(PIctured L-R: President Jerry Reyes & Commissioner Don C. Hubbard)
Governor John Bel Edwards has appointed Jerry Reyes as president of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (“Authority”), the governing board of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Governor Edwards also appointed Don C. Hubbard as commissioner, who previously served on the board from 2005-2008 and again from 2011-2016.
Reyes is a seasoned hospitality professional with more than 20 years of industry experience. He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans and currently serves as the general manager of the Westin Canal Place Hotel, a position he has held for three years. Under his leadership, the Westin recently completed a $30 million revitalization including renovations to all 462 guestrooms and suites, architectural improvements, and an interior redesign. An MBA graduate of the University of New Orleans Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Program, Reyes has also been an assistant professor at UNO for the past two years.
Hubbard is an esteemed civil rights leader, community activist and entrepreneur who owns and operates the Hubbard Mansion Bed & Breakfast on St. Charles Avenue. Through the years, he has received numerous leadership awards including the Avery C. Alexander Civil Rights Award, Marlin Gusman “Living Legends Award,” and New Orleans Chapter Urban League “Man of the Year.”
“We are delighted to welcome Jerry Reyes as our new president, and Don C. Hubbard as commissioner for the Ernest N. Morial Exhibition Hall Authority,” says Michael J. Sawaya, president and general manager of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. “Both of these gentlemen bring years of leadership experience and a history of excellence in the New Orleans business community that make them ideal choices to serve our governing board as we continue with a five-year $557 million comprehensive renovation and modernization plan that will establish the Convention Center’s competitiveness for many years to come.”
These appointments are considered interim, pending confirmation by the Louisiana State Senate.
With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space, in an entirely contiguous hall, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center provides the largest single exhibit space in the country, features an award winning staff, first class amenities, and is the sixth largest convention center in the nation. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, the Convention Center’s event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments. For more info, visit www.mccno.com
The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s (Authority) exclusive mission is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the State of Louisiana and New Orleans Region. The Authority is composed of a 13-member board of commissioners, ten appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, and three appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans. Since 1985, event activity at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments. For more info, visit https://exhallnola.com
