Former president and CEO of Port of New Orleans recognised for efforts to boost cruise business at port
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Robert Jumonville, the former cruise and tourism director at the Port of New Orleans, received the 2015 American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Cruise Award on 11 February.
The award, which was presented during the AAPA biennial Cruise Seminar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, recognises Jumonville for his work to grow the cruise business in New Orleans.
Under Jumonville’s leadership, the port invested more than US$75 million to improve cruise facilities and recorded a 1,200 % rise in passenger throughput. Revenue produced by the Cruise and Tourism Division also increased more than 500% percent during his tenure. In 2014, the port handled more than one million cruise passengers for the first time in its history, while embarkations and disembarkations totalled a record 1,014,325.
“Our cruise industry has experienced meteoric growth under Robert Jumonville’s leadership. This is a well-deserved achievement after 25 years of dedicated service,” said Gary LaGrange, Port of New Orleans president and CEO. “The board of commissioners, the port and the community of New Orleans owe a debt of gratitude to Jumonville for highlighting our great city as an internationally-ranked cruise port.”
Jumonville, who retired in January after 25 years at the port, oversaw the planning and construction of the Julia Street Cruise Terminal, a consolidation of two terminals into one modern terminal completed in 2011. He was also instrumental in the design and construction of the Erato Street Cruise Terminal and Parking Garage Complex, the industry’s first combined cruise and parking facility. In addition, Jumonville played an integral role in planning the port’s third cruise ship terminal at Poland Avenue.
“This award is very humbling,” Jumonville said. “It’s been a pleasure and passion to work with the great staff at the Port of New Orleans and with each of the Port’s cruise partners. I take pride in the long-term relationships we’ve established with our cruise lines and tourism industry partners.”
René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence, also received an AAPA Cruise Award in recognition of his efforts to boost cruise tourism in Canada.