International convention goers who attended the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting this year took advantage of tax-free shopping during their visit. The show was held Nov. 16-19 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Representatives of Louisiana’s tax-free shopping program opened a temporary tax-free shopping office at the nation’s sixth largest convention center to allow attendees to recover refunds made on over $2 million of purchases during the length of the meeting. The window will continue to operate while the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is under construction.
Louisiana was the first U.S. state to offer sales tax refunds to international visitors through the tax-free shopping program, which attracts international meeting attendees.
The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk will replace the former Riverwalk Mall that had been adjacent to the Morial Center since 1985.
Under development by the Howard Hughes Company, the Collection will be expanded by 50,000 square feet. It will be anchored by Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus and is expected to feature brands including Coach Men’s Factory Store, Tommy Bahama and others. Construction is set to conclude next summer.
