Local & Entertainment Info

Arriving to the conference early? Don’t know what to do with your extra time? Why not check out New Orleans and all that it has to offer. MBA CSEA is excited to recommend a few pre-conference excursions that are a “must see” while in town. These pre-conference excursions are for those of you who want to gather a group of fellow conference attendees and explore the city on your own prior to the Opening Reception.  

 
Recommendations:

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter (and just a short walk from the hotel) Audubon Aquarium of the Americas immerses you in an underwater world. The colors of the Great Maya Reef come alive in their walk-through tunnel, while the penguins and Southern sea otters are visitor favorites. Touch a stingray, feed a parakeet, and marvel at their gigantic sharks and rays in the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico Exhibit. Watch for sea turtles throughout the Aquarium as coordinator of the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, they prepare many of them for release to the wild.

Address: 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (13-minute walk from the hotel)
Admission: $29.95


The National WWII Museum
Offering a compelling blend of sweeping narrative and poignant personal detail, The National WWII Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories, taking visitors inside the story of the war that changed the world.
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.
The National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans on a six-acre campus, where five soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants.

Address: 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 (13-minute walk from the hotel)
Admission: $28.50  

 
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Take a stroll through New Orleans’ carefully cultivated gardens which were established in the 1930s. Open year-round, ten acres of gardens and art await you. These beautiful gardens feature more than 2000 plants from around the world.  

Address: 5 Victory Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 (5.1 miles, a 17-minute car ride from the hot
Admission: $8

 
New Orleans Museum of Art
Since opening in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art (known simply as "NOMA") has assembled more than 40,000 works of art­ – an impressive compilation considering the museum opened with only nine pieces. NOMA's vast collection ranges from early Asian works to European masterpieces from the 16th to 20th centuries. While here, be sure to stroll through the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden – located adjacent to the museum in City Park.


The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) is a museum, research center, and publisher dedicated to preserving the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South.  Founded in 1966, THNOC has grown to include 13 historic buildings on three French Quarter campuses.  Visit the new exhibition center, at 520 Royal Street, for an ever-changing array of programs and installations—and be sure to visit the museum shop and Café Cour while you’re there. Just across the street, at 533 Royal, the historic Merieult House anchors a complex of attractions including the Louisiana History Galleries and our house museum, the Williams Residence. The Chartres Street campus, located at 410 Chartres, comprises the Williams Research Center, the Boyd Cruise Gallery, and on-site collections storage.  Through guided or cell-phone tours, visitors can learn about the architectural styles of the city’s oldest neighborhood, the Vieux Carré.

 
New Orleans Walking Tours
Explore some of New Orleans’ best neighborhoods on foot!  Choose from a curated selection of walking tours, with step-by-step directions right from the hotel. Ask the concierge desk for a printed copy of one (or more) of our suggested walking tours. (List coming soon)

 
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Opening Reception

“Get Jazzed” about all things MBA CSEA 2020 in New Orleans! Join us at the Opening Reception for Jazzy cocktails and reconnect with colleagues as we open another wonderful conference!

TBD

 
Wednesday, June 24

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Social Hour

More information coming soon!

7:15 pm

Evening Dine-Arounds

Please join your MBA CSEA conference attendees for a night out in New Orleans and an opportunity to take in some of the delicious cuisines that this city is famous for. Reservations have been made at the following restaurants, and are all within a few blocks walking/driving distance from the Intercontinental New Orleans.

Sign up for the restaurant of your choice at the Conference Registration Desk. Meet in the lobby at the designated time on Wednesday. Reservations are scheduled to begin at 7:30 pm. Dinner payment is the responsibility of each individual.

Mulate’s
Food Type: Cajun
Price Range: $$
Distance from Hotel: .6 miles (13 minute walk)
Maximum Reservation: 20


The Bombay Club
Food Type: American (Traditional)
Price Range: $$
Distance from Hotel: .6 miles (12 minute walk)
Maximum Reservation: 20

 
Bon Ton Café
Food Type: Cajun
Price Range: $$$
Distance from Hotel: .1 mile (3 minute walk)
Maximum Reservation: 20

 
Meril
Food Type: New American
Price Range: $$
Distance from Hotel: .5 miles (11 minute walk)
Maximum Reservation: 20

 
Thursday, June 25

Gala Reception  

“Laissez les bon temps rouler...MBA CSEA 2020!” Good colleagues, good connections, good information in New Orleans this year as we come together at the Gala to celebrate and let the good times roll! Get your dancing shoes ready for outstanding music, delicious food and fabulous drinks.  Kick it up a notch and wear something that says “Mardi Gras!”

 

Top 10 sites to see in New Orleans
Source: US News

Frenchmen Street
If you want an authentic New Orleans experience more removed from the touristy areas of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, head to the lively Frenchmen Street. A popular spot for locals, Frenchmen Street is a four-block stretch of live music, bars, restaurants, night clubs and art galleries. Here, not only will you find fewer crowds (albeit not by much), but you'll also encounter cheaper eats and drinks, and better music – it's kind of like Bourbon Street's hipper, trendier cousin.

