LODGING & ACCOMMODATIONS

We will be based on and near Tulane University's School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, in New Orleans' Central Business District and near the edge of the French Quarter. The City of New Orleans offers a variety of lodging options to fit your needs. We know it’s a lot to sort through, so we’ve offered some options. Check them out, below! 

Hotels. ACD as reserved a block of rooms at the Canopy by Hilton New Orleans Downtown. Less than a 10-minute walk from our convening venue at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, this option is also walking distance to restaurants, bars, and attractions. Room rates are $229/night from October 14-16. Use this reservation link to receive the special $229/night ACD rate at the Canopy if you book before 9/30. 

Additional hotel options near our Convening location include:

There are several boutique hotels and bed & breakfasts to choose from nearby as well, including:

Shared Accommodations. Just a 4-minute walk from the Convening location, HI New Orleans Hostel is a great option for students and other groups who wish to travel together. City House New Orleans is another good option and is a 7-min walk away. Also, if you are looking to share accommodations with a fellow attendee to defer costs, feel free to self-coordinate through this spreadsheet.

Vacation Rentals. While it is up to all attendees to secure lodging, we highly encourage folks to avoid booking short-term rental properties. New Orleans, like many other urban communities in the U.S., have been impacted by housing shortages and increased housing costs due, in part, by a rapid increase in short-term rentals. In response, the City of New Orleans has enacted restrictions on these types of properties to help limit the impact and allow for these types of rentals as ADUs and rooms on homeowner occupied properties. In support of these efforts, ACD encourages Convening attendees looking for alternative accommodations to consider owner-occupied rentals.

There are a large number of boutique hotels and small inns to choose from in the city if avoiding large chains is a personal preference. 

 

GETTING AROUND

Most Convening activities are within a walkable distance to each other, places to eat, and other activities. For those trips that are a little too long for a leisurely walk, here are some easy options.

Getting to and from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY):

The primary conference venue is located in the Tidewater Building of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at 1440 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112.

  • Transit: The 202 Airport Express is $1.25 and accepts RTA Jazzy Passes. Route details can be found here. The 202 Airport Express leaves from a marked stop at the drop-off area of the airport and terminates at Duncan Plaza, a 5-minute walk from the main conference venue and near many of the hotels listed here. 
  • Airport Shuttle: Passengers can purchase tickets at the Airport Shuttle ticket booth located on Level 1 Baggage Claim between Doors 3 and 4. Fares are $24 per person one-way and $44 per person round trip.
  • Taxi: Taxis pick up passengers in a dedicated taxi loading zone on the Arrivals Curb outside of Level 1 Baggage Claim Door 7. Fares are approximately $36 to MSY and the Central Business District (CBD) or French Quarter.
  • Rideshare: Both Lyft and Uber are available. Lyft riders should use exit doors 7-9 and Uber riders should use exit Doors 9-11. Once you request your ride, you will receive a special code that you will show to your driver once you’ve reached the front of the queue. 
Getting to and from the Union Passenger Terminal (Amtrak)

The Amtrak Station is located at 1001 Loyola Avenue, a 20-minute walk to the Tidewater Building or a 12-15 minute ride. Walking directions can be found here, and transit options can be found here.

Getting Around New Orleans

Public Transit. New Orleans’ Regional Transit Authority (RTA) provides bus, streetcar, ferry and paratransit services. Convening activities are primarily located along the Canal Street RTA streetcar line, which also connects to the French Quarter and the Central Business District. Single rides are $1.25 and $0.40 for seniors. ACD encourages attendees to download the RTA’s smartphone app, Le Pass, to purchase single-ride, one-day ($3) and three-day ($8) passes. Physical passes are available for purchase at nearby Walgreens stores. The main conference venue is a 5-minute walk from Duncan Plaza, the RTA’s central bus hub. Passes will be provided for tours that require them.

Bikeshare. New Orleans’ bikeshare system, BlueBikes NOLA, is usable by downloading a smartphone app. Several BlueBike hubs are within a few minutes’ walk of the main conference venue, including directly across the street in front of the New Orleans BioInnovation Center, and in front of the Main Library on Loyola Avenue. We recommend Blue Bikes for exploration beyond the conference venues and tours. 

Taxis and rideshare are also available. Taxis can easily be called through your hotel’s front desk or concierge.

 

TRAVELLING THROUGH GULF PORT EN ROUTE TO NEW ORLEANS?

Special invitation from our friends at Gulf Coast Community Design Studio to stop by Gulfport, MS before joining ACD in New Orleans for the reboot of their tradition, Friday Morning Serial! Travel time from Gulfport to NOLA by car = 1.25 hours.

Friday Morning Serial offers attendees the opportunity to learn from and dive into discussion with community leaders while enjoying cereal and coffee. Free to attend, and you'll also get to check-out GCCDS' new studio home!

Friday Morning Serial - 10/14/22
Featuring Derrick Evans, Turkey Creek Community Initiative 

Derrick Evans is a native of coastal Mississippi and a graduate of Boston College where he has lectured in American History. He is a long-time advocate for the Turkey Creek community in Gulfport, Mississippi, and protection of the Turkey Creek Watershed which has always been under pressure from urbanization. Returning to coastal Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, Derrick founded the Turkey Creek Community Initiative to organize neighbors. A film, Come Hell or High Water (2014), tells of the inspiring journey of Evans who is consumed by the effort to protect the community his great grandfather's grandfather settled as a former slave. The film draws connections between civil rights and responsible urban development, environmental conservation, and environmental disaster relief and recovery. Highlighting personal experiences of local grassroots activists, Derrick will be discussing strategies for working toward justice in the Turkey Creek community.

Can't stop to be there in person? Join the LIVE STREAM!