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Heritage Tourists Spend More and Stay Longer
April 27, 2007
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“New Orleans is authentic. New Orleans is not manufactured. We respect it. We love it,” Sandy Shilstone, chief executive officer of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp., said.
Preservation in Print
Heritage Tourists Spend More and Stay Longer
New Orleans Named a Distinctive Destination for Cultural Tourism
by Alex Lemann
In a press conference held in Jackson Square, Kevin Mercadel,project manager of the National Trust for Historic Preservation field office at PRC,recognized the city of New Orleans for “achievement in heritage tourism.”
New Orleans became the thirteenth city on the 2007 “dozen distinctive destinations” list, an honor presented by the National Trust to “unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States.”
This year marks the eighth time the list has been presented, bringing the total to 63 destinations in 27 states. “Some places are just too important to let go,” Mercadel said as he presented the award.
Since Katrina, the National Trust has been heavily involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans, with more than 1,000 volunteers from around the country assessing damages and planning work scopes for individual homeowners plus providing grants and professional services on 12 Home Again projects in Mid-City, Treme, Holy Cross, South Lakeview and New Marigny.
Reaction to the award from the dignitaries who attended the press conference was enthusiastic and supportive.
“New Orleans is authentic. New Orleans is not manufactured. We respect it. We love it,” Sandy Shilstone, chief executive officer of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp., said. State Historic Preservation Officer Pam Breaux pointed out that “more buildings are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in New Orleans than in any other city.”
The presentation was widely seen as a recognition of the strength of New Orleans’ historic architecture and its inherent value for cultural tourism. Mayor Nagin, who was in attendance to receive the award, acknowledged that “our historic structures make us so different from everywhere else.”
In addition to New Orleans, the National Trust recognized Charlottesville, Va.; Chatham, Mass.; Chestertown, Md.; Durango, Colo.; Ellensburg, Wash.; Hillsborough, N.C.; Little Rock, Ark.; Mineral Point, Wis.; Morgantown, W. Va.; Providence, R.I.; West Hollywood, Calif. and Woodstock, Ill.
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