Events · New Orleans
Convention transportation in New Orleans: a planner's guide
Moving attendees, exhibitors and VIP speakers between MSY, downtown hotels and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
New Orleans hosts some of the largest conventions in the country, and every one of them has a transportation problem to solve.
Thousands of people land at MSY on the same day, check into a dozen hotels, and need to reach the same building every morning. Then come the offsite dinners, the sponsor receptions and the keynote speaker whose flight just changed. This guide is for the person who has to make all of that work.
01 Who needs a plan
Meeting planners Moving attendees between official hotels and the convention center on a schedule.
Exhibitors Booth teams arriving early for setup, with samples, screens and luggage.
Sponsors and hosts Client dinners and receptions across the city, with guests who need a ride back.
Speakers and VIPs Keynotes and executives on tight timings who need a car waiting, not a queue.
Association staff Board members and staff moving between venues all week.
Attendee groups Company teams who'd rather travel together from MSY.
02 Know the convention center
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center runs along the river in the Warehouse District, and it is very long: roughly a mile from one end to the other. That changes how you plan drop-offs.
Name the hall. A drop-off at the wrong end can mean a long walk inside. Tell your transportation provider which hall and entrance each group needs.
Plan for move-in days. Trucks and exhibitor traffic slow Convention Center Boulevard before a show opens. Allow extra time for setup crews.
Agree a staging area. Shuttle pickups at closing time work best from one agreed spot, not wherever attendees happen to exit.
Remember the weather. Many official hotels are within walking distance, but summer heat and sudden storms turn a short walk into a reason to ride.
03 How a convention week moves
- Arrival day · MSY MSY is about 15 miles from downtown, 20 to 30 minutes by car. Group arrivals by flight, track every flight number, and send VIPs straight to their hotels. See MSY airport transportation.
- Show days · hotels to the hall Morning and late-afternoon shuttle loops between official hotels and the convention center, timed to the program.
- Evenings · offsite events Sponsor dinners, receptions and parties in the French Quarter, Garden District or Warehouse District, with departures in waves.
- VIPs · on call Speakers and executives with a dedicated car for the days they're on stage or hosting.
- Departure day · MSY Everyone leaves at once. Schedule airport runs by flight time, and leave extra margin for I-10 traffic.
A convention's first impression is the ride from the airport. Its last is the ride back.
04 Shuttle loops or dedicated cars
Shuttle loops suit large groups on a fixed program: Sprinter vans run continuously between a few hotels and the convention center at set times. They keep the cost per person low and the lobby uncrowded. For how loops and departure waves work at evening events, see our holiday party transportation guide.
Dedicated cars suit people whose schedules don't match the program: a keynote speaker, a CEO with outside meetings, a sponsor hosting clients. An hourly sedan or SUV stays with them for the day.
Most conventions use both: loops for the many, dedicated cars for the few.
05 Vehicles and what it costs
Sprinter van
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter · up to 14
$195 per hour $295 MSY transfer
Shuttle loops and group arrivals. 4-hour minimum.
Luxury SUV
Cadillac Escalade · up to 6
$169 per hour $185 MSY transfer
Exhibitor teams, small VIP groups. 3-hour minimum.
Executive sedan
Maybach or BMW 760i · up to 2
$125 per hour $145 MSY transfer
Speakers and executives. 3-hour minimum.
An example: a three-day show with two Sprinters running a morning and an evening loop, four hours a day: 2 × 4 × $195 × 3 days = $4,680, before gratuity. Add a dedicated sedan for the keynote speaker on the day they present.
Larger programs can run several vehicles on one schedule, with vetted local partners when our own fleet is fully committed. Event bookings are held with a deposit, set out in your quote. See the rates page and meeting and event transportation.
06 The planner's checklist
- The program: show hours, keynotes and offsite events, day by day.
- Official hotels, with expected attendees at each.
- The hall and entrance for each session or group.
- An arrival and departure manifest with flight numbers.
- A list of VIPs who need dedicated cars, with their schedules.
- One on-site contact for changes on the day.
- A check of the city calendar for overlapping events, games or parades.
07 Questions planners ask
How far is MSY from the convention center?
About 15 miles, usually 20 to 30 minutes by car, longer at rush hour or when several large events overlap.
How much does a convention shuttle cost?
Sprinter vans are $195 per hour with a 4-hour minimum and seat up to 14. Two vans running four hours a day for a three-day show come to $4,680 before gratuity.
Can you handle VIP speakers as well as shuttles?
Yes. Most conventions combine shuttle loops for attendees with dedicated sedans or SUVs for speakers and executives, all on one schedule.
How early should we book convention transportation?
As soon as your dates and hotels are confirmed. Large conventions often overlap with other events, and vans are booked first.
Is a deposit required?
Yes, event bookings are held with a deposit. The amount, balance date and cancellation terms are written into your quote.
Lagniappe Chauffeured Services
Plan your convention transportation
Send your program, hotels and attendee numbers, and we'll reply with a vehicle plan and a firm quote.
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