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Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Welcomes New President

Posted on by Matthew Fryou

NEW ORLEANS – Governor Jeff Landry has appointed Russell W. Allen as President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority (“Authority”), the governing board of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC). The Authority consists of thirteen commissioners, 10 appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, and three are appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans and serve four-year terms.

Allen brings with him a wealth of entrepreneurial experience and understanding of multiple industries. He is founder and CEO of K-Solv Group LLC, a Houston-based group of 8 businesses operating throughout the country that collectively employs nearly 400 people. K-Solv Group LLC is focused on maritime, energy, environmental and industrial interests comprised of businesses Allen either founded or acquired. The portfolio includes a globally recognized chemical distribution entity ranked 14th in the United States, a nationally recognized environmental response company, a renewable fuels company, safety supply business and an oilfield service company. He has owned and operated businesses in Louisiana for more than 15 years and has been a New Orleans resident since 2008.

“I would like to begin by extending my compliments to the previous leadership of the Authority Board for their unwavering dedication in steering the NOENMCC towards fulfilling its mission and vision,” said Allen. “Your service has created a strong foundation on which we will continue to build a brighter future.

I appreciate the value the NOENMCC brings and will work diligently with the entire board to efficiently fulfill the mission of the Convention Center, to the benefit of New Orleans and the great state of Louisiana.”

In addition to Allen’s professional expertise, he serves on the board of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and is an active member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors. As an involved New Orleans resident, he serves the community through several local nonprofit groups, and is an active Mardi Gras participant through his membership in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the Krewe of Endymion.

Allen graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in industrial distribution. With his wife, Andrea, Allen has raised two daughters, who both graduated from Louisiana universities – Louisiana State University (LSU) and Tulane – and a son, who currently attends Texas Christian University (TCU).

“Russ is a proven natural leader with the business acumen to lead this distinguished body into its future endeavors. He joins the Authority at an exciting time of modernization and transformation, with the largest renovation project in the region well underway,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President and CEO. “I congratulate and welcome Russ to serve as the next President of the Authority.”

Earlier this month, Governor Landry also appointed four new commissioners to the board – James Capella, James Cook, Jack Rizzuto, and Desi Vega.

About the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority

The Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority’s (Authority) exclusive mission is to finance, construct and operate facilities in order to attract and conduct conventions, trade shows and other events that support and expand the economy of both the State of Louisiana and New Orleans Region. The Authority is composed of a 13-member board of commissioners, ten appointed by the Governor of Louisiana, and three appointed by the Mayor of New Orleans. Since 1985, event activity at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.

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The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Achieves 84% Recycling Rate on Recent Renovation Project

Posted on by Matthew Fryou

Diverting discarded building materials from landfills helps further sustainability goals

 Click here for more photos.

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) is taking its recycling efforts to a new level. In addition to expanding its robust recycling program for clients and events, the NOENMCC is working to ensure that the majority of the building materials cast off during renovations that are underway will not end up in landfills.

The latest project of the Convention Center’s ongoing $557 million capital improvement plan is a major interior renovation encompassing all meeting rooms and public spaces. In keeping with its ongoing commitment to sustainability and maintaining the facility’s LEED Gold certification, the NOENMCC is working to ensure the renovation project maximizes opportunities to reduce waste, divert materials from landfills and improve energy efficiency.

Surpassing its goal of 50% waste diversion for a recent renovation project, the Convention Center has exceeded expectations by diverting 84% of the waste produced during the project’s first stage. Between July and September 2023, roughly 550,000 pounds of construction waste left the building. Of that, about 461,650 pounds of waste was diverted from landfills. The Convention Center also recycled masonry, lights, scrap, cardboard and plastic as much as possible, sending the discarded materials to local vendors and recycling companies.

“We’ve made it a priority to be proactive about reducing our environmental footprint,” said Adam J. Straight, the NOENMCC’s Chief Operating Officer. “That means we’re always looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste. In such an expansive facility, construction projects present multiple opportunities to reduce, reuse, recycle and, ultimately, return.”

Along with installing new, sustainably sourced ceiling panels, the NOENMCC is enrolled in the Armstrong Ceilings Recycling Program, which helps reduce construction waste and embodied carbon (greenhouse gas emissions arising from the manufacturing of building materials) on commercial renovation projects. To divert thousands of the NOENMCC’s discarded ceiling panels from landfills, workers load them onto pallets, and Armstrong transports them to a manufacturing facility to be processed and used to make new ceiling material with high recycled content.

To install new custom floor coverings, workers removed the existing carpet and sent it off to be recycled.  These two programs – recycling all carpet and ceiling tile to be used to make new products – represent a significant portion of the recycling rate.

As a LEED certified facility, the Convention Center adheres to a maintenance and renovation policy focused on sustainable best practices. This policy calls for the use of low VOC coatings and paints and requires building materials to be made with recycled content. Many of the products used are also highly recyclable to maximize end-of-use recycling down the road.

“Linda Baynham, our Director of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, and our Operations team have really gone above and beyond to show how major projects can be done in a sustainable way,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Convention Center President/CEO. “Our hope is that, by sharing our recycling goals, processes and results, we will inspire other companies and facilities to expand their own recycling efforts and sustainability programs and practices.”

About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC)

New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is the sixth largest Convention Center in the United States and provides the largest single exhibit space in the country. NOENMCC is a 2023 IAVM Venue Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. Our recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.

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Impact Study for Convention Center Hotel Completed

Posted on by Charles Sanchez

Projected to generate $122M annually in new spending and support 1,100 new jobs

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is pleased to announce that HVS Convention, Sports, & Entertainment has completed a hotel market study to determine the viability and advantages of a proposed Convention Center Headquarters Hotel. The goal of the project is to enhance the ability of the Convention Center to compete with other “tier 1” convention destinations such as Chicago, Orlando, Las Vegas and Atlanta, all of which have connected hotels.

“Building a new hotel right here on our campus will be a major benefit, not only to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center but also to our clients,” said Convention Center President, Michael J. Sawaya. “We are encouraged by the findings of this updated HVS study and look forward to the day a new hotel will give our guests and event attendees the convenience of having top-notch accommodations on site.”

An update to a 2018 study for a 1,200-room headquarters hotel, the new HVS study considered both 600 and 900 room options, with 50,000 square feet of event space on property located adjacent to the convention center.

The study uses the assumption that the hotel would open in 2027 and concluded that a 600-room hotel is the most viable and would be an important addition to the lodging market. A 900-room hotel could also be profitable before debt payment. After the hotel’s stabilization in 2030, annually, the hotel is expected to induce 96,000 net new room nights in the market, generate $122 million in new direct spending, support 1,100 new jobs and contribute over $14 million in new hotel, sales and property taxes.  The new hotel would also produce an estimated 26 new events at the convention center per year.

For more information on the impact study and future hotel development, contact Kara Nelson at knelson@tegpr.com

 

About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center

New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space, in an entirely contiguous hall, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC) provides the largest single exhibit space in the country and is the sixth largest convention center in the nation. NOENMCC features an award-winning staff and first class amenities in the city that’s Built to Host. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, the Convention Center’s event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening, including $5.7 billion in new tax revenue for state and local governments.

 

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