Travel SurveyÂ
Readers of Travel + Leisure (T+L) Magazine have voted New Orleans, Louisiana, their favourite American city in a survey to rank 35 cities across the United States in 66 categories.
For the first time, T+L included a category for America’s Favorite Cities overall, with New Orleans placing in the top spot.Â
“This is yet another major honor for our city and testament to the more than 78,000 New Orleanians who work in the cultural economy,” says Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Most Unique Travel Destination
“Despite all that our city has endured, visitors have stated clearly that we are still one of the best and most unique destinations on the planet for a vibrant, unforgettable experience. This ranking, on top of receiving the World Tourism Award last week, cements our place as a top global destination.”
New Orleans also ranked number one in a range of sub-categories. Included were live music/concerts and bands, wild weekends, cocktail hours, singles/bar scene, offbeat personalities, cafĂ©s, antique stores, flea markets, and girlfriend getaways. Â
T+L also found that New Orleanians were most proud of their city compared to residents of the other 34 cities in the survey. Â
Honourable Mention
“To receive even a mention in Travel + Leisure’s readers’ survey is a huge honour for any city, but to find out visitors consider us their favourite city overall is truly over the top,” says Mark Romig, President and CEO, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation.
“Our industry’s hard work and steady vision to deliver the best tourism experience in America is being rewarded with this honour.”
Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, is equally upbeat.
“This annual, prestigious survey has become a way for us as an industry and city to gauge how we are being perceived by visitors,” Stephen says.
“The fact that New Orleans consistently tops the charts in a variety of categories, not only shows the diversity of our city and culture, but also that we can provide any visitor with the type of unique experience they are looking for.”
America’s Favourite Cities
The following cities were included in the survey: Anchorage, Alaska; Atlanta, Georgia; Austin, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Charleston, South Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York, New York; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona; Portland, Maine; Portland, Oregon; Providence, Rhode Island; Salt Lake City, Utah; San Antonio, Texas; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Savannah, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, D.C.