Shorter season, wet weather may dampen New Orleans' Carnival

Carnival has been called the Biggest Free Party on Earth.

But this year's big, free party had to compete with three factors that kept people away and hurt businesses in the process.

Incessant rain, an earlier-than-usual Mardi Gras date and Super Bowl XXXIX combined to weaken sales and slash attendance during the city's premier annual event.

We are anticipating sales during the Mardi Gras season to be lighter than normal, Tom Weatherly, vice president of communications and research for the Louisiana Restaurant Association, said last week. The earlier calendar date, as well as anticipated inclement weather, is expected to lessen the economic impact of this year's Carnival.

It's unclear how much money is injected into the New Orleans economy during the Mardi Gras season. Arthur Hardy, Mardi Gras historian, said Carnival generated more than $1 billion in economic impact in 2000, the last year an economic impact study was published.

How business fared this Carnival season was up for debate last week. Businesses must wait until Fat Tuesday passes to know for sure how good Carnival 2005 has been.

City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel Clarkson, whose district includes the French Quarter, summed up the situation.

Mardi Gras is Mardi Gras. And it will roll, and it will prevail, regardless, she said. And it's so big that even the Super Bowl and the ... cold rain can't diminish it.

Tourism officials had different observations.

There are fewer people from out of town attending, and I think it's because it's a little earlier, a little close to the holiday season and people just didn't have time to plan in advance, said Kathleen Kitty Ratcliffe, executive vice president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

It's Super Bowl weekend. A lot of the corporate entertainment that goes on in the Super Bowl is impacting some of our higher-end visitors who normally would come in for Mardi Gras, she said.

There's plenty of hotel availability, which is not a good thing for us, she said.

The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau estimated hotel occupancy as of last week in the low to mid-80 percent range, according to spokeswoman Angela Day.

Despite all the factors working against Carnival 2005, passenger counts at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport improved this year. More passengers were scheduled to leave New Orleans on Ash Wednesday, the day after Mardi Gras, than last year.

In 2004, 16,000 passengers boarded planes leaving New Orleans on Ash Wednesday. As of Jan. 28, 20,000 passengers were booked to leave New Orleans this Wednesday.

Compared to last year's passenger stats, it looks pretty good for Mardi Gras, said Michelle Duffourc, airport public relations manager.

An early Mardi Gras hurt business at Pat O'Brien's Bar in the French Quarter, said Shelly Waguespack, vice president of administration.

Having an early Mardi Gras usually brings in an older group, she said.

If Mardi Gras falls somewhere after the middle of February, Waguespack said the college spring break crowd is more likely to vacation in New Orleans. Without college students, business will be down.

It's not going to be that traumatic of a difference, she said. It'll affect our bottom line. We know its going to be a little bit less than last year but we're prepared for it.

Business at Superior Grill, 3636 St. Charles Ave., was off a bit on the rainy days last week, said general manager McKinley Eastman. But weekend sales have been pretty good.

We're busy and we're selling, he said. I'm positive about it all.

At Joel Randazzo Forjet's king cake business, Randazzo's Goodchildren Bakery in Chalmette, sales are expected to be normal.

We're just working a little harder. We think sales will probably be just consistent with past years, said Forjet, co-owner of the business. If the early Mardi Gras and the other factors are going to affect business, we haven't noticed (a difference) yet, she said.

Jay Roman, vice president of Cafe Du Monde, the company that owns the popular French Quarter coffee and beignet stand, last week said it is hard to tell how business will turn out until Mardi Gras weekend passes. But he has an idea.

My guess is it's going to be softer than previous years, he said.

Some hotel officials say there's no slump in business this year.

Alison Wolstenholme, director of sales at the Ramada Inn & Suites on Gravier Street, said early last week that the 176-room downtown hotel was booked. Only a few rooms were available for today and Fat Tuesday.

The hotel was nearly booked with Mardi Gras reservations before Christmas, she said. The two weekends prior to Mardi Gras result in about $200,000 in business for the hotel.

City administration officials said Carnival business could dip this season.

It's a unique Mardi Gras this year in that it's coming so close behind the holiday season, said Don Hutchinson, head of economic development for the city. I think overall that it probably will not be as big as it was last year.