New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC) serves as the City of New Orleans' leisure travel promotion agency. NOTMC is a private economic development corporation created under Louisiana State Law to foster jobs and economic growth by developing the tourism industry in New Orleans.
The mission of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation is to promote and position New Orleans as the number one leisure tourism destination through a broad program of advertising, public relations, social media, Internet marketing, promotions, research, and other marketing strategies. These strategies are designed to maintain and improve the city's image as a great place to visit, to attract increased numbers of travelers, and to increase tourist spending in New Orleans.
NOTMC was first developed in the early 1990s to boost hotel occupancy during slow tourism periods, which have traditionally included the summer months and the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. However, due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and other natural and man-made challenges, NOTMC is now tasked with promoting leisure tourism throughout the year. NOTMC designs and launches a year-round marketing campaign, a major summer promotion; niche efforts aimed at cultural, family, and multicultural travelers; and a fall campaign promoting Christmas New Orleans Style.
In addition, NOTMC produces the New Orleans Official Visitors Guide with New Orleans & Company and assists French Quarter Festivals, Inc. with production of the Christmas New Orleans Style Guide. NOTMC also partners with New Orleans & Company to produce and manage NewOrleans.com, the City's official tourism website, and we publish GoNOLA.com - a New Orleans travel blog that also includes twice-monthly video updates. We also help support the marketing and promotion of various special events and festivals.
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NOTMC is funded by the City's hotel room occupancy privilege tax and an Optional Assessment agreed to by hotels in the downtown area. NOTMC does not receive any funds directly from the City of New Orleans' general fund. The organization receives additional funding from the RTA/hotel tax and from Harrah's Casino's agreements with the City of New Orleans and the hotel industry.
While the majority of NOTMC's budget is allocated to marketing New Orleans, in accordance with a council ordinance, NOTMC also funds entities that include the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans & Company, the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network, the Mayor's Office of Film & Video, the Mayor's Office of Music Business Development, and the Mayor's Office of Tourism & Arts. Administration accounts for less than five percent of the budget.
Each member of NOTMC's Board of Directors is nominated by the hospitality industry, appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
NOTMC Board meetings are typically held six times per year at 3 pm on the third Tuesday of January, March, May, August, September, and November at various locations throughout the City of New Orleans. Board meeting notices are posted to the City of New Orleans website, NOLA.gov at least 24 hours prior to each meeting.
Darryl Berger, Chairman
President, The Berger Company
Mayor's Appointee
Gordon H. Mueller, PhD, Vice-Chairman
President & CEO Emeritus, The World War II Museum
New Orleans & Company
Sheila Burns, Treasurer
Vice-President, QCS Logistics
New Orleans East Economic Development Foundation
Hon. Jay H. Banks
Councilmember, District B
New Orleans City Council
Jim Cook
General Manager, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel
Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association
Flozell Daniels, Jr.
President and CEO, Foundation for Louisiana
New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network
Daniel Del Sol
Executive Director, PRC
Preservation Resource Center
Hon. Helena Moreno
Councilmember-at-Large
New Orleans City Council (Alternate)
Hon. Kristin Gisleson Palmer
Councilmember, District C
New Orleans City Council
Dan Real
Regional President, South Region, Caesar's Entertainment Corp.
New Orleans & Company
Amy Reimer
General Manager, International House Hotel
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association
Travis Tague
General Manager, Eliza Jane Hotel
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association
Emery Whalen
CEO/Owner QED Hospitality
Louisiana Restaurant Association
Hon. Jason Williams
Councilmember-at-Large
New Orleans City Council (Alternate)
Mark Wilson
General Manager, Jung Hotel & Residences
Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association