The Nottoway Plantation, Restaurant, and Inn: White Castle Essay Example
The Nottoway Plantation, Restaurant, and Inn: White Castle of Louisiana 5. What does the plantation tour industry in the New Orleans area look like? Who are the major players and what are their relative strengths? The plantation tour industry in Southern Louisiana takes advantage of the proximity of both New Orleans, a major international tourist destination, and Baton Rouge, a medium sized state Capitol and college city, to draw visitors interested in experiencing antebellum plantation life on the Mississippi River.
Plantation tours represent a side activity for tourists visiting the area, particularly for those who have spent a few days in New Orleans and are seeking an alternate, lower-key attraction. Visitors to the area might contact a travel agent about such tours prior to visiting the area, or from a hotel concierge, or from a brochure provided by a local limousine or bus tour company to promote day-l
...ong or half-day tours.
Eleven plantation homes located anywhere from 20 to 110 miles away from New Orleans are discussed in the case.
The following table presents some of the relative strengths and weaknesses of these establishments, relative to the Nottoway Plantation: Destination 1. Destrehan Plantation Relative Strengths: Oldest, low admission, close to New Orleans (22 miles) Greek Revival style with spiral staircase. Lower admission fee than Nottoway.
Hosts special events. Slightly closer to New Orleans. Attractive Federal woodwork. Rare plantation dependency. Slave quarters included in tour.
Lower admission fee than Nottoway. Greek Revival style, 8-acre garden. Lower admission fee than Nottoway. Closest to New Orleans (20 miles).
Greek Revival style. Original furnishings.
Catering and formal dining available; hosts special events. Overnight accommodations. Lower admission fee tha
Nottoway. Open most holidays.
Famous for alley of live oaks. Overnight accommodations. Lower admission fee than Nottoway. Slightly closer to New Orleans (60 miles) Lower admission fee than Nottoway. Overnight accommodations. Hosts special events.
Dining available. Close to New Orleans (23 miles). Relative Weaknesses: No restaurant (? ). No overnight accommodations. Smaller than Nottoway.
Closed holidays. No restaurant (? ). No overnight accommodations.
Smaller than Nottoway. No gift shop (? ). No overnight accommodations.
Smaller than Nottoway. Closed on major holidays. No restaurant (? ). No gift shop (? ).
No overnight accommodations. Smaller than Nottoway. Closed on major holidays. No gift shop (? ); No restaurant for lunch (? ); Smaller than Nottoway; Slightly further from New Orleans (72 miles) 2.
Houmas House 3. La Branche Plantation 4. Longue Vue House and Gardens 5. Madewood Plantation 6.
Oak Alley Plantation No gift shop (? ); No restaurant for lunch (? ); Smaller than Nottoway. No gift shop (? ); Furnishings not as authentic as Nottoway.
Smaller than Nottoway. No gift shop (? ). No restaurant (? ). No overnight accommodations.
Smaller than Nottoway. Located furthest from New Orleans. Slightly higher admission fee than Nottoway. No restaurant (? ). No overnight accommodations.
Smaller than Nottoway. Closed most holidays. 7. Ormond Plantation 8.
Rosedown Plantation and Gardens 9. San Francisco Plantation 10. Tezcuco Plantation Museum quality home with original furnishings, 28 acres of "magnificent" formal gardens. Elaborate home. Gift shop.
Relatively close to New Orleans (45 miles). Lower admission fee than Nottoway.
Greek Revival home with bed and breakfast cottages. Antique and gift shop. Restaurant.
Slightly closer to New Orleans (60 miles). Lower admission fee than
Nottoway. Smaller than Nottoway. 6.
What strategy does Nottoway use to attract visitors? Should it use additional appeals? Nottoway’s strategy for attracting tourists is to promote itself as the “The largest plantation home in the South”, offering a full range of amenities, opulent period furniture, an award-winning restaurant, and an image of charm and elegance compared to competitor plantations. Nottoway advertises to both end consumers and to tour operators.
Promotional vehicles include local media advertising, brochures distributed to all New Orleans hotels and tourism offices, and in national publications of historic bed and breakfast facilities. In my opinion, Nottoway is missing the opportunity to participate more actively with tour operators. More of the company’s revenues are derived from restaurant sales rather than tours. While the restaurant business is profitable for Nottoway (38.
1% gross margin in ’93-’94) and probably should be expanded, the tour business is much more profitable (90. 7% gross margin in ’93-’94).
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