Jefferson Parish CVB Partners

Jefferson Parish Updates:

Vaccine Information:

The Louisiana Department of Health is coordinating the COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort in Louisiana. As more vaccines become available from the CDC, more individuals and groups will be offered a vaccination.

Limited amounts of COVID vaccines will be available beginning January 4, 2021 at some local locations.

Click HERE for more.

See below for current COVID -19 Guidelines:

• Up to 25% occupancy with social distancing and mask mandates: Sporting Events
• Up to 50% occupancy with social distancing and mask mandates: Gyms/fitness centers, Restaurants/coffee shops/cafes, Casinos/video poker, Non-essential retail
• Up to 75% occupancy with social distancing and mask mandates: Churches/houses of worship
• Bars are closed to indoor consumption but can allow outdoor seating up to 50 people, seated and spaced apart and masks mandated
• Reduced in gathering sizes at Reception Halls/Event Centers: Indoors, limited to 25% occupancy, masks required, up to 75 people
• Outdoors, limited to 25% occupancy, masks required, up to 150 people, where social distancing is not possible
• All private and public employers should consider maximizing the use of telework.

See below for Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation Department Modifications:

• All youth sports at the playgrounds are suspended beginning Wednesday, November 25 at 10:00 p.m. Activities will resume under the new guidelines on Monday, December 7, 2020. This includes Biddy and intramural basketball team tryouts, tennis, and rugby.
• The West Bank playground tackle football championships will take place on Saturday, November 28, 2020 as planned with modified times and locations to adhere to the new Phase 2 guidelines. Times and locations are TBD.
• All individuals, groups and organizations that have rented JPRD facilities, including Lafreniere Park, Parc de Families, LaSalle Park, and Bucktown Marina, through December 23, 2020 will be notified of the new Phase 2 guidelines and will be asked to provide a letter describing how their rental activity will adhere to the new Phase 2 guidelines.
• All Leisure Service activities are suspended beginning Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 10:00 p.m. Activities will resume under the new Phase 2 guidelines on Monday, December 7, 2020. This includes classes, Golden Age and Special Needs Programming.

Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng issued an emergency proclamation on Monday, June 29th. The public is required to wear masks inside all businesses and public places within Jefferson Parish. The order will begin on Wednesday, July 1st, and has no end date.

People in Jefferson Parish must wear face coverings when they are in the high-risk situations listed below:
- Masks are required inside any indoor public space, including but not limited to restaurants, retail, spas and places of worship.
- Masks are required upon entering and exiting a restaurant or bar but not while sitting at a table.
- Masks are required upon entering and exiting a gym but not while exercising.
- Masks are required in any room or enclosed area where other people are present and unable to physically distance.
- Masks are required while walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators and parking facilities.

The following individuals are exempt from wearing a mask or face covering:
- Children younger than two years old.
- Individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering.
- This order also excludes schools, summer camps and daycares, as they should follow guidance set forth by the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Education. Click HERE for guidance for childcare and summer schools from the Department of Health. Click HERE for school reopening guidelines and resources from the Department of Education.

Masks are required while riding on public transportation or paratransit.

The Jefferson Parish Government is dedicated to assisting our business owners with best practices and outreach. The COVID Compliance – See It, Say It Form has been activated for you to report all your concerns with local businesses. They will collect your complaints and work with our partner agencies to have them addressed.

For updates on Jefferson Parish's response to the coronavirus situation and more, visit their COVID-19 Dashboard HERE

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn has issued a proclamation making it mandatory that masks be worn inside all commercial and public buildings.

The emergency proclamation includes the following exemptions:
- Children under the age of 2
- Anyone with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that limits their ability to wear a mask
- People who are hearing impaired or communicating with someone who is hearing impaired
- Anyone who would face a work-related risk by wearing a mask on the job
- Anyone obtaining a service involving the nose or face that would require the temporary removal of the mask

Gretna will join unincorporated Jefferson Parish and the city of Kenner in requiring people to wear masks when inside commercial and public buildings. The mask mandate will go into effect on Wednesday on July 15th.

Louisiana Updates:

• On Tuesday, January 12, 2021 Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Phase 2 restrictions. Louisiana will stay in the current modified version of Phase 2 at least through February 10, 2021. Under the new rules, gatherings will be limited to 75 indoors and 150 outdoors, or 25% occupancy at event spaces. Restaurants, retailers and other businesses will move from 75% to 50% occupancy. Bars in parishes with over 5% test positivity must close to indoor consumption unless they have a restaurant conditional permit, in which case they can operate at 50%.
• On July 11, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a mandatory mask requirement for Louisiana. You can read the full proclamation HERE.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, announced that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will re-open the week of January 11 for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. New borrowers will be able to submit applications beginning Monday, January 11, though lender availability is limited. If you have already exhausted your first PPP loan, the loan process for your second draw will be available beginning Wednesday, January 13. Click HERE for a link to the application.

