NASHVILLE (BP) – As the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting (June 13-14 in New Orleans, La.) quickly approaches, the pre-registered messenger count has officially topped 11,000.

Thousands of messengers and even more guests are preparing to descend on New Orleans in in just over a week to conduct business, hear entity reports, visit the exhibit hall and enjoy the unique opportunities provided by the city.

Jonathan Howe, vice president for communications for the SBC Executive Committee, said the pre-registered messenger count is coming along just as projected.

“Pre-registration is tracking as expected,” said Howe. “We anticipate around 12,000 messengers in New Orleans, with a total attendance above 15,000 – making it our second largest gathering since 2010.”

Out of the 11,000 pre-registered messengers, there is representation from Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 48 states. Only Rhode Island and North Dakota are yet to have messengers pre-register.

The 2010 SBC Annual Meeting took place in Orlando and hosted just over 11,000 messengers.

Last year, the SBC Annual Meeting hosted more than 12,000 messengers, guests, and exhibitors, while the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting in Nashville was the largest SBC Annual Meeting since 1995 with more than 15,000 messengers and 20,000 total attendees.

Shuttle buses will be made available for messengers traveling from their hotels to the New Orleans Convention Center (NOCC) each day from Sunday to Wednesday.

Shuttles will take groups of messengers from various hotels in the city to the NOCC throughout the day – early morning until late night.

“We would encourage messengers to give themselves extra time to get to and from the convention center,” Howe said. “While walking is always an option, these shuttles will provide respite from the warmer temperatures we anticipate in New Orleans.”

Full routes, schedules and details for the shuttles are located below and are also available in the SBC Annual Meeting App.

Route 1

Westin New Orleans

• Pick-up on Canal by Saks

DoubleTree

• Pick-up at Tchoupitoulas & Gravier St.

Le Meridien New Orleans

• Pick-up at Tchoupitoulas & Poydras

Renaissance New Orleans Arts Warehouse District

• Pick-up at Tchoupitoulas across street from hotel

Times:

• Sunday noon – 11 p.m.
• Monday 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Wednesday 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Route 2

Blake Hotel New Orleans

• Pick-up at Poydras & St. Charles right by hotel

Kimpton Hotel Fontenot

• Pick-up at Poydras & Tchoupitoulas

Loews New Orleans

• Pick-up at Entrance on Poydras

Times:

• Sunday noon – 11:00 p