submitted by New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC)
NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center President and CEO Michael J. Sawaya was recently honored with a New Orleans CityBusiness ICON Award and included in the publication’s prestigious Power 50 list. These accolades highlight Sawaya’s leadership and its transformative impact on the Convention Center and the broader New Orleans region.
Since joining the Convention Center in 2018, Sawaya has spearheaded numerous major initiatives that have significantly enhanced the economic landscape of New Orleans, while creating opportunities for small, emerging, and disadvantaged businesses. His team’s meticulous planning and execution have led to the advancement of the facility’s $557 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which prioritizes sustainability initiatives that helped earn a LEED Gold certification for the facility.
The CIP is modernizing the 1983-designed Convention Center and addressing critical infrastructure issues, including the replacement of a 40-acre roof. To date, $255 million of the CIP is complete and another $302 million is planned or underway, with comprehensive renovations of all 140 meeting rooms, corridors, and public spaces, incorporating elements of New Orleans culture throughout.
Sawaya has also been instrumental in guiding the development of the River District, a new $1 billion mixed-use neighborhood adjacent to the Convention Center. His collaborative efforts with the Master Developer, River District Neighborhood Investors, LLC, has enabled the successful navigation of complex approval processes for the critical infrastructure work that began in 2023. Once complete, the River District will emerge as a vibrant hub of commerce and entertainment, transforming a rare piece of undeveloped urban riverfront land into a generational asset for New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
The governing body of the Convention Center, the Ernest N. Morial Exhibition Hall Authority (“Authority”) has also taken next steps to develop a Headquarters Hotel, owned and operated by Omni Hotels & Resorts, and strategically located across from the Convention Center. This Headquarters Hotel will showcase the city’s art, experiences, heritage and upscale hospitality. It will capture nearly $500 million in new private investment, create over 1,000 permanent jobs and generate a combined $24 million in annual tax revenue for the city and the state. This important asset will help meet a growing demand in the contemporary meetings market and strengthen New Orleans’ position as a destination that is Built to Host.
“These recognitions from New Orleans CityBusiness are well deserved,” said Russell W. Allen, the Authority President. “They are a testament to the myriad ways Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision are driving the Convention Center to new heights, bringing huge benefits to our economy, both locally and statewide. He expertly steered the Convention Center through the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida, while championing a $557 million Capital Improvement Plan. Now, he is leading the Convention Center into a new era with the development of a new Headquarters Hotel, which will add an anticipated 22 events to our calendar. And his commitment to small and emerging businesses has helped more local companies thrive and grow alongside the Convention Center. Mike’s unwavering dedication has been a vital force in strengthening New Orleans’ position as a premier destination for meetings and events.”
For more information about the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, please visit mccno.com.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC)
New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is tied for the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. NOENMCC is a 2025 Exhibitor Magazine Centers of Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. A recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.
