This year has been an exciting year in the French Quarter and FQBA is glad to have been able to play a role in bringing the community together with communication, positive events and productive partnerships.  Membership has continued to grow and the association has maintained an industrious momentum through the efforts of committees and the board of directors.

After hosting a candidate forum for the District C City Council Seat, FQBA welcomed the new City Council member to the District C office, Kristin Gisleson Palmer.  FQBA has certainly enjoyed the new energy and working relationship from Kristin and her staff.  With this working relationship and communication the association has represented the interests of its members on a number of issues including the sanitation, streets & sidewalks, pedi-cabs and more. 

"Get Away in the Vieux Carre", the summer promotional campaign proved successful for the second year running and will continue to be an annual marketing campaign.  This campaign is designed to promote the French Quarter as a quick easy and affordable destination for locals to visit during the summer months.   The promotion kicked off with an outdoor concert on May 20th in the French Market.  Event partners included the French Market Corporation, NOLA Brewing and Glazer's, Pat O'Brien's, Central Parking, Event Restrooms and La Divina Gelateria & Café.  Registrants for the promotion sign up for the FQBA newsletter to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a "Get Away in the Vieux Carre" which includes a hotel stay, restaurant, attraction and shopping gift certificates and discounts provided by participating members. 

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A French Quarter Neighborhood Guide & Map was created this year through StayLocal in partnership with French Market Corporation.  This guide and map is a printed piece that may be distributed through your businesses or found online.  In the guide there is an easily deciphered French Quarter map along with listings of FQBA members in the following categories: Banks/ATMs; Food, Drinks & Entertainment; Lodging; Museums; Retail; Services; Shopping Centers; Theaters and Tours.  This project hoped to create a marketing piece specifically for the members of FQBA to locals and visitors.

The association's most notable accomplishment in 2010 was the creation of the Vieux Carre - Graffiti Abatement Program (VC-GAP) working with residents groups French Quarter Citizens and VCPORA.  There were 2 very successful volunteer clean up days in July and August.  The effort hoped to show that citizens will have to take an active role in eradicating graffiti in order to make a difference.  The fight to eradicate graffiti continues and VC-GAP will certainly be working in the community again in 2011.

During the Summer FQBA was fortunate to have an intern from Tulane University's undergraduate business school.  With the intern's assistance FQBA was able to get the association website up-to-date as well as create a social media network through Facebook.

The bi-monthly lunch forum series, started in 2008, continues to be informative, extremely well attended, and great networking.  FQBA would like to thank all those that attend regularly, the guest speakers and especially the hosting venues.  March was held at Broussard's with guest speakers Jennifer Day of the New Orleans Office of Film and Video and Laura Williams of the Tennessee Williams Festival.  The May lunch was held at Red Fish Grill with guest speakers Desiree Young of Venture Walk Business Partners and Deon Roberts of CityBusiness the topic was Social Media. July's lunch was held at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co where Laila Morcos of ABC 26 News spoke to the group about Public Relations.  The most well attended lunch of the year was in August at the Riverview Room where Jay Cicero of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation wowed the group with the 2013 SuperBowl bid video and much more including information on other sports events the foundation brings to the city. The last lunch forum of 2010 was hosted by the House of Blues in the Parish Hall with guest speaker Matt Biggers of the New Orleans Hornets.  The 2011 FQBA Bi-Monthly Lunch Forum series will begin in February with City Council member Kristin Gisleson Palmer at Antoine's on February 24th, please mark your calendar and be sure to make your reservations.

FQBA welcomed the 2010 holidays with a regional promotional campaign in partnership with the New Orleans Tourism & Marketing Corporation and Christmas New Orleans Style a production of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.  This campaign promoted holiday shopping and events throughout the month of December beginning in November through advertising in the drive-in region via television and entertainment weekly publications in those areas.  Participating FQBA members offered prizes packaged and awarded to secondary winners.  Those participating members were recognized on the campaign's website with links to their individual websites.  This was a successful campaign and partnership that will hopefully open the door to more opportunities for FQBA to help promote the French Quarter and membership as a whole.  Thank you to all of the participating members: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Steamboat Natchez, Gray Line Tours of New Orleans, New Orleans School of Cooking, Pat O'Brien's, Creole Delicacies, Royal Sonesta, California Drawstrings, Hotel Monteleone, Bienville House Hotel, Chateau Bourbon, Oceana Restaurant, Bourbon Orleans Hotel, The Little Toy Shop, Feet First Shoe Store, and Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights. 

Also for the holidays, FQBA purchased and hung Christmas banners on participating member's balconies.  This is an ongoing push to promote holiday décor throughout the season. 

All in all, 2010 was a very productive and active year for the association.  The Board of Directors invites your feedback and participation in the future.  Please consider participating by attending events or joining a committee, for more information visit www.fqba.org. 

Thank you all for your membership, participation and interest in the businesses and community of the French Quarter.  Please continue to be a member and spread the enthusiasm for the association's efforts in 2011.