This week, New Orleans wrapped up a string of special events in the city. As the attendees of the NBA All-Star came and filtered out of New Orleans, many took stock of the events that had unfolded during the past two months – two college bowl games, Mardi Gras and several conferences that attracted thousands of people.
“We have reaffirmed our position as a special-event city,” Doug Thornton, regional vice president for the company that manages the New Orleans Arena and the Superdome told The Times-Picayune. “There is no doubt that we can host the biggest of the special events in this country. Make no mistake, this was a big weekend for New Orleans.”
Praise filtered in from all fronts – tourists, residents and pundits lauded New Orleans for the food, entertainment and ability to maintain order in the city.
The NBA had been criticized for selecting New Orleans to host the game because of concerns following this past year’s game in Las Vegas where arrests and disputes marred the game.
But holding true to the advertisement campaign, what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. New Orleans was not a repeat of the unpleastantries of the 2007 game.
This weekend has shown the country and the world that the hospitality industry in New Orleans is operating again.
“I thought it was great. I really did,” said Ski Austin, NBA’s executive vice president of events and attractions, told The Times-Picayune. “It’s hard to not sound superlative. It was a fantastic experience. Everything that we had hoped it to be for our guests, for our players and for the city, it was. I hope the city felt as positive about it as we did.”
Two important tasks lie ahead for city and state officials. First, they must not allow this piece of success to deter the ongoing recovery effort in other sectors and areas of the New Orleans. There are many people still trying to return to their homes and find jobs within the city.
Second, the words of satisfaction that were spoken about New Orleans this weekend must spread, ensuring they echo across the country so everyone knows New Orleans is open for business and doing a great job.
We, as students, can help play a role in spreading the praises of New Orleans. Spring break is around the corner, and we can encourage our friends within and outside of the state to consider opting for Bourbon Street instead of Florida’s Panama City Beach. By informing the world about New Orleans’ hospitality, we can each help in a small way with the recovery effort.
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