New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Leadership & Management

Key Insight for Candidates

• Strategic Vision & Planning: Leadership articulates a multi-year modernization agenda anchored by a substantial capital improvement plan, a 1,000-room Omni headquarters hotel, and the River District project. Sustainability goals and community partnerships are positioned as integral pillars of this direction.
• Strong Execution: Capital upgrades are underway with first-phase work described as substantially completed, alongside repeat honors for workplace and facility excellence. LEED recertification and continued venue activations indicate progress against stated goals.
• Collaborative & Aligned Leadership: A board-led governance model maintains continuity on priorities, and leadership highlights collaboration with hospitality partners to advance major initiatives. An Innovation Team is tasked with cross-functional improvements to optimize operations and culture.

• Siloed or Fragmented Leadership: Internal assessments and descriptions point to collaboration and communication gaps among staff, with day-to-day experiences varying by department and supervisor. These dynamics suggest that translating top-level strategy consistently across teams remains a work in progress.
• Biased or Inconsistent Leadership: Some accounts characterize upper management behavior as cliquish with pockets of micromanagement and favoritism. Cook’s move from the governing board to CEO via a special exception drew scrutiny around compensation, adding perception challenges for some stakeholders.
• Lack of Transparency & Communication: Public materials at times present differing figures for the capital program and uneven update cadence, requiring audiences to piece together status from multiple sources. Governance complexity and external approvals can make it less clear which entity drives specific decisions and timelines.