New Orleans is without a doubt my favorite city in the world – and I have been to a lot of places! I’m lucky to call it a part-time home since my family lives there. I try to get there as many times a year as I can, rotating festivals each year. Between Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest, and more, there is always something fun happening in this vibrant city. Thanks to its culture, history, and incredible cuisine, New Orleans is the perfect location for your next corporate event, and a Hyatt Regency New Orleans conference is a good place to start. I was recently there for a Hyatt Regency New Orleans conference with my favorite client, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, whom I have also photographed events for in Boston and Austin. Although those are great cities, I’m here to convince you that New Orleans might just have the upper hand on best city for your next corporate event! Sultry jazz, centuries-old architecture, and a spirit that is as infectious as it is captivating – what’s not to like? I’m also here to convince you to hire me to photograph it!
The tl:dr is that New Orleans should absolutely be at the top of your list when considering a destination for your next conference or corporate event. It’s got everything to make your attendees excited about traveling – a renowned reputation as a tourist hotspot, a well-known party hub, and a secret culinary destination (seriously though – Nola has some of the best food in the US!). Looking for the perfect location for your next professional gatherings, corporate events, or corporate conferences? Look no further than New Orleans!
The Appeal of New Orleans for Conferences and Corporate Events
If you are looking for your next location or venue that will offer more than just a meeting space, New Orleans should always be considered as a frontrunner because it effortlessly blends business with pleasure – maybe too well! Here are all the reasons I love the Crescent City!
1. Cultural Richness: New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures: it’s a place where French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences converge to create a unique city unlike any other. It’s the only place in America where getting stuck behind a parade (they’re called a second line) is a valid reason for being late to work. With blues and jazz in almost every bar and street corner, the city literally pulsates with an energy that is unmistakable and completely unique.
2. History: Steeped in history, New Orleans boasts a storied past that is endlessly fascinating. The French Quarter offers cobblestone streets and buildings with colorful facades, City Park has greenery and museums, and every street corner, alleyway, and courtyard hides something discoverable and fun. Venture into the Garden District, majestic mansions and gigantic oak trees line the streets. Conference attendees have a wealth of neighborhoods to explore with a different feeling in each one. Regardless of the neighborhood, every corner of the city tells a tale of history and resilience. Most of the conference venues are conveniently located in the downtown financial district, which is sandwiched between the Quarter and the Garden District for easy exploration of every nook and cranny – and there are many. If you are holding a smaller event, the Audubon Tea Room in the Garden District is a fantastic sunlight filled venue!
3. Culinary Excellence: Food in New Orleans is a way of life. Many people are surprised to discover that New Orleans boasts world-renowned cuisine. They are less surprised to discover that it is based in culinary traditions that spans generations. Whether you are eating traditionally – gumbo to beignets – or being exploratory, there is great food around every corner. A few of my all time favorites include Cochon (make sure you get the wood fired oysters), Peche, La Petite Grocery (don’t sleep on the blue crab beignets), and Shaya (lamb ragu is the move here!).
4. Conference Venues: Hyatt Regency New Orleans and Beyond: New Orleans offers a plethora of venues suited to accommodate conferences of all sizes and scopes. Whether you prefer the elegance of a historic hotel ballroom, the modern amenities of a state-of-the-art convention center, or the intimate charm of a boutique event space, the city has options to suit every need and preference. SPC Impact 2024 was a Hyatt Regency New Orleans conference that comfortably hosted 850+ attendees over 3 days at the Hyatt Regency.
5. Accessibility and Transportation: If the weather is nice, New Orleans is a fairly walkable city. Want to head uptown? Just download the Le Pass app and hop on the incredibly affordable and always fun streetcar!
6. Diversity of Events: If you plan your conference just right, then you may have a festival on either weekend for your attendees to piggyback their trip up next to. Spring is considered to be “festival season” and there’s always something happening from Mardi Gras to French Quarter Fest to Jazz Fest.
What a Photographer Adds to Your New Orleans Conventions and Conferences
With a home base in uptown and years of experience working in the city, I have the strong foundation to provide exceptional service for any conference or event. Regardless of how many ongoing presentations, networking sessions, and workshops your event is concurrently holding, my ability to move quickly, be decisive, and be observant allows me to create captivating and energetic images that define your conference experience and will help you successfully market future events with ease.
Importance of Event Photography: Event photography goes beyond merely documentation: a great event photographer can showcase the atmosphere and energy in still images. As an event photographer, my main job is always to make sure that I am adding value to your conference, providing you with editorial and promotional materials, social media content, and still images that enhance the event’s impact and reach. From enticing prospective attendees to engaging current participants with real-time updates, I’m going to help you elevate your conference experience and leave a lasting impression on all who attend, just like I routinely do for SPC events all over the nation.
If New Orleans does land on your shortlist, I would love to be the one covering it. I keep a part-time home base uptown, my rates are the same no matter what city you are in, and I have photographed just about every kind of event this city hosts, from SPC Impact’s 850 attendees over three days at the Hyatt Regency to a half-day forum in a single sunlit ballroom at the Audubon Tea Room. You can see what coverage includes, how quickly you get your images, and more of my work on my New Orleans event photographer page. Or skip ahead and tell me what you are planning, because I will absolutely find a reason to book a flight.
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