New Orleans Tourism Sees Quick Recovery from Hurricane Isaac

New Orleans’ tourism industry is already emerging from Hurricane Isaac and the city is welcoming visitors again, according to the New Orleans CVB. The city’s levees held and the pumps worked as planned, but New Orleans experienced some minor wind damage, power outages and approximately 16 inches of rainfall. New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport was still closed on Aug. 30 but was expected to reopen Aug. 31.

New Orleans CVB reported no significant damage to the city’s major hotels, restaurants, attractions, airport, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans Arena and Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Crews are currently working hard to restore power to many homes and businesses around the metro area. Many of the restaurants and attractions that closed were reopened on Aug. 30 or were scheduled to reopen on Aug. 31. Many of the hotels in the French Quarter and downtown area remained open for guests during the storm and did not lose power.

For example, the Roosevelt New Orleans-A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, has power and is accepting reservations. The hotel, its employees and guests all fared well during the storm. The hotel’s pool was scheduled to reopen on Aug. 31 and the pool bar and full service will begin on Sept. 1. Teddy’s Café, Sazerac Restaurant and Guerlain Spa were set to reopen with full service on Aug. 31. Dominica, the hotel’s casual Italian restaurant, resumed its normal schedule on Aug. 30.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts reported its hotels in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area have had no major issues from Hurricane Isaac and are open for business. The following properties in New Orleans, Biloxi, Miss., and Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Fla., are fully operational and are taking reservations at this time: Sheraton New Orleans, W New Orleans, W New Orleans French Quarter, Westin New Orleans Canal Place, Four Points by Sheraton French Quarter, Sheraton Metairie-New Orleans, Four Points by Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach, and Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans said it is operating business as usual, accepting new reservations for arrival beginning Aug. 31. The hotel never lost power or any city services. A staff team stayed on property to assist guests who had existing reservations at the hotel and could not leave the city due to the effects of the weather event. Like the hotel's Marriott sister properties in the New Orleans market, the Ritz-Carlton is releasing individual reservations from cancellation penalties for Aug. 30, 2012 through Sept. 3, 2012.

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