star Game is the following month, and the French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Essence Festival follow in short order. That, in addition to a convention and meeting schedule that is busier than this year." ...

for the complete story see:
NOLA tourism