 
French Quarter
If you want to experience New Orleans properly, it's best to begin your tour here. Recent visitors said the neighborhood is lively, with lots to do and see and offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The neighborhood, also known as Vieux Carré, is the heart and soul of this city, and it's also a National Historic Landmark. As the site of the original New Orleans colony (established by the French in 1718), the French Quarter has held on to its heritage, complete with street names that are still listed in French.

 
Garden District
Take a walking tour of the Garden District (located a little less than 3 miles southwest of the French Quarter) for a peek at some of the city's most beautiful homes. As its name suggests, this historic residential neighborhood is laden with trees, ivy, and yes, gardens. Visitors rave about the beautiful houses and architecture. Some even preferred the Garden District over Bourbon Street, citing the peaceful atmosphere and well-preserved properties as a much-needed break from the city's crowded tourist spots.

 
The National WWII Museum
Having opened June 6, 2000 (the 56th anniversary of D-Day), the museum houses an impressive collection of artifacts and educational films documenting all aspects of the war, from D-Day to the war in the Pacific to the Holocaust. The brainchild of Stephen Ambrose – a best-selling author and consultant on the film "Saving Private Ryan" – the museum also features oral recantations of civilians' and soldiers' experiences throughout the early 1940s.

 
New Orleans Swamp Tours
Stretching from Houston to Mobile, Alabama, the Bayou Country played a crucial role in the development of the United States in terms of communication and transportation. In fact, there would be no New Orleans without the bayous, so you owe it to yourself to take a swamp tour. There are a number of companies that go out on either airboats or flatboats into the swamps where you can learn all about the ecology, the wildlife and the people.

 
Cemetery Tours
Some of New Orleans' must-see attractions are its cemeteries. Many of the tombs found in these "cities of the dead" are above ground to protect them from rising water levels, and they're embellished with ornate designs inspired by French and Spanish architecture. Though the city's older cemeteries are admittedly dilapidated, with crumbled tombs and patchy grass, the decaying grounds add to the ghostly atmosphere

 
The Cabildo
Flanking Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter, the Cabildo was originally constructed in 1799 (when New Orleans was under Spanish rule), as the seat of the Spanish government. Later on, it was here that the Louisiana Purchase took place and after that, this Spanish-style building served as city hall and the Supreme Court. Today, the Cabildo is home to a three-floor branch of the Louisiana State Museum, which recounts Louisiana history with the help of Native American objects, Colonial-era paintings, and even Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask. Visitors can also see the room where the Louisiana Purchase was finalized. If you're interested in more recent history, you'll find that at the Cabildo, too. An entire floor is devoted to Hurricane Katrina – the 2005 storm that left New Orleans and surrounding regions devastated. Within the exhibit you'll find multimedia displays and artifacts collected during the cleanup of both Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

 
St. Louis Cathedral
As the centerpiece of the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral is one of New Orleans' most recognizable landmarks. The oldest cathedral in North America, St. Louis Cathedral was originally built in the early 1700s. The structure standing today is actually the third cathedral built on this spot, since the first two were destroyed. Religious services are still held here, as well as numerous cultural events, including free concerts.

 
New Orleans Museum of Art
Since opening in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art (known simply as "NOMA") has assembled more than 40,000 works of art­ – an impressive compilation considering the museum opened with only nine pieces. NOMA's vast collection ranges from early Asian works to European masterpieces from the 16th to 20th centuries. While here, be sure to stroll through the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden – located adjacent to the museum in City Park.

 
City Park
City Park offers a lovely respite from the city and is a great place to spend an afternoon, according to recent visitors. Take a nature stroll through the 12-acre New Orleans Botanical Garden (which boasts 2,000 different varieties of plants). Sprawling across 1,300 acres, the expansive City Park features 26 tennis courts, 12 soccer fields, two football stadiums and an 18-hole golf course. Aside from all of the park's recreational facilities, it's also home to the world's largest grove of mature live oaks, including the Anseman Oak and McDonogh Oak – both believed to be between 600 and 900 years old.  

 
Tips for visiting New Orleans

New Orleans is a wonderfully colorful, fabulous, and energetic city and like most large cities in the US offers wonderful history and sites to visit.  It’s best to do a little research beforehand to familiarize yourself with the area around the hotel and within walking distance like the famous French Quarter.   

June can be quite pleasant in New Orleans but will be on the hotter and more humid side. Plan for 100% humidity and temperatures ranging from the 70s to 90s. A light rain jacket or umbrella is recommended for light showers that tend to crop up in the Summer months. Check the weather forecasts just before packing to ensure you have what you need.

When walking, it’s best to travel with two or more as a group. Public transportation which includes streetcars are generally safe options yet offer limited service.  Uber is recommended for going further away from the hotel area or any place at a distance.

The French Quarter like most tourist destinations in major metropolitan areas is popular with petty criminals, just be alert and travel in groups of two or more, especially at night.

Your best plan is to stay on larger well-lit streets, well defined areas near the hotel, French Quarter, and Uptown neighborhoods. Avoid traveling into unfamiliar neighborhoods or less populated streets.