Suzanne Becker, the general manager of the Henry Howard Hotel, described how the delta variant negatively impacted their August by erasing many reservations. However, there was a glimmer of hope as guests were finally scheduled to fill nearly every room. Other hotels were also fully booked at higher rates typically seen only during holiday weekends. Becker expressed disappointment when the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival canceled its October event due to concerns about rising COVID-19 cases, causing many reservations to be wiped off the books. Hotels were anticipating the upcoming Labor Day in New Orleans with excitement. Robert LeBlanc, owner of the Chloe boutique hotel in the Garden District, was pleased that his hotel was fully booked and had more large party restaurant reservations than in late July. The French Quarter was expected to be bustling with visitors for Southern Decadence, often called "gay Mardi Gras." Beaux Church, manager of three gay bars in the French Quarter, scheduled twice as many bartenders as usual for the busy weekend. Despite having enough staff, he was confident that they would receive a significant amount of tips. He believed that the weekend would have been a great opportunity for them to recover from the losses they experienced during COVID-19. The tips would have helped them catch up on rent and pay off extra credit card debts. However, due to Hurricane Ida hitting Louisiana and causing damage, the bartenders had to evacuate to other cities. As a result, The Henry Howard Hotel, along with many other hotels, are now vacant. Southern Decadence has been canceled once again. Even Cafe Lafitte in Exile, a gay bar known for being open 24 hours a day, has had to close due to a lack of electricity, air conditioning, and margaritas following Hurricane Katrina. With many still without power and surrounding areas assessing damage, New Orleans' tourism industry, a key part of the city's economy, is once again facing challenges. Tony Leggio, an organizer of Southern Decadence, expressed concern about the impact of Hurricane Ida on tourism, fearing it may deter visitors long-term, as Hurricane Katrina did in 2005. It was not until 2010 that the number of visitors returned to pre-Katrina levels. Kelly Schulz, a spokesperson for New Orleans & Company, stated that New Orleans did not experience the same devastation as other areas during Hurricane Katrina, so the tourist infrastructure remained largely intact. She expressed hope that tourists would return once power is restored. However, with overcrowded ICUs and a low vaccination rate in Louisiana, some argue that the city may be better off without large crowds. Researchers have linked Mardi Gras in February 2020 to a significant coronavirus outbreak. Restaurant owners, hotel managers, and event planners believe that they could have accommodated visitors had the storm allowed, as the city now requires proof of vaccination or a recent coronavirus test, along with masks, to enter most businesses. Amanda Price, an event planner in New Orleans, stated that visitors appreciated the safety rules, which allowed them to proceed with events feeling secure. Labor Day weekend, usually not a popular time for weddings in New Orleans due to hurricane season, saw many couples determined to hold weddings that had been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions on large gatherings. Cayla Contardi, a client of Price's from Austin, Texas, expressed how busy it has been for her. She had planned her wedding for the third time on Saturday, Sept 4. Originally, her wedding was scheduled for June 20, 2020, in Tucson, Arizona, but due to COVID concerns, she moved the event to a ballroom in the French Quarter where all guests were either recovered or fully vaccinated. On Saturday afternoon, Contardi was devastated to discover that her husband's family from New Orleans and St Tammany Parish, located 50 miles north of the city, were evacuating their homes. Despite receiving a call from the hotel on Monday informing her that her guests could no longer stay due to significant damage, she found it difficult to come to terms with the cancellation of her wedding. "I have a beautiful dress that I've owned for three years," she lamented, stating that she has no intention of planning a fourth wedding. Labor Day had historically been a busy weekend for restaurants in New Orleans, as noted by Nina Compton, the chef of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro, who mentioned that food was being wasted even before the COVID pandemic hit. She mentioned that a large number of individuals usually visit the town for a big celebration before the school year begins. This year, she was expecting a hectic week. However, once she noticed the approaching storm, she realized that things would not go as planned. What has been particularly difficult for her to accept is that while many people in the state are facing challenges, restaurants are having to discard a significant amount of quality food. She explained that it is not possible to donate food to those in need because they lack the means to cook. She expressed this sentiment as she completed the task of cleaning out the walk-in fridge at Compère Lapin. She had found someone interested in the produce, but milk and fresh pasta were going to waste. James Doucette, the general manager of Meals From The Heart Cafe, expressed sorrow over the waste and mentioned that his team is currently displaced due to the storm. Alon Shaya, the founder of Pomegranate Hospitality, also noted that the impact of the storm on the restaurant industry goes beyond just the loss of weekend tourists, as it will also deter longer term visitors. Students had recently come back to Tulane University, which had been beneficial for Saba, a restaurant located about a mile away. However, the university has now decided to delay classes for at least another month. This sudden change of plans is a familiar experience for the hospitality industry in New Orleans. At the beginning of the pandemic, business was so poor that almost half of the city's restaurants and one-third of its hotels closed indefinitely. However, as more individuals received vaccines and chose to visit New Orleans again, optimism within the industry skyrocketed. In the spring, Church, who manages a diner and three French Quarter gay bars, saw business surpass its 2018 peak. However, when delta variant emerged, Bourbon Street suffered a decline. His bars went from making $10,000 a night to $1,000 virtually overnight. Church believes tourists stopped coming once his staff enforced rules for vaccination proof and masks, measures he supports. He was hopeful for a busy weekend due to clear requirements for the Southern Decadence festival. Edgar Chase IV, also known as Dooky, operates two Dooky Chase restaurants and described the recent business fluctuations as a roller coaster. It was supposed to be a significant weekend for his team, but they had to evacuate instead. He stated that in times like these, his main concern is not money, but rather how they can provide comfort to people. He believes that this should be the primary focus of the hospitality industry at the moment.