Welcome to New Orleans and HFTP/HITEC. We know that just the words New Orleans always brings to mind Mardi Gras and the sounds of Jazz and while this is certainly the heart of New Orleans, there are some other things when visiting New Orleans that are an absolute must! Realizing that HITEC is already action packed with rush, rush and hurry, we have tried to save you a little time and have listed in order of priorities using the time old phrase of "Eat, Drink and Be Merry"!

  • Eat beignets

One of the most obvious tourist attractions in the French Quarter just might be the Café du Monde. The original Café Du Monde coffee stand opened 154 years ago in the New Orleans French Market. Now, I don't know if they have any menu engineering system, but they know how to dish up some great food, coffee and a great view for people watching!

The menu is simply dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, Milk, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Coffee is black or Au Lait (Half and half with hot milk.) The beignet is a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar – served in orders of three.

Beignets can be purchased from other places and street vendors, so no matter where you go in New Orleans, eating a beignet should be #1 priority!

  • Eat with your hands

There are many ways to eat shellfish while in New Orleans and eating with your hands is sometimes the best way to get through these fantastic meals. Shrimp, crawfish, or oysters on the half shell are just a few things that must be eaten while in New Orleans. Whether you are eating fried, broiled, roasted or Shrimp Gumbo, there is no place like New Orleans to indulge in seafood of any kind.

  • Indulge In Libations

New Orleans has laid claim to the Sazerac, a stiff drink of rye whiskey, bitters, sugar, absinthe or pastis and a twist of lemon. One of the three must try drinks in New Orleans. The Sazerac, the Obituary Cocktail and the Ramos Gin Fizz. Today we have "mixologist" who are cocktail experts, however, New Orleans had this down before "mixologist" came up with their name. You will find many places in town for this drink….the locals, I am told, go to Cure, an upscale cocktail bar or French 75 which is part of Arnaud's Restaurant located in the French Quarter.

Mixologists make reputable versions in their cocktail bars around town so you can't go wrong in any of the places. Some places where they've always done well – in historic hotel bars like the famed revolving Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone or the Sazerac Bar in The Roosevelt New Orleans; and in the city's oldest restaurants, like Tujague's and Galatoire's.

(4) Live Music

The city's music scene has shifted to Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny, which is a historic neighborhood within walking distance of the French Quarter. With Bourbon Street filling with frat-boy-style antics, Clubs like DBA, Snug Harbor, and The Blue Nile draw renowned jazz bands and solo performers supported the move where restaurants such as The Three Muses and the Marigny Brasserie cater to the late-night crowds. The vibe is freewheeling and enthusiastic, with a lot of shoulder rubbing between locals and travelers. At evening's end there are plenty of cabs to ferry you home after your night on the town.

  • Generations Hall

Generations Hall was originally built in the early 1820s as a sugar refinery and decorated with artwork by prominent artists, George Schmidt and Xavier deCallatay, depicting the rich history of New Orleans jazz, Generations Hall offers a glimpse an era of long ago. HITEC's Opening Party will allow you access to one of the oldest seats in town.

  • Preservation Hall

Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, you will find the Preservation Hall. This venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts. New Orleans' Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor one of America's truest art forms – Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Preservation Hall continues its mission today as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture by operating as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit organization. With the exception of a couple of nights a year, you will find ensembles from a current collective of 100+ local master practitioners. Audiences bear joyful witness to the evolution of this venerable and living tradition.

  • Warehouse District

The Warehouse District is a centrally located arts district which is a little-known relative to the city's more historic and heavily toured neighborhoods. The Contemporary Arts Center, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the National World War II Museum, the Louisiana Children's Museum and numerous galleries and art spaces have built a neighborhood where you could easily spend a couple of days.

The Warehouse District is also home to the Link Restaurant Group's Cochon and Peche, Emeril Lagasse's flagship restaurant Emeril's New Orleans, Adolfo Garcia's steakhouse La Boca and American Sector at the World War II Museum.

  • Jackson Square

The French Quarter's heart and soul is a must-see, boasting a statue of Andrew Jackson at its center and a ragtag collection of artists and fortune-tellers fringing its perimeter. It's flanked by the filigreed Pontalba apartments, site of the Streetcar-Named-Desire-inspired "Stella!" shouting contest held during the annual Tennessee Williams Festival. At the Square's crown are three 18th-century architectural glories: the Cabildo, a former city hall where the Louisiana Purchase was signed; St. Louis Cathedral; and the Presbytère. The onetime courthouse is now the flagship of the Louisiana State Museum, showcasing Living With Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond, a fascinating exhibit on the infamous storm.

  • Get your bounce on

New Orleans dancers have been "popping" since the late 1980s. You may say you have never heard of this dance but it has been said that Miley learned "popping" when visiting New Orleans and now it is called "twerking". Who Knew!

In a city that is basically surrounded by water, The Mississippi River, Lake Pontchartrain and the Gulf of Mexico, you almost have to go to the high places in order get a good view of any of the surrounding water (take the elevator at Canal Place). One thing you don't want to remember while here is that you are not only almost surrounded by water but you are also below sea level…just saying!!

Have a great time in New Orleans, a city that is truly a unique melting pot of culture, food and music, a city that is historically – rich and one of the world's most exciting cities.

  • Dressed?

As you visit the French Quarter and order a 'friend oyster Po-Boy', the waiter might say 'Dressed?". This is not a reflection on your current outfit or lack of beads. The waiter is asking if you want the sandwich 'dressed' or 'plain'. Dressed means with lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise.

This list was compiled by Bonnie Wise, Business Development Manager at Datavision Technologies. We hope you enjoy your days at #HITECnola, learn bit about New Orleans, and have a great trip, Be sure to stop by booth 953 and say "Hello Y'all".

About Datavision Technologies

At Datavision, these are not just clichés - these are the basic rules by which we operate. From our offices in Miami, we have been working within the hospitality industry for many years. Since we work exclusively in hospitality, we have acquired an intimate working knowledge of hotels and resorts and fully understand the unique challenges facing our industry. We love data! We live, eat and breathe data. Our goal is to help our customers corral data that is distributed across multiple systems and provide a 360 degree view of the business - Helping run a more efficient operation. Our clients provide top notch service to their guests by understanding their needs. They expect nothing less from their business partners. Datavision is currently used around the world on 6 continents, including some of the very best resorts and multi-property companies. To learn more about our business intelligence modules, solutions and how our customers use Datavision in their daily operations, please visit our corporate website, www.datavisiontech.com, or contact Sherry Marek at 1 (954) 732-7909, or [email protected].

Bonnie Wise
Business Development Manager
+1 954 299 7184