Taking it Easy: the Sheraton New Orleans offers multiple options for group activities.
By Mark Chesnut
With its unique heritage, culture and traditions, New Orleans is unlike any other major tourist destination in the United States. And that means that group activities — whether for business travel, conventions or family travel — in the Big Easy are equally unique, with lots of unforgettable options for visitors.
At the Sheraton New Orleans, business groups can choose from a variety of customized events that can imbue any gathering with lots of local flavor. Options include a Taste of Louisiana Jazz & Heritage Festival, a re-creation of the popular New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival complete with live music and performers, and an Executive Chef Challenge, during which participants compete in teams to create the perfect meal. Groups with a sweet tooth might opt for the Sheraton’s Cupcake Challenge, which allows them to learn from the hotel’s executive pastry chef as they use team-building skills to decorate some delicious-looking desserts.
Indeed, local experts play a big role in making group experiences special in New Orleans. The sommelier at the Windsor Court Hotel, a AAA Four Diamond hotel, has created a range of different wine tasting classes that are perfect for group interaction. And at the The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, groups can enjoy team-building activities while making a positive contribution to the community, as part of the VolunTeaming opportunities that areoffered in conjunction with the St. Bernard Project, a non-profit organization that works to help people affected by Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill. Participants receive safety equipment, tools to use on their assignments, a box lunch and refreshments for the day.
Local hotels can also help groups and individuals arrange fun and rewarding activities and excursions with other companies. A company called New Orleans Movie Tours offers guided tours of some of the city’s most famous movie sites, with accompanying videos shown aboard a 10-passenger van. And a privately arranged visit to Mardi Gras World, the massive museum and warehouse dedicated to the Big Easy’s biggest annual event, offers groups a chance to try their skills at mask-making and even mini-float building. With custom recreations of the Big Easy’s biggest events easily arranged, it’s possible to tap into the excitement, year-round.
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Mark Chesnut is a freelance writer, editor and publisher of LatinFlyer.com, which focuses on travel to Latin America. One of his weaknesses is jambalaya.