The LWC Rapid Response Unit is available for assistance concerning temporary or permanent layoffs due to Covid-19. Workers who are impacted by closures or reduced hours may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits. Please click here for information on how to qualify for support. You can contact André France at (225) 342-2918 or afrance@lwc.la.gov with your questions about this program. Due to the volume of questions coming in now, email is the best method to send questions. Click here for their website.

US Travel has secured real, immediate assistance for the travel workforce and businesses of all sizes across every segment. The Senate and House will passed the final phase 3 coronavirus bill, referred to as the CARES Act, but more work is needed to ensure that this relief – which is intended to be a bridge – is extended quickly and helps as many travel businesses as possible. Click HERE to see US Travel's summary of the bill and read the full bill HERE.

The health and safety of customers is the number one priority of every travel business. This shared viewpoint has brought sectors from across the industry together, working with health and medical experts, to reach a collective agreement on a core set of health and safety guidance that the industry may adapt to their businesses. When travel businesses, residents and travelers all do their part, Americans can Travel Confidently.

Download US Travel's Travel Confidently Toolkit HERE.

Our partners at Louisiana Hospitality Foundation (LHF) are able to reopen the application process once again for the Hospitality Cares Funds. The program reached the $1.5 million benchmark, triggering the reopening of the fund’s crisis grants. Starting Friday, April 24th at 9:00 a.m., hospitality workers can apply online at UnitedWaySELA.org/HospitalityCares or call 211 to complete the application over the phone.

Restaurateur FAQs

The team at the JCVB has received a few questions from our many restaurateurs. We reached out to the Louisiana Restaurant Association for some answers below:

Additional Resources:

White House Opening Up America Again Guidelines

Office of Governor John Bel Edwards

Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers

Jefferson Back to Business Plan

Open Safely Business Registration

State Fire Marshal Phase I Compliance Guidelines

MSY Travel Ready

Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide

National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) 

International Caterers Association  

Unemployment Support for Employers & Workers Impacted by COVID-19

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Update

United Way of Southeast Louisiana Hospital Cares Pandemic Response Fund

Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employer Expanded Family and Medical Leave Requirements

WorkNOLA Job Openings during COVID-19 Event

COVID-19 Tax Relief

ARC is offering 3D printed PPE and can discount bulk orders.

Restaurant / Food Service Outdoor Seating Criteria.

Rally around S. 4150, the CERTS Act #RestartTheBus

Visit Jefferson Parishis committed to advocating for the safety and well-being of our community and visitors to our destination. We are inviting Jefferson Parish hotels, attractions, restaurants, retailers, and all businesses throughout Jefferson Parish to join us in taking the Clean & Safe Jefferson Parish Pledge. The pledge provides a unified message that health and safety standards and protections against the spread of COVID-19 are top priority and it is your commitment to helping stop the spread of COVID-19. Learn more HERE.

Visit Jefferson Parish is putting together a list of special events, activities, menus/drinks and shopping deals our local member businesses will be offering during Mardi Gras 2021. This information will be included on our website, our social media channels and shared with interested clients.

Click HERE to fill out the form.

About Jefferson Parish CVB

The Jefferson CVB is a proud partner in tourism supporting the economic growth of Jefferson Parish and the surrounding parishes. The Louisiana Office of Tourism 2019 economic impact ranked Jefferson Parish 2nd in the state for visitor spending with a reported $1.75 billion! Tourism garnered $177 million in state and local tax revenue for Jefferson Parish and Louisiana. The Jefferson Parish tourism and hospitality industry employs almost 23,000 people in our parish helping to provide a better quality of life for these employees and their families. The JCVB supports the members of our organization as they work to enhance the economic development of our parish.

Your Jefferson CVB Membership...
The JCVB is comprised of a diverse membership promoting the arts, entertainment, culture, cuisine, heritage, traditions, professional services & products of our region. You are a valued member contributing to the growth of this region through the tourism industry. Whether you are a hotel, attraction, restaurant, transportation company, or business resource organization such as printing or PR, the JCVB wants to hear from you! We want your feedback, your ideas, your partnership! The JCVB welcomes your questions and comments. Feel free to contact the JCVB office at 504-731-7083. Click here for an application and see all of our member benefits here. If you are a hotel, please contact the office directly for benefits.

The JCVB is pleased to provide its members with detailed reports on Marketing, Sales, and Communications. To view the 2019 Marketing Plan, Annual Reports or the Convention & Group Calendar, enter your unique member login and password to access the Extranet. At our 2020 Annual Meeting, we were pleased to welcome guest speaker, Bill Geist, Chief Instigator at DMOproz. His presentation which addresses how communities and their Destination Marketing Organizations across the nation are responding to the COVID Crisis and how Visit Jefferson Parish is positioning to spur the region’s recovery can be found HERE.

Tourism by the Numbers
The Jefferson Convention & Visitors Bureau is the parish’s only accredited tourism marketing team focused on bringing visitors and visitor spending to Jefferson Parish. Here is a glance at the tourism impact on Jefferson in 2019: