NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- New Orleans' mayor and Louisiana's governor hope to have the Big Easy back in business for Mardi Gras.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco went to the city this week for a meeting with Mayor Ray Nagin, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu and members of the New Orleans Hospitality Commission, the Baton Route Advocate reported.
They discussed the logistics of reopening hotels, including finding housing for employees.
Nagin said 10,000 to 12,000 hotel rooms are available now in New Orleans and Jefferson parishes, and Blanco expects that number almost to double by the end of the month.
The French Quarter, New Orleans' major tourist attraction, suffered comparatively little damage after Katrina. But areas of the city where many service workers live were devastated.
Mardi Gras, the carnival before the beginning of Lent, falls on Feb. 28 in 2006, giving the city a little more than four months to dust off the welcome mat.
"There's not been a lot of joy in the hearts of our people," the governor said. "We all need to look forward to mile-marker moments."
