Meeting planners and industry peers have recognized the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center for excellence in the industry. The Center was honored with the prestigious President’s Award from the Gulf States Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) at their Annual Awards and Installation Luncheon.
The President’s Award is the highest award given by MPI and is only awarded to an organization with the highest standards of leadership. The recipient must be actively involved in the membership, have donated to the organization and have sustainable environmental policies. The recipient of the President’s Award must be involved with the Gulf States Chapter of MPI, not just as a member, but one who works with MPI and supports the entire hospitality industry.
The President’s Award is selected by the current President of MPI, and can only be given to an organization once.
“The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was the obvious choice,” said Rachel Vella, president of the Gulf States Chapter of MPI. “The Convention Center was selected for its continued service to MPI, through donations, providing speakers, and volunteer activities on the MPI Board. It is an honor to work so closely with a major facility, such as the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. I can’t think of any other organization in the community that supports Meeting Professionals International and is deserving of this award more than the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. They have been with us from the beginning and I know they will continue to grow with the MPI Gulf States Chapter.”
“We have 284 employees with over 2,000 combined years of experience,” said Bob Johnson, president/general manager of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “I am sure they will appreciate knowing they have made such a positive impression on our industry peers.”
Last year, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center received the Offensive Player of the Year award from the Gulf States Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
In recent months, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has completed $19.1 million in aesthetic and technological improvements. The Center recently implemented a 100 percent redundant fiber optic backbone delivering data up to a capacity of 10 gigabytes, making it one of the most technologically powerful Convention Centers in the nation.
The Convention Center has also re-purposed pay phone bays into I-Cove stations where attendees can connect their laptops to the internet and/or or re-charge electronic devices. Among other improvements, the Convention Center opened two executive cyber lounges, installed card-key systems to all 140 meeting rooms, and installed new digital, flat panel audio/video information systems throughout the main lobby and meeting room levels. An additional $11.6 in improvements is slated throughout 2010.
