AAO annual meeting will return to the Big Easy in 2007

The American Academy of Ophthalmology confirmed its commitment to New Orleans as the site of the annual meeting in 2007. The city will host 25,000 attendees for the fourth time in 10 years.

The academy originally selected New Orleans as the 2007 host several years ago, but AAO's Board of Trustees re-evaluated the return to the city after seeing the devastation from Hurricane Katrina.

"With the short time frame and the limitations that are placed on the Academy due to the meeting's size, the board felt that it had few alternatives to moving the meeting from New Orleans," explained Edward J. Holland, MD, board member and secretary for the annual meeting. "To move the meeting only 2 years out leaves little time for planning, including securing adequate hotel space for attendees. At the same time the board recognizes that New Orleans has always been one of the most ideal cities for us to hold our annual meeting because it is centrally located and appeals to both our U.S and international members."

New Orleans plans to complete renovations to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center by spring 2006, and citywide conventions will resume on April 1 of that same year, according to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 2007 annual meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10 to 13.