Conversation With Walt Leger III, President & CEO,
New Orleans & Company
New Orleans & Company started the summer by hosting the launch of Sail 250 and North America’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards Ceremony. Leger connected with USAE to discuss the bureau/city’s brand, hospitality developments and sharing its more than 300 years of history.
USAE: What does “Built to Host” mean to you?
Leger: For more than 300 years, New Orleans has been a place where people come together to exchange ideas, build relationships and create something new. “Built to Host” reflects not only our world-class convention facilities, hotels and walkable downtown, but also the spirit of hospitality that defines our city. Hosting is part of our DNA. It is how we welcome visitors, support meeting planners, engage attendees and showcase our culture. At New Orleans & Company, “Built to Host” is more than a marketing slogan—it is a commitment to delivering exceptional experiences and meaningful outcomes for our customers every day.
Ultimately, being Built to Host means helping organizations achieve their goals—whether that’s educating members, building stronger communities, generating economic impact or creating unforgettable experiences for attendees.
USAE: How is the city’s hospitality portfolio developing?
Leger: New Orleans continues to make significant investments in its meetings and hospitality infrastructure. The planned Omni Convention Center Headquarters Hotel, expected to break ground in the near future, will be a transformative addition to our convention district. New lodging options are also expanding, including the recently opened Element by Marriott and the upcoming Fairmont Hotels & Resorts property.
In addition, more than $1 billion has been invested in hotel renovations across the city. The Hilton New Orleans Riverside is completing a comprehensive renovation of its 1,622 guestrooms along with major resiliency improvements. The New Orleans Marriott is finalizing a renovation of all 1,333 guestrooms, while the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District recently completed a renovation of its 332 rooms. The JW Marriott New Orleans has also renovated all of its meeting and event spaces, enhancing more than 24,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. These investments demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a world-class hospitality product for meetings and conventions of every size. New properties in the boutique hotel space are also adding to the offerings across the city, bringing exceptional food and beverage offerings as well as a flexible accommodations for smaller groups and meetings.
USAE: How does New Orleans & Company incorporate the city’s history into its mission?
Leger: New Orleans exists because of the Mississippi River. For centuries, it connected the heart of North America to the world, making our city a center of commerce, culture and innovation. That history continues to shape who we are today.
At New Orleans & Company, our mission is not simply to promote tourism but to steward and share the authentic story of New Orleans. We celebrate the people, traditions, music, cuisine and cultures that have made this city one of the most distinctive destinations in the world. We were honored to serve as the first U.S. host city for Sail 250, helping launch the nation’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. It was a fitting reminder that New Orleans has long been a place where history, culture and global connections converge.
USAE: Please share a handful of ways that the bureau is engaged with the community outside of traditional business practices.
Leger: We believe the best visitor experiences begin with strong communities. The things that make New Orleans a great place to live and work also make it a more compelling place to visit.
One of our most important initiatives is the Greater New Orleans Region Vision Plan 2035, a comprehensive 10-year roadmap developed through collaboration with more than 250 community stakeholders. The plan focuses on strengthening transportation and connectivity, supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, expanding access to quality public spaces, growing the cultural economy and enhancing regional quality of life.
In addition, New Orleans & Company supports workforce development initiatives, cultural organizations, neighborhood-based events, sustainability efforts and advocacy for investments that benefit residents and visitors alike. Our goal is to ensure tourism serves as a catalyst for broader economic and community prosperity.
USAE: Where is the first place you are taking a visitor?
Leger: I would probably take them to one of our incredible urban parks—Audubon Park and City Park—both of which capture so much of what makes our city special.
Nestled in our beautiful uptown/university neighborhood, Audubon Park is an urban oasis that first opened in 1898. People travel from near and far to marvel at and enjoy the majestic oak trees, lagoons, and expansive green space located within the park, as well as the Audubon Zoo. For the millions who use the park for picnics, relaxing, walking, running, cycling and special events there is no better place in New Orleans for recreational fun and relaxation.
Audubon Zoo regularly earns top national honors, most notably taking 8th place in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Zoo. It was also awarded the prestigious Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Innovation Award for Advocacy Impact.
At more than 1,300 acres, City Park is one of the largest urban parks in America and home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, botanical gardens, golf courses, sports facilities and numerous venues for meetings and special events. It is also home to the largest collection of mature live oak trees in the world, with some dating back hundreds of years.
Most importantly, City Park reflects the balance that defines New Orleans: world-class cultural attractions, natural beauty, recreation and community gathering spaces all woven together in a way that feels uniquely authentic. It is often the place where visitors realize New Orleans is much more than they expected.