New Orleans top tourist destination
Mar 24th, 2005, 06:56 AM
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New Orleans top tourist destination
According to today's CNN morning news, New Orleans is the top tourist destination in the U.S. That's ahead of San Francisco, NYC, and other popular destinations.
Mar 24th, 2005, 07:32 AM
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I live in the South and I find this ridiculous. According to Conde Nast, the Top 5 CITIES are NYC, San Fran, Charleston, Santa Fe and Chicago.
Yes, New Orleans has a distinct charm and great dining. However, New Orleans isn't even the top destination in the South!!! Charleston is better in almost every facet.
Yes, New Orleans has a distinct charm and great dining. However, New Orleans isn't even the top destination in the South!!! Charleston is better in almost every facet.
Mar 25th, 2005, 06:25 AM
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I suspect CNN and Conde Nast are using far different criteria for classifying cities as the 'top' tourist spot. CNN's findings are probably based on sheer numbers, Conde Nast uses other criteria, such as things to do, places to stay and eat.
Mar 25th, 2005, 06:32 AM
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All of those lists I am sure are based on certain, differing criteria. As for Orlando, not everyone has kids & I for one, have little intention of ever visiting that tourist trap. (Yes, I have been there on business, it is not for me). I also don't see how anyone can rate Charleston over New Orleans. I, too, reside in the south & although we travel to Charleston frequently for long weekends, etc. (& I can easily drive there) I have been to NO many more times than Charleston. I won't get into this, but this has been discussed many times before on this forum. I'd like to see the story if it is in print to see what they actually 'measured'. What about Vegas ?
Mar 25th, 2005, 08:14 AM
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When I saw the TV progam, I was watching CNN's morning news show. (nicknamed "AM") The information was simply presented as a news blurb and was not identified as to source, method of measurement, or any other details. I just took them at their word. As I recall, San Francisco was second. Of the top five they named, NYC was fifth.
I suppose each of us can always have opinions as to what is a top tourist destination, but I am pretty sure the CNN criteria were simply head count statistics -- probably checking airline bookings and similar travel sources. I can understand why recently collected statistics, which probably include the Mardi Gras period, would favor New Orleans.
I suppose each of us can always have opinions as to what is a top tourist destination, but I am pretty sure the CNN criteria were simply head count statistics -- probably checking airline bookings and similar travel sources. I can understand why recently collected statistics, which probably include the Mardi Gras period, would favor New Orleans.
Mar 25th, 2005, 08:50 AM
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I went to New Orleans last April. The French Quarter Festival was going on. I must be missing something. I found the city to be filthy and unfriendly. I was so looking so forward to trying all the wonderful food I had always heard about and was so dissapointed. After having gone to a few of the restaurants recommended I began to wonder is there any health department in New Orleans? Being a person who was educated and have spent a good portion of my life in the restaurant business I was absolutely shocked at the filth of the kitchens in that town. Did I go at a bad time, was this an isolated experience? I am not inclined to go back but feel as though I was missing something - I realize I am in the minority about my reaction to this city and I just wonder do I need to give it another chance?
Mar 25th, 2005, 09:14 AM
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NanoPalos, you must have missed something, indeed, as for quality of food San Francisco, New York, & New Orleans are the tops, althrough chefs trained in the foregoing places have been busy spreading their talents all around the U.S.
Mar 25th, 2005, 01:36 PM
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I'm sorry SAnParis - did it sound like I was "lying" about my experience in New Orleans? The examples that come to the top of my head about how unfriendly people were:
1. That when we were at Tu Jaques (which was the best and cleanest restaurant we were at) was that when I asked a waiter (granted not my waiter) what it was that was so wonderful and distinct in the sauce that came with my brisket was he replied "Why would I ever tell you that" and walked away without a smile or a look back to imply that he was joking.
2. When we were on Bourbon Street we decided to go into a place for our first cocktail of the evening (sorry I didn't know the name of the place) there was a long wait to get a drink and my husband asked me to wait and order while he used the restroom. He was refused the restroom because he hadn't yet bought a drink there when he tried to explain that I was ordering our drinks we were both thrown out.
3. We had been walking along Bourbon Street and I wanted to take a rest for a moment. We stopped in front of an African Heritage store which we had planned to go into to look at something in the window my husband had seen and wanted to look more closely at and possilby purchase. We sat on the stoop in front of the store for a moment. Five minutes later and African American (not employed by said store) came up to tell us "You being white have no right to sit in front of this store".
These are just three of many examples of how unfriendly I felt the people of New Orleans were.
The restaurants I don't have a list of with me here at work but I do at home and will respond on Monday.
1. That when we were at Tu Jaques (which was the best and cleanest restaurant we were at) was that when I asked a waiter (granted not my waiter) what it was that was so wonderful and distinct in the sauce that came with my brisket was he replied "Why would I ever tell you that" and walked away without a smile or a look back to imply that he was joking.
