Convention Center Reopens in New Orleans

A week of major conventions, including the big American Library Association meeting, attracted about 24,000 visitors and pumped an estimated $25 million into New Orleans´ economy, which is still staggering from Hurricane Katrina, tourism officials said late last week.

But perhaps more importantly, the ALA meeting showed convention planners from other organizations that New Orleans and its revamped convention center, which was used as a hurricane evacuation shelter, is again a capable player in the hospitality industry.

The convention and related tourism businesses had become the city´s chief economic driver before Katrina, pushing $9.6 billion annually into the economy and providing an estimated 126,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.

An estimated 25,000 people unexpectedly took refuge in the Convention Center following Hurricane Katrina. Conditions at the giant building were horrendous.

The Convention Center was not expected to be a shelter but was pressed into service by thousands fleeing the flooding of the city that followed the August 29 storm. The primary refuge of last resort had been the Louisiana Superdome, which lost part of its roof and was quickly overwhelmed with people seeking shelter.

ALA brought about 18,000 participants to town, while a meeting of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics brought another 2,000. At the same time, the Air & Waste Management Association had about 4,000, Perry said.

Katrina took out the fall 2005 and spring 2006 convention schedule, leaving the meetings going into the traditionally slower summer months.

There are 14 other major meetings booked for the convention center, along with smaller meetings at hotels, for the remainder of 2006.