Member Profile: Our Three Champions & Legacy Honoree
GETTING TO N.O.
Employee Spotlight - Kim Priez
COVER STORY
IPW 2027: New Orleans to Welcome the World for IPW 2027
BEYOND THE BEADS
Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup Returns as X Games Makes it New Orleans Debut
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
Beyond the Fence
BE A TOURIST
Leisure Events Calendar
COMPANY’S COMING Convention Calendar
MUSIC TO OUR EARS
What Others are Saying about New Orleans
HOW TO Reach Us
Tourism Matters is published by Gambit for New Orleans & Company, the official destination marketing and sales organization for the New Orleans tourism industry. Our vision is to make New Orleans the most remarkable, unique and welcoming city in the world. The mission of New Orleans & Company is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to the city for the economic, social and community benefit of New Orleans and its people.
504-566-5011 | 2020 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130 www.neworleans.com
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @Visit New Orleans | @Neworleansandco
Sam Joffray, Event Development and Production Executive
Tammie Boteler, VP of Finance
Brian Walker, VP of Information Technology
Laura Russett, Director of Administration
Rachel Avery, CMP, Director, Convention Services and Special Events
Tara Stackpole, Director of Executive Operations
PHOTO
A MESSAGE CEO from the
Dear Friends of New Orleans & Company,
Welcome to summer and happy 250th birthday to America!
New Orleans kicked off the summer in spectacular fashion … 125,0000 people flocked to the riverfront for Sail 250 New Orleans, May 27-June 1, the first stop in a national celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. It was an honor to host US military vessels, as well as ships from the UK, Netherlands, Colombia, Chile, Buenos Aires, Peru, and Uruguay. The mighty Mississippi became a beautiful backdrop for international friendship, maritime heritage, cultural exchange, and community celebration.
That same week New Orleans & Company hosted North America’s 50 Best restaurant awards, bringing some of the most influential chefs, restaurateurs, food journalists, and, hospitality leaders from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean to New Orleans. The 50 Best Restaurants in North America were revealed, including New Orleans’ own Dakar NOLA (number four and Best Restaurant in the Southern USA); Emeril’s (number 20); Acamaya (number 30); and Emeril Lagasse received the Icon Award. This event is part of our strategy to showcase our cultural assets globally, and it delivered on that vision.
And speaking of welcoming the world to New Orleans, this issue of Tourism Matters highlights a rare opportunity we have on May 2-6, 2027 to host IPW, the leading international inbound travel trade show for the United States.
Organized by the U.S. Travel Association, IPW is the Super Bowl of travel and tourism, convening thousands of the most influential global travel buyers, tour operators, and, journalists — professionals who collectively shape how millions of international travelers choose where to visit. The business conducted during this event drives billions of dollars in future travel to the United States, with impacts that ripple for years. Hosting IPW 2027 po -
sitions New Orleans and the entire state to capture a meaningful share of that business.
In the shorter term, our team is working diligently to drive business to our community this summer through a marketing campaign designed to inspire visitation from our regional drive market and three of our largest direct-flight markets: Atlanta, Houston and Dallas.
The summer is slower, but it is not slow. There are a number of large meetings and conferences in town, including 16,000 people for the 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships earlier this month. New Orleans is booming with major cultural events including the Essence Festival of Culture, the first-ever X Games Championship event, Bocuse d’Or and Pastry World Cup, COOLinary restaurant promotion, Satchmo Summer Fest, and Museum Month.
For those of us who are lucky enough to live and work here, the message is simple: Now is the time to rediscover the magic of New Orleans. Visit a museum for the first time, attend a festival or explore a new neighborhood this summer. It’s the perfect time to show up and support the people and places that make New Orleans thrive. Plan your staycation today at neworleans.com.
Sincerely,
Walter J. Leger III President & CEO New Orleans & Company
GETTING N.O. to Kim Priez
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, TOURISM
Why did you join New Orleans & Company?
When I joined the organization, it was known as the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. I began as an intern and assistant when our offices were located on Royal Street, in the building that now serves as a police station. Every day, I watched visitors experience the joy and excitement of exploring the French Quarter. Seeing firsthand the impact tourism had on people fascinated me and inspired me to pursue a career that allowed me to connect with others.
I have always been drawn to sales and service-oriented industries. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to work for the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel promoting the hotel to global markets. While I enjoyed representing the property, the opportunity to promote tourism for the entire city ultimately drew me back to my roots at what is now New Orleans & Company.
Today, it is incredibly rewarding to work with travel professionals from around the world and showcase all the reasons New Orleans is the ideal destination for their groups, programs, and clients.
How do you explain your team’s work to someone outside of the travel industry?
Our Tourism Sales team works with U.S. and international travel buyers, tour operators, and group planners to position New Orleans as their destination of choice. These professionals organize a wide range of travel experiences, including family reunions, weddings, cruise programs, escorted tours, and customized vacation packages.
Many of our clients bring anywhere from 10 to more than 50,000 visitors to New Orleans each year. We understand that they have countless destination options across the United States, so our role is to demonstrate what makes New Orleans truly unique. We promote the city’s authentic culture, world-renowned cuisine, rich history, vibrant music scene, and, most importantly, the warmth and hospitality of our people.
Why is hosting IPW a big deal?
How can the community help? IPW, which stands for International Pow Wow, is the premier international inbound travel trade show in the United States. Each year, it brings together more than 1,000 leading travel companies and over 500 international journalists. Many of these buyers already send tens of thousands of international visitors to New Orleans annually, making their influence on global travel significant.
Often referred to as the “Super Bowl of global travel,” IPW provides an unparalleled opportunity for a host city to showcase itself to the world. By experiencing New Orleans firsthand, these influential travel professionals gain a deeper understanding of what makes our city special.
While New Orleans is an extraordinary destination, it is our people who truly set us apart. Visitors will experience a warm welcome from the moment they arrive until the day they depart. We encourage our community to join us in creating that “Big Warm Welcome” by learning more and getting involved at www.neworleans.com/IPW2027.
You have been with New Orleans & Company for 35 years. What makes you stay?
Promoting and selling the city I love as a premier destination has been an incredibly fulfilling career.
New Orleans & Company is an exceptional place to work and I am surrounded by a passionate and dedicated team. Tourism is a demanding profession, but when you love what you do and believe in its impact, 35 years can pass very quickly.
