In nonpandemic times, tourists from all over the world would be visiting New Orleans this time of year, celebrating the Carnival season and Mardi Gras. The weeks of festivities, according to an analysis from WalletHub, has an economic impact of over $1 billion in the city of New Orleans. While many residents have decorated their homes as floats this year, the usual parades and other large-scale events have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
From floods and hurricanes to oil spills and now COVID-19, New Orleans is no stranger to a crisis — it is a city that just keeps evolving. With the pandemic now hitting an already tenuous economy, Quentin Messer, President and CEO at New Orleans Business Alliance (NOLABA), talked to CityAge about resilience, fortitude, and New Orleans’ secrets for always coming back from the brink.