New Orleans tops ten categories such as Wild Weekend, Live Music and Singles Scene; Up from four in 2008

New Orleans was ranked number one in ten categories in Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2009 “America’s Favorite Cities” survey, more than any of the other 30 popular travel destinations in the survey.

Beating Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, New York, and Austin, New Orleans was named the best city in the country for nightlife, receiving a number one ranking in all three nightlife subcategories: Cocktail Hour, Singles Bar Scene, and Live Music, Concerts, and Bands. New Orleans was honored in many subcategories that suggest New Orleans is a prime destination for young adults to have a memorable vacation.

New Orleans was voted best in the following subcategories:

Wild weekend

Live music/Concerts & Bands

Singles/Bar scene

Cocktail Hour

Stylish Boutique Hotels

Antique & Vintage Shopping

Cafes/ Coffee Bars

Neighborhood Joints

People-Watching

Spring Break

Other top five finishes for New Orleans include:

Noteworthy Neighborhoods

Big-name restaurants

Ethnic Food

Farmer’s Markets

Romantic Escapes

“These rankings reflect that New Orleans rapidly is becoming the hottest new city in America for travelers to escape … it’s a sensory place where they can come to really be themselves and let their everyday pressures and boundaries melt away,” said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

According to Perry, “Today’s traveler wants to immerse themselves in an experiential, indulgent, authentic destination, which is New Orleans. I think we will continue to see an influx of young people and young entrepreneurs coming to explore New Orleans as a hot new place to visit, live and work because they crave something hip and real, not artificially contrived.”

An online survey appeared on travelandleisure.com from June 1, 2009 to July 31, 2009. Respondents were asked to rate their choice of 30 cities from across the country in different categories on culture, shopping, people, food and other characteristics.

Cities included in the 2009 America’s Favorite Cities survey were: Atlanta; Austin; Boston; Charleston; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas/Fort Worth; Denver; Honolulu; Houston; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Nashville; New Orleans; New York; Orlando; Philadelphia; Phoenix/Scottsdale; Portland, Oregon; Providence; San Antonio; San Diego; San Francisco; Santa Fe; Seattle; St. Louis; and Washington, D.C.

Visit www.travelandleisure.com/afc for full survey results. New Orleans and other Favorite Cities winners will be featured in Travel + Leisure magazine’s October 2009 issue.

These rankings are the latest accomplishments in a string of awards bestowed on New Orleans in 2009. In July, Priceline.com announced that New Orleans secured the top spot on its 50 most popular July Fourth tourist destinations survey, marking the first time New Orleans had achieved this accomplishment. In August, the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, polled its members to come up with the “Top 10” best North American cities for live music, in which New Orleans was ranked number one.

Respondents to the 2008 America’s Favorite Cities survey named New Orleans the best city in America for live music/bands, destination restaurants, ethnic food/cheap eats and vintage stores/flea markets. In the 2007 America’s Favorite Cities survey, New Orleans received top honors for antiques, live music, fun, cheap eats, girlfriend getaways and more.

Consistently recognized as one of the top five convention and visitor bureaus in the United States, The New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau is the driving force behind New Orleans’ most important industry, tourism. Today the cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city – including the French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street, the Faubourg Marigny and Garden District – are thriving. In 2008 New Orleans welcomed 7.6 million visitors. For more information, visit www.neworleanscvb.com.