Conference Details.
Wednesday, January 31 - Friday, February 2, 2024
We will be meeting on the 11th floor of the Pan American Life Center (PALC) located at 601 Poydras St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.
Hotel Block: Astor Crowne Plaza
We have secured a room block with the Astor Crowne Plaza located at 739 Canal Street (at the corner of Bourbon Street), New Orleans, LA, 70130. Rates for rooms are $109 Tuesday through Thursday night; for Friday night the price is $269. This is an IHG hotel.
Reservation link: Closed
There are a range of other hotels and accommodations close to the meeting space that we believe will fit different budgets while remaining within walking distance. Here are some additional options:
InterContinental New Orleans (IHG), 4-star, (connected to the PALC); https://www.icneworleans.com/
Blake Hotel, 3-star, across the street from the PALC, corner of Poydras St. and St. Chalres Ave.; https://blakehotelneworleans.com/
La Quinta Inn & Suites (Wyndham), 3-star, corner of Camp St. and Gravier St, across from PALC.; https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/laquinta/new-orleans-louisiana/la-quinta-new-orleans-downtown/overview
The Pelham Hotel, 3-star, Common Street, 5-minute walk; https://www.thepelhamhotel.com/
Please be mindful of the use of short-term rentals, particularly in adjacent neighborhoods. Here are a few resources for considering the unintended consequences of short-term rentals and the on-going debates around policy restrictions:
Graduate Student Room Sharing.
For graduate students seeking to share accommodations with other students, please reach out to Dr. Lauren Duffy (lduffy@clemson.edu) who will help to connect graduate students with shared rooming opportunities.
Food.
Registrants will be provided breakfast at the Conference venue. There is a small cafe with limited hours located on the 11th floor of the Pan American Building where we will be meeting; there is also a coffee shop at the entrance of the building. For most restaurants, be sure to put in a reservation if you have a party over 4!
Getting Around.
Airports:
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport (MSY) is the closest airport to the conference venue (about 20 minutes).
Gulfport – Biloxi International Airport (GPT) is about 1 hour and 15 mins from the conference.
Transportation from MSY Airport:
www.flymsy.com/ground-transportation
There is a taxi stand with a line of taxis located outside of baggage claim (turn left when you step out of the airport). Taxis from the airport to the conference venue and the surrounding area are $36 for 2 people ($15 per person for more than 2 people). This can be a less expensive and quicker option than rideshares such as Lyft or Uber, depending on whether surge pricing is in effect.
The rental car facility at the airport is inconvenient – it involves a lengthy and not always timely shuttle ride. If you want a rental car to do something outside the city, it’s usually easier and less expensive to take a taxi or ride share into the city and then rent a car
Transportation from GPT Airport:
Rental car is the best option from GPT.
Transportation within New Orleans:
New Orleans is a fairly compact city. The buses are a bit unreliable. The street cars are fairly reliable and leisurely. Ride shares and taxis are usually available, quick, and often cheaper than parking (unless it’s a big event like a pro sports game or a parade). There are plenty of restaurants and things to do within distance of the Pan American Life Center and surrounding hotels. The French Quarter is about a ~15 minute walk and a 10 minute walk to the National WWII Museum from PALC.
Childcare Options.
If you are in need of childcare during the conference, here are a few local businesses that help coordinate babysitter and nanny options for short-term care needs:
NOLA Nannies (https://nolananniesllc.wixsite.com/website)
Nurture Nannies (http://nurturenannies.com/index.html)
Land Acknowledgement.
Let us acknowledge in advance the original inhabitants of New Orleans. The city is a continuation of an indigenous trade hub on the Mississippi River, known for thousands of years as Bulbancha. Native people, including Choctaw, Houma, Chitimacha, Biloxi, have lived on this land since time immemorial, and the resilient voices of Native Americans remain an inseparable part of the local culture. We will honor them, as well as the diversity of cultures and people that make up contemporary New Orleans, throughout our conference.
Other Considerations.
Carnival Season
We’ll be in New Orleans during Carnival Season. In addition to the parades, it’s King Cake Season! https://www.eater.com/22268353/king-cake-history-tradition-mardi-gras You can find both New Orleans style King Cakes and French style Galette de Rois at bakeries and restaurants throughout the city.
Parades
While the biggest Mardi Gras parades are from Friday, Feb. 9 – Tuesday, Feb. 13 in 2024, there are parades on weekends throughout Carnival Season, starting Jan. 6. https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/parades/ . If you plan to extend your stay in New Orleans before or after the conference and would like to catch a parade, Birgitta (bbaker@psu.edu) is happy to answer questions about parades. Most of the parades are child friendly if your family or friends are joining you.
