Walt Leger from New Orleans and Company joins the show to highlight the success of this year's Mardi Gras, which benefited from a later date, the Super Bowl, and a Taylor Swift concert. These events provided significant PR and advertising, leading to increased hotel occupancy and restaurant business compared to the previous year. Preliminary data indicates higher occupancy rates, with Saturday and Sunday seeing nearly 95% occupancy, boosted by events like Katy Perry's performance at the Superdome.Despite potential weather issues, the Mardi Gras parades, including Rex and Zulu, were well-attended and symbolically important, especially for local and regional visitors.

The city's law enforcement and event organizers were praised for their efforts in ensuring safety and delivering a world-class event.Looking forward, New Orleans aims to maintain momentum with upcoming events such as Hogs for the Cause, French Quarter Fest, and Jazz Fest. The city plans to leverage the positive exposure from recent events, including international media coverage, to attract more visitors and investors.The conversation also touched on the challenge of measuring the ROI of social media impact from individual travelers. While difficult to quantify, the exposure from social media posts is invaluable and influences potential visitors. The city continues to focus on marketing and promoting its unique culture and excellence in hosting events to attract conferences, meetings, and potential investors.Overall, the key to New Orleans' success lies in consistent effort, excellent event execution, and showcasing the city's vibrant culture to both visitors and potential investors.

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