2. When we were on Bourbon Street we decided to go into a place for our first cocktail of the evening (sorry I didn't know the name of the place) there was a long wait to get a drink and my husband asked me to wait and order while he used the restroom. He was refused the restroom because he hadn't yet bought a drink there when he tried to explain that I was ordering our drinks we were both thrown out.
3. We had been walking along Bourbon Street and I wanted to take a rest for a moment. We stopped in front of an African Heritage store which we had planned to go into to look at something in the window my husband had seen and wanted to look more closely at and possilby purchase. We sat on the stoop in front of the store for a moment. Five minutes later and African American (not employed by said store) came up to tell us "You being white have no right to sit in front of this store".
These are just three of many examples of how unfriendly I felt the people of New Orleans were.
The restaurants I don't have a list of with me here at work but I do at home and will respond on Monday.
Mar 28th, 2005, 11:13 AM
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Here's a story I read today which may be what Wayne is commenting on. It's from New Orleans' business magazine, CityBusiness:
Headline: N.O. travel message resounds with families
NEW ORLEANS — Sandy Shilstone, president and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp., has said for years the key to nurturing New Orleans tourism is to spotlight its many attributes besides partying on Bourbon Street.
The message seems to be getting through.
An online poll conducted by Yahoo, Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine named New Orleans the top family vacation destination in the United States.
"When NOTMC launched its first family marketing campaign in the summer of 2001, family travelers were barely a blip on the radar screen," Shilstone says. "Today, as a result of our continued, strategic marketing efforts to attract these visitors, families comprise nearly 15.5 percent of our total visitation, growing 225 percent in the last year alone."
World-class attractions such as the Audubon Nature Institute and Six Flags New Orleans helped change traveler impressions and attitudes nationally about the Crescent City, Shilstone said.
"New Orleans will always be identified for its legendary adult vacation offerings – and justifiably so – but our efforts to expand the market base for family travelers is working," Shilstone says. "People now recognize that New Orleans has a lot of unparalleled offerings for people of all ages."
The top five components travelers look for in a family vacation are cost, safety, sightseeing opportunities, reliably good weather and recreation, according to the entire poll at http://travel.yahoo.com/family.
NOTMC spends $424,000 annually to target family visitors through print and TV ads, bartered radio, Internet marketing, and public relations. "
Headline: N.O. travel message resounds with families
NEW ORLEANS — Sandy Shilstone, president and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp., has said for years the key to nurturing New Orleans tourism is to spotlight its many attributes besides partying on Bourbon Street.
The message seems to be getting through.
An online poll conducted by Yahoo, Travel and National Geographic Traveler magazine named New Orleans the top family vacation destination in the United States.
"When NOTMC launched its first family marketing campaign in the summer of 2001, family travelers were barely a blip on the radar screen," Shilstone says. "Today, as a result of our continued, strategic marketing efforts to attract these visitors, families comprise nearly 15.5 percent of our total visitation, growing 225 percent in the last year alone."
World-class attractions such as the Audubon Nature Institute and Six Flags New Orleans helped change traveler impressions and attitudes nationally about the Crescent City, Shilstone said.
"New Orleans will always be identified for its legendary adult vacation offerings – and justifiably so – but our efforts to expand the market base for family travelers is working," Shilstone says. "People now recognize that New Orleans has a lot of unparalleled offerings for people of all ages."
The top five components travelers look for in a family vacation are cost, safety, sightseeing opportunities, reliably good weather and recreation, according to the entire poll at http://travel.yahoo.com/family.
NOTMC spends $424,000 annually to target family visitors through print and TV ads, bartered radio, Internet marketing, and public relations. "
Mar 28th, 2005, 11:14 AM
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I might add here that I find it very hard to believe that someone found New Orleanians unfriendly. Usually, it's the "uber-friendliness" of people here that scares folks from less-friendly areas!
Mar 28th, 2005, 01:09 PM
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Nano - I don't think people are saying that your's was an impossible experience, just very different than anything that they had experienced. Maybe you just had bad luck and happened to run into people having bad days, possibly the whole place was so busy that everyone's nerves were frayed, or maybe New Orleans just isn't the city for you. I have known several people who just didn't care for the place at all.
Mar 28th, 2005, 01:12 PM
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NanoPalos: I for one am still waiting for the list of restaurants that you ate at. No one's calling you a liar...it's just many people enjoy the area and the cuisine.
I'd like to know where you ate. I've been there numerous times and the only "bad" meal I got there was at Hooter's. (Should have known better, but DH wanted to watch a football game...otherwise we avoid chain restaurants while traveling.)
I'd like to know where you ate. I've been there numerous times and the only "bad" meal I got there was at Hooter's. (Should have known better, but DH wanted to watch a football game...otherwise we avoid chain restaurants while traveling.)
