New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA) is home to IAC23 and oh so much more. The official New Orleans Tourism website has curated an incredible amount of useful information that will help you make the most of your time in the city, so be sure to check it out before you arrive and throughout your stay. In addition, here are community-generated lists of things you may want to do and places you may want to go during your visit to NOLA (as well as a list of other online guides to the Big Easy).

Note: all drive/walk times are Google Map estimates starting from the InterContinental New Orleans, our IAC23 venue.

Transportation

Airport Transportation

The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is located approximately fifty (50) minutes from the IAC23 venue. There are multiple options for transportation from and to MSY:

• MSY Airport Shuttle Service: currently $24 one-way, $44 round-trip, and children under 6 ride free; schedule ahead online or call 866-596-2699.
• Taxis are available at the airport on level 1 and fares run around $36 each way for 1 or 2 people; for 3 or more people the fare is ~$14 each person, each way.
• KreweCar, Uber, Lyft: choose from 3 ride sharing services to get you from the airport to the hotel and back easily and safely. Note: KreweCar bookings must be made 6 hours in advance.
• Buses to downtown NOLA are available for $1.50. Note: there are limited departures and all passengers disembark at Elk Place and Canal Street (a 5 min cab ride or 12 min walk to the conference hotel.
• Learn more about airport transportation options from the NOLA tourism bureau or on the MSY website.

Around the city

From the IAC23 venue, there are numerous options for transportation in and around NOLA:

• Walking: The Intercontinental hotel is centrally located and within walking distance of many restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and tourist attractions. Bring your most comfortable walking shoes and start counting your steps.
• Blue Bikes: This bikeshare service is a great way to easily get around town while enjoying the fresh air and getting a bit of exercise. You can pay by the minute or get a monthly pass.
• GoX Scooters: Similar to the blue bikes, but on scooters. Various pricing options included.
• Pedicabs: A fun and unique way to get around without having to do any of your own pedal work.
• New Orleans Regional Transit Authority provides inexpensive buses, streetcars and ferries to get you around town, including the original streetcar line which runs down St Charles Street – right in front of the Intercontinental. Single rides are $1.25 and a selection of Jazzy passes give you multiple rides. Download the app ahead of time for convenient access to a trip planner, mobile payment and real-time information for a seamless ride.
• City Sightseeing New Orleans Hop On Hop Off City Tour: These bus tours are a great way to get around the city while also learning from knowledgeable tour guides. One-day tickets are $46 with additional multi-day options available and all tickets can be purchased ahead of time or on the same day.
• KreweCar, Uber, Lyft: Choose from 3 ride sharing services to get you around town easily and safely. Note: KreweCar bookings must be made 6 hours in advance.
• Taxis
• Limousines

Eat

• Cochon: Cajun/Southern, ~4 min drive/~15 min walk
• Drago’s: Seafood, numerous locations, closest ~4 min drive/~15 min walk; original Metairie (Fat City) location ~15 min drive
• Camellia Grill: Diner, ~14 min drive
• Luke: Creole, ~1 minute walk
• Bearcat CBD: Breakfast/Brunch, ~3 min drive/~10 min walk
• The Daily Beet: Vegetarian, Breakfast/Brunch, ~3 min drive/~11 min walk
• Willa Jean: Breakfast/Brunch, Bakery, ~3 min drive/~10 min walk
• Rouse’s Market: Grocery, ~3 min drive/~9 min walk
• Jacques-Imo’s: Via streetcar – reservations for large groups – try the Shrimp & Alligator Sausage Cheesecake (it’s like no quiche you’ve tried yet!).
• Antoine’s Restaurant: Classic New Orleans Restaurant
• Restaurant guide from the NOLA tourism bureau (duplicates some of the above list)

Drink

Alcohol

• The Carousel Bar & Lounge: Circus-style merry-go-round bar with live music, ~4 min drive/~8 min walk
• Bourbon Street: Countless bars & restaurants, ~3 min drive/~8 min walk
• Cocktail guide from the NOLA tourism bureau (duplicates some of the above list)
• Ace Hotel: Couple of blocks away. Large, cool lounge and restaurant: Josephine Estelle

Not alcohol

• Cafe du Monde: Chicory coffee & beignets, multiple locations, closest & original ~5 min drive/~17 min walk
• Starbucks: Numerous locations, closest ~1 min walk
• French Truck Coffee: numerous locations, closest ~3 min walk
• Funny Library Coffee Shop: ~2 min drive/~7 min walk
• Café Bon Ami: ~3 min walk

Both

• Fourth Wall: ~3 min walk

Visit

• French Quarter: The oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans.
• Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 (tour website; must take tour to visit): The oldest in NOLA, many famous graves, ~4 min drive/~8 min walk
• Southern Food & Beverage Museum: Cooking classes and specialty exhibits including The Museum of the American Cocktail’s New Orleans Collection, La Galerie de l’Absinthe, ~6 min drive/~24 min walk
• The National WWII Museum: The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations can understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Through exhibits, multimedia experiences, and thousands of personal accounts, the Museum takes visitors on an immersive tour of World War II in every theater of war.
• Streetcar ride – St Charles goes through the garden district and past Tulane and Loyola.
• Red Sash Tours: Cemetery tour guide (Metairie cemetery tour is highly recommended by Carol’s friend)
• Mardi Gras World: See the floats!
• NOLA Tour Guy: Self-guided walking tour of the garden district. 
• St. Louis Cathedral & Jackson Square
• Preservation Hall
• New Orleans City Park
• Audubon Park & Audubon Zoo
• Steamboat Natchez
• Things to do from the NOLA tourism bureau (duplicates some of the above list)

