New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Case

In the days and weeks following Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Coast businesses faced unthinkable challenges, with Deveney Communication being no exception.  The team reached out to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau (NOMCVB) to provide assistance and support for the organization throughout the crisis.

Our Strategy

Deveney Communication was charged with adjusting the media spotlight from one of response and reaction to one of proactive management and control.   The team quickly identified significant challenges for the tourism industry and developed and disseminated key messages to communicate a hopeful outlook for New Orleans tourism.

The efforts undertaken by the Deveney Communication team from September 18 – October 31, 2005 entailed creating and operating a media center on behalf of the NOMCVB and its fellow tourism industry partners.  The goal of the media center was to spread positive, accurate stories about the rebirth of New Orleans tourism through the 2,000 journalists embedded in and reporting from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

The Results

The media center was immediately successful.  We were able to respond to media across the board while pitching and securing positive coverage for New Orleans.  Within the first six weeks of operation, some 1,300 regional, national and international journalists utilized the media center

Through the on-site support and media outreach by Deveney Communication, the NOMCVB became the resource on New Orleans tourism and related information for media.  Deveney Communication positioned Stephen Perry as the voice of the industry and, more importantly, as a voice of hope for the recovery of New Orleans.  The vision of the NOMCVB and Perry’s mission for New Orleans recovery were disseminated worldwide through the media management and work of Deveney Communication.