Travel+Leisure Magazine and Orbitz Insider Name New Orleans as a Top Tourism Destination in 2007

Travel+Leisure Magazine and Orbitz Insider name New Orleans as a top tourism destination in 2007.

New Orleans is poised to reclaim its title as the world’s number one hot spot for fun and excitement. Thanks to the endorsement of two leading travel authorities, this may, indeed, become reality. Orbitz, the third largest online travel site, and Travel + Leisure magazine, the widely read publication of American Express, both recently listed New Orleans as top destination spots for leisure travelers in 2007.

Last year at this time, with the destruction from Hurricane Katrina still widely visible throughout most of the city and more than half of its population still dislocated, New Orleans made the decision to go on with its major annual events – Mardi Gras, French Quarter Festival, the Jazz and Heritage Festival, Southern Decadence, and many smaller but equally fun events. Harrah’s Casino reopened in February 2006 and later in the year the company opened an opulent new hotel and entertainment venue downtown. Thoroughbred racing returned to the storied Fair Grounds Race Course. One by one the city’s celebrated music clubs in the French Quarter and along Frenchmen Street reopened their doors. Most of the city’s storied restaurants, likewise. By year’s end you could stand on Canal Street downtown or anywhere in the French Quarter and swear that they looked no different than they did before the storm.

This year the party continues, and is projected to be even bigger and more exciting.

In July, Essence Festival is returning to a newly renovated Superdome, after a one-year absence. The Bayou Classic football game returned in November 2006 and the Sugar Bowl game returned earlier this month. And who can forget that the Saints are having one of their best seasons ever; their remarkable resurgence symbolic of the city itself, as they stand ready to take on all comers in the NFL Playoffs.

The January 2007 issue of T + L praised the efforts of the large number of volunteers who came to New Orleans to help the city in its recovery efforts. “’Voluntourism’ opportunities abound,” the magazine said. The article also said, “Much of New Orleans is back and ready for visitors. Revamped favorites and interesting newcomers are contributing to the second act of one of America’s favorite cities.”

Orbitz concluded that New Orleans is making “a remarkable comeback” and “is bustling and thriving once again. Whatever you make it to New Orleans for – they are more ready for you than ever.”

“This is the kind of good publicity we need to spread the word that New Orleans is back and ready for visitors,” said Sandra S. Shilstone, President & CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. “We hope this sends a clear signal to people all over America, as well as internationally, to spend time in New Orleans in 2007.”