Shop

• Places to shop from the NOLA tourism bureau
• The French Market
• Riverwalk Outlets

Guides

• Atlas Obscura
• Bradt
• Fodor’s Travel 
• Insight Guides
• Lonely Planet
• NewOrleans.com, part of the NOLA tourism bureau, includes useful neighborhood guides
• Rough Guides
• Time Out
• Trip Advisor

(Last updated on February 27, 2023.)

Introduction

We ask all attendees to play their part in protecting the most vulnerable people in our community and making IAC23 as safe as reasonably possible.  IAC23 will follow all local, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. 

Conference organizers, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, and attendees take responsibility for and agree to the following COVID-19 policy. Organizers will enforce this policy throughout the event. 

We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone. We further expect that all participants will acknowledge and respect individual COVID-related boundaries, such as social distancing, no-touch greetings, elbow touches instead of handshakes, etc. 

Note: the policy may be updated.

Policy

We look forward to being back together in person for IAC23. As we return from three years of all-remote IACs, we are committed to the health and safety of all participants and are implementing safety protocols that all participants are expected to follow. However, please be advised there is a risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any event or public space, including the conference. 

As a condition of entering the conference, you accept these guidelines and acknowledge, understand, and confirm that you will comply with the following guidance:

• You must wear a mask covering your nose and mouth, regardless of your vaccination status, while at conference programming. This includes Workshops, Main Conference sessions, social events, activities, and hallway spaces.
• Masks are not required in these situations:
  • while you are actively eating or drinking – please do not eat in rooms where Workshops and Main Conference sessions are being held.
  • Presenters may remove their masks when they are on stage during their session, as long as they maintain physical distance from the audience and other attendees.
  • Workshop facilitators may remove their masks when they are presenting (and distant from attendees), but must wear their masks when working with workshop attendees.
• If you are unable to wear a mask, you must provide a medical exemption written in English by your health provider (details in the Medical Exemption section below), and provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the 24 hour period prior to your conference attendance.

Do not attend the conference if you:

• Are exhibiting any cold, flu, or COVID-19 symptoms such as, but not limited to: fever, sore throat, cough, congestion, runny nose, or loss of taste or smell (regardless of vaccination status)
• Have tested positive for COVID-19 within the 7 days prior to your arrival
• Are under any quarantine/isolation orders
• Are unable or unwilling to comply with IAC23, local, state, federal, and venue COVID-19 guidelines

Please do not enter the conference or the venue if you cannot confirm or comply with all of the above. If at any point during your time at the conference you do not meet all of the above criteria, you will be asked to leave the conference venue, at KUNVERJ’s sole discretion.

If you are exposed to COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19 in March 2023, and are unable to attend IAC23, your registration is transferable until 48 hours before the first day of the conference. KUNVERJ can also work with you to apply your IAC23 registration fee to EuroIA23, IAC24, or other KUNVERJ-managed events. Exposures or positive tests prior to March 2023 follow the refunds and cancellations policy outlined on the IAC23 Registration Info page.

For your protection

IAC wants to promote a safe environment. The organizers commit to:

• Making disposable masks available at the conference registration desk
• Making hand sanitizer available at the conference registration desk as well as at central locations throughout the conference venue
• Working with the venue staff to optimize for event safety 
• Maximizing opportunities for social-distancing and outdoor activities
• Providing opportunities for conference sponsors to directly support COVID-19 safety measures 

Please contact info@theiaconference.com with questions, requests for additional information, or to discuss sponsoring our COVID-19 safety measures.

Medical Exemption Wording

If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, you must provide the following at registration:

1. a medical exemption statement written in English by your health provider (see details below)
2. proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the 24 hour period prior to your conference attendance.

Once you present these items you will receive your lanyard and badge. 

The medical exemption statement must be printed on the health provider’s letterhead, and include the following:

Statement

Please do not include any specific diagnosis or other personal medical information.  Select the appropriate exemption rationale.

“I ____________________  (printed full name of medical doctor, registered nurse, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner), hereby confirm that _________________________ (printed full name of person to be exempted)

is unable to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth due to:

• a pre-existing condition 
• contraindications
• an adverse event following immunization
• due to another medical condition” 

The exemption must also include:

• full name and designation / certification / license type of the medical professional making the statement (please do not use acronyms – write “Doctor of Medicine” – not MD): _______________________________________
• affiliation (full name of hospital or practice): __________________________
• business address (number and street, city/town, province/state/territory, country, postal code): ___________________________________________
• signature of medical doctor, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner: ___________________________________________
• date of exemption:
  Month (name of month)_________ Day (2 digits)___ Year (4 digits): _____

If you will need to complete a formal medical exemption document as part of your transportation to IAC23, you may provide that form to IAC23 as long as it is signed by the medical professional and includes all of the information listed above.

This COVID-19 Policy was last updated on February 27, 2023. It is a living document, and will be updated regularly.