NEW ORLEANS – What’s in a name? Plenty, as the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (NOCVB) is finding out. As part of a new rebrand, the organization is now officially known as New Orleans & Company, a name that represents its many members and partners.

“Our new name embodies the inclusiveness we value, with ‘Company’ representing our many members and partners, the more than 100,000 employees directly employed in the tourism industry in New Orleans, the culture-bearers and creators who shape and carry on our traditions and, of course, the visitors we welcome as our guests,” said Stephen Perry, president & CEO of New Orleans & Company. “The culture of hospitality, organic in every neighbourhood, shapes who we are and how the world sees us.”

For the past 58 years, the NOCVB has been one of the largest drivers of the New Orleans economy, and over those six decades has produced millions of jobs, billions of dollars of city revenue, and sustained the creation of thousands of small businesses. The former CVB also led the development the city’s multi-billion-dollar convention and meetings business, grew the visitation of leisure visitors to unprecedented levels, and played a key role in establishing New Orleans as a sports championship destination.

As New Orleans & Company, its main goal is to cultivate and maintain what it calls a “virtuous cycle” between the businesses and attractions that make up the tourism industry, the visitors who invest in those businesses and attractions, and the city’s residents, all of whom benefit from tourism.

“Because of our 17 million visitors and their billions of dollars brought in each year, this small city of 375,000 people has the cultural assets, restaurants, museums, nightlife and overall quality of life of a city many, many times our size,” added Perry.

The launch of New Orleans & Company also includes the recent launch of a new New Orleans cultural economy and tourism website, www.neworleans.com, done in collaboration with the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. The new site provides a better user experience and more comprehensive and visually compelling display of the city’s offerings.

New Orleans & Company celebrates it 58th anniversary this year. For more information go to NewOrleans.com.