Hotels across the region are bulging with tourists and revelers for Mardi Gras.
“Carnival Season is something that is critically important to us economically, but it’s also important to us, emotionally.”
We talked with Kelly Schulz of New Orleans and Company about how the city is fairing just two years after the pandemic shuttered hotels and restaurants and even canceled Mardi Gras.
“The occupancy is at approximately 95% and I think those numbers might actually go higher. That was just based on a sample of French Quarter and Downtown hotels,” Schulz explains. “That doesn’t even include the last minute bookings or people who come and stay in short term rentals or those who come to stay with friends and relatives.”
Schulz estimates there is likely one million people in the region taking in the parades and partying.
“Mardi Gras 2023 has been fantastic so far,” Schulz beams. “We’ve seen huge crowds, very, very strong hotel occupancy, a lot of pent up demand for visitors to come back, for many visitors this will be their first Mardi Gras since COVID. And it’s just been a really, really, wonderful couple of weekends so far.”
New Orleans has a lot going for this Mardi Gras in particular—a three day weekend.
“One good thing for this year is that President's Day falls on Monday, which is Lundi Gras,” Schulz says. “So for many people around the United States they’ll have a three day weekend. We’ve encouraged them to plan to spend that three day weekend in New Orleans by enjoying Mardi Gras.”
For New Orleans, Mardi Gras is the kickoff to the Convention and Visitor season.
“We try to educate people from out of town, just what a masterful execution Mardi Gras is. We like to talk to special event planners and convention planners about why New Orleans is built to host,” She says. “If we can pull off a Mardi Gras, we can successfully host any type of event. And our customers see that.”
Schulz gives us a taste of who's coming to town in the next few months… “For the first part of 2023, we have several major medical conventions that are returning to the city. We are also going to go right into our spring festival season. We have New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. And then going into the summer, we’re actively promoting New Orleans as a family travel destination.”