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The Sheraton New Orleans
All events of the Conference will be held at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel (500 Canal Street), situated at the gateway to the French Quarter. Many famous restaurants, historic buildings, jazz clubs, and unique shops lie within easy walking distance of the hotel. The hotel boasts a restaurant, a coffee shop, a full-service bar, a fitness center, concierge service, rooftop swimming and gardens, and retail shops. Guestrooms are tastefully decorated with designer fabrics and traditional New Orleans-style furnishings. Rooms feature the latest in guest amenities, including dual-line phones and complimentary wired or wireless Internet access for Conference attendees. Airport transportation by taxi to the hotel is approximately $30 one way. Airport Shuttle New Orleans and rental cars also are available. For more information about the hotel, visit the Sheraton’s Web site.
A block of rooms has been set aside at the Sheraton for Conference attendees. The group rate for all Conference attendees is the U.S. Government per diem rate at the time of the Conference. The February 2011 per diem for New Orleans is $131. The per diem rate is in effect for reservations made by 5:00 p.m. CST January 10, 2011, unless rooms in the block sell out before that date. Subject to availability of rooms at the time reservations are made, the Conference rate can be used for check-in as early as Friday, February 4, and check-out as late as Sunday, February 13. To reserve a room at the Conference rate, go to the Battelle Sediments Conference reservation page at the Sheraton’s Web site. Or, you may call the hotel at 888-627-7033 and state that you are attending the “Battelle Sediments Conference.”
New Orleans
Origins of the City. Nestled against a bend in the mighty Mississippi River, New Orleans was founded in 1718 to strengthen French control of the vast Louisiana Territory, the 828,000 square miles lying between the Mississippi and the Rockies and extending from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. The City and the rest of the Louisiana Territory passed to Spanish control and then back to French in the mid-1700s before being sold to the United States in 1803. New Orleans has been described as an “inevitable city on an impossible site.” Lying near the point where the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico meet, it always has been a strategic port city. Because the city lies six feet below sea level, on land claimed from a swamp, another constant for New Orleans has been its interaction with the elements. It has survived military battles, yellow fever, and catastrophic hurricanes and floods. New Orleans is an extraordinary city rich in culture, traditions, architecture, and cuisine. It is a mélange of the influences of the many ethnic groups that have played a part in its history—indigenous peoples; European nobles, businessmen, soldiers of fortune, convicts, and indentured servants; African slaves; Acadians displaced from Canada; and Americans. By the 1850s, it was the fourth largest city in the U.S., and its sophisticated, European ambiance drew visitors from around the world.
New Orleans Today. The heart of New Orleans is the French Quarter, the original part of the city. Because it was built on the highest ground, it was much less affected by the levee breaks and massive flooding that Hurricane Katrina brought to the City. Few visible scars remain in this compact area bordered by Canal Street and the River. Walk through the Quarter to see the beautiful balconies and lovingly restored homes. The Quarter’s world-famous landmarks include Bourbon Street, the French Market, and the unique cemeteries. Jackson Square, anchored by St. Louis Cathedral, is the historic center of the City; it’s a great place to spend some free time watching street performers, sidewalk artists, and palm readers. Shop for antiques, jewelry, and art on Royal, Chartres, and Magazine Streets. Listen to jazz at one of the many nightclubs on Frenchmen Street. Or, you can visit more modern destinations such as Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas, Harrah’s Casino, the National World War II Museum, and the Riverfront, where you can watch riverboats and ocean-going vessels. These and many more experiences are just a few minutes by foot from the Conference hotel. At every turn, you will find one of the restaurants that make New Orleans world famous for its cuisine—Cajun, Creole, French, Italian, and good old southern home cooking. In the evening, after café au lait and beignets at Cafe du Monde, take a walking tour and hear stories of places haunted by the ghosts of three centuries.
If you have time to explore beyond the French Quarter and the Warehouse/Arts District, the streetcar system is a great way to get around. The Canal Street and Riverfront lines travel from the French Market, along the Mississippi River, and up Canal Street to City Park and the cemeteries. The St. Charles streetcar will take you to the Garden District, known for its elegant and historic homes and gardens, and to the Audubon Zoo and the University District. A riverboat cruise of the harbor on the Natchez or the Creole Queen would provide another perspective of the city; guided daytime tours and evening dinner/jazz cruises are offered.
If you can arrive a day or two before the Conference, or stay after, consider touring some of the beautiful antebellum plantation homes on the River Road just outside the City. Or, you may wish to visit the 23,000-acre Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the U.S. The area around Lake Ponchartrain provides a variety of outdoor activities, such as cycling, sailing, horseback riding, and golf. For more information, visit the official New Orleans Web site.
Inquiries
Questions about the hotel may be addressed to: The Conference Group (1580 Fishinger Road, Columbus, OH 43221), info@confgroupinc.com; phone: 800-783-6338 (U.S. and Canada) or 614-488-2030; fax: 614-488-5747.