As citywide conventions return to New Orleans for the first time since hurricane Katrina hit, the International Association of Association Management Companies is doing its part to make sure that association conventions keep coming to the Crescent City.
The board of directors of IAAMC, which represents 676 association management companies, issued a proclamation calling on members to support New Orleans by bringing meetings and conventions there within the next five years. AMCs manage over 18,000 meetings a year for over 3,000 associations, and book an estimated 2 million room nights annually.
“The association community has supported New Orleans in the past as a major convention destination,” stated IAAMC Chair John Ruffin in a news release. “We want to take a proactive role now and make a formal commitment to help the city regain its standing.”
Among the 16 citywide conventions scheduled in New Orleans in 2006, associations sponsor 15 of them. USA Volleyball Association brought the first convention back to the city May 21-30. In June, the Air and Waste Management Association (June 20-23, the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (June 20-23), and the American Library Association (June 24-27) are all bringing their meetings to New Orleans.