Find Meeting spaces to rent in New Orleans, LA

About New Orleans

Located along the Mississippi River and surrounded by Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Salvador, and Lake Borgne as well as the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans has plenty of beaches and weather that never gets cold so bring your swimsuit. Nicknamed the “Big Easy” for its nightlife and laid-back vibe, it is the perfect city for a mini-vacation while you are in town for your meeting.

You will not have any trouble finding a good meeting space in New Orleans since it is a major port and commercial hub with a plethora of conference halls and hotels to choose from. Or if you want to have your meeting in a more casual place like a pub or restaurant, there are plenty of those too. No matter what kind of meeting you are planning, New Orleans is a fantastic city for it.

Meeting Space Options in New Orleans

Once you choose your New Orleans meeting space, you still have a lot of work to do so why not hire some professionals to help you out? That way you can relax and enjoy the gorgeous weather and sandy beaches before the meeting instead of stressing yourself out over all the details.

• Caterer

No matter where your meeting space is, New Orleans has a wide variety of caterers who can help you plan the menu, do the cooking, set up and serve the food, and clean up afterward. Whether you want to try some of the local cuisines like jambalaya, crawfish, and gumbo or would rather have a fancy meal of steaks and lobster, there are plenty of caterers in New Orleans that can accommodate you.

• Furniture Rental

If your meeting space does not come with enough seating and other furniture, you will need to find a furniture rental place that can help you out. Most rental places also offer other things you may need like extra lighting, AV equipment, décor, and linens. All you have to do is choose what you want, and they will deliver it and set it up for you.

• Transportation

Hiring a transportation service is about more than just convenience. Having a car service can also make sure all of your guests get there on time. And if there are any adult beverages served, having a designated driver can be a lifesaver. New Orleans has a variety of rideshare and car services.

• Photographer

You may not think you need a photographer for a New Orleans meeting, but it is a good idea to have one for important moments like handing out awards or during team-building exercises. And it doesn’t hurt to have some fun shots of the employees mingling and hanging out together for the company bulletin board or memo.

Meeting Space Companies in New Orleans

Besides the caterers and photographers, you can also hire a professional event planner to take care of your New Orleans meeting space planning. Whether you need someone to help you with a few details or you want someone to take care of it all, New Orleans has what you are looking for.

• New Orleans & Company

This company is a destination marketing organization in New Orleans that knows all the ins and outs of the city, so they know what to do. And they have worked on major events like the NCAA Final Four, Super Bowl, and the Essence Music Festival. From planning the itinerary to taking care of the vendors, New Orleans & Company is a full-service planner that will do it all or just what you need.

• NOLA Event Planners

With over two decades of experience, NOLA Event Planners are experienced in just about any kind of event from a small backyard BBQ to a huge gala for 5,000 guests. Let them take care of all the details from venue to vendors without bothering you at all. NOLA has worked with Bravo TV Jared Sampson, New Orleans City Councilwoman Cyndi Nguyen, and Dillard University to name a few.

• Iron Peacock Events

Just meet with Iron Peacock once and they will take care of the rest from the email invites to the email thank you notes. They are experienced in decision-making meetings, quarterly meetings, training events, team building, and just about everything else that has to do with business events. You can trust Iron Peacock to provide strategic event planning that delivers measurable results for your New Orleans meeting.

Pros and Cons of Meeting Spaces in New Orleans

When you hear New Orleans you may think of Mardi Gras, partying, and having fun but what about the things they do not tell you about? Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing a New Orleans meeting space.

Advantages

• It is highly walkable

The compactness of the city makes it simple to get from one place to another without having to hail a cab or book a rideshare. In the heart of the city, you can find over 1,500 eateries, shops, and clubs to enjoy while you are there.

• The food is stellar

Louisianians are foodies and most southerners cook huge meals on a daily basis whether it is just for them or for a whole crowd. So, you do not have to look far to find a down-home Southern meal in New Orleans like crawfish pie, po’boys, and some of the best fried chicken in the US.

• Nobody is in a hurry

It seems like everyone is laid back and relaxed whether they are spending the day at the beach or headed to work. Although there are some people who stress out and race around to get things done because it is in their nature, New Orleans is the place to slow down and enjoy life.

• The prices are fantastic

Unlike most big cities, New Orleans does not have overinflated prices everywhere you go. Sure, you will still pay more if you buy something from the airport or one of the tourist attractions, but for the most part, you will save money buying the basics down there compared to most places.

• Warm weather all year long

If you love warm temperatures, you will love New Orleans. Their average temperature overall is 85 degrees, and it rarely drops below 46 degrees even in January. And while the summer is typically in the 90s, it is not overwhelmingly hot like some southern cities.

Disadvantages

• Flooding

As you may already know from Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is surrounded by water and is shaped like a big bowl so it can flood rather quickly when it rains. Make sure your New Orleans meeting space is not in a flood-prone area if you are there during the rainy season.

• Bugs are everywhere

The fire ants are the worst because these tiny terrors are everywhere and their bite is worse than a bee sting so if you happen to step on an anthill, you may never want to go back to New Orleans again. But the other problem is the love bug. They may sound nice but when they swarm in April, May, August, and September, they will cover everything and everyone.

• There is a lot of public drinking

Some may consider this a pro or a con, but either way, public drinking is legal in New Orleans. For those who enjoy having a beer in the park, it is a pro but for those who do not like being annoyed by partiers in the park while you are trying to relax, it is a con. They even have drive-thru alcohol shops, so they make it pretty easy to get a drink.

• High crime rate

With a crime rate of 66 per 1,000 people, this city has one of the highest crime rates in the United States. In fact, 95% of the cities in Louisiana have lower crime rates. Stick to safer neighborhoods like the West End, Lakeview, and Stanton.

• The traffic is bad

New Orleans is the 98th most congested city in the world, which seems like a good thing until you realize there are about 10,000 cities in the world. For a city that is so walkable, it may seem strange that there is so much traffic, but it is probably due to the fact that it is one of the most populated cities in the world and public transportation is seriously lacking.

Famous Locations in New Orleans

• New Orleans City Park

With 1,300+ acres, City Park is 50% bigger than New York’s Central Park and has a variety of things to do and see. Some of the main attractions include the botanical garden, Carousel Gardens amusement park, disc golf, Scout Island, and the equestrian farm. Book the peaceful second-floor restaurant that overlooks the park for your New Orleans meeting.

• New Orleans Museum of Art

Art lovers, as well as history buffs, will enjoy the New Orleans Museum of Art where you can see over 40,000 items that span over 5,000 years from the Italian Renaissance to the modern era. You can see art by Jackson Pollock, Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Degas, and many more. Don’t miss the Native American Art and items from the pre-Columbian era.

• Audubon Zoo

This zoo is home to over 2,000 animals including a rare white alligator with blue eyes. See the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit with native animals like bears, otters, snakes, and raccoons and the Reptile Encounter with the anacondas, pythons, and Gila monsters while you are there.