Jim Cook, CEO and President of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (NOENMCC), was recently recognized with two of the city’s top honors. He was named to New Orleans CityBusiness Power 50, which celebrates the most influential business leaders in Greater New Orleans, and selected as a Young Leadership Council role model. These distinctions commemorate Cook’s professional excellence, civic leadership and longstanding commitment to bettering New Orleans, as well as his transformative impact on the Convention Center and the city’s tourism industry as a whole.
The CityBusiness Power 50 list recognized leaders across a multitude of industries who have demonstrated innovation, creativity and leadership driving economic growth in Greater New Orleans during its October 15th issue. Cook joins this year’s distinguished list of businesspeople, recognizing his involvement in leading transformative projects at the Convention Center from the 1,000-room Omni New Orleans headquarters hotel to the multi-million-dollar renovation project at the facility.
“We’re proud to see our new CEO recognized among such distinguished leaders,” said Russ W. Allen, President of the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority. “Jim’s leadership is driving meaningful change for the tourism industry. His vision with Omni New Orleans and the River District will strengthen our economy, boost local businesses, and ensure the industry’s success is shared by everyone who calls New Orleans home.”
Cook remains connected to fostering the next generation of business talent. He was recognized as a 2025 Role Model for the Young Leadership Council, an annual honor given to 25 community and business leaders who embody the organization’s mission, during an evening reception on October 24. This recognition speaks to Cook’s ability to lead with purpose and echoes the Convention Center’s mission of creating significant benefits to the New Orleans and Louisiana economy.
Most recently, Cook served as Chairman of the 2025 Urban League of Louisiana Empowerment & Policy Conference and Gala, held October 28–29 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Under his leadership, the Convention Center partnered with the Urban League to present the annual conference and gala, continuing a longstanding collaboration that includes the Morial Awards, the Big Health Event, and the National Urban League Community & Family Day Expo. This partnership underscores Cook’s commitment to aligning the Center’s mission with community-focused initiatives that expand opportunity and foster shared prosperity.
“These recognitions are a reflection of the remarkable team I’m fortunate to lead,” said Cook. “My colleagues and I share a commitment to shaping the future of New Orleans by fostering leadership, inspiring innovation, and creating opportunities for the next generation of business and community leaders. I am honored to be recognized and thankful to people who show up with passion and purpose that enable us to make a real impact every day.”
Under Cook’s leadership, the Convention Center continues to advance major projects that advance the city’s economic potential. Looking ahead, the River District is beginning to take shape as Shell Riverside comes out of the ground and the 1,000-room Omni New Orleans is expected to break ground in 2026. The Omni New Orleans will significantly expand the city’s capacity to host large-scale events and boost the city’s ability to compete in the convention, trade shows and meetings marketplace. Simultaneously, more than 70 percent of the first phase of the $763 million Capital Improvement Plan has been completed, modernizing exhibit halls, meeting rooms and public spaces and upgrading energy systems.
About the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans is Built to Host! With 1.1 million square feet of prime exhibit space on one level, all under one roof, NOENMCC is tied for the sixth-largest convention center in the United States. NOENMCC is a 2025 Exhibitor Magazine Centers of Excellence recipient and is consistently named a regional top workplace by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. A recent LEED Gold certification makes NOENMCC the largest LEED-certified project in Louisiana and the largest convention center project in the U.S. certified under LEED v4.1 Operations and Maintenance, as well as the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M. A leading contributor to the city’s robust tourism economy, NOENMCC event activity has produced $90.1 billion in economic impact since its 1985 opening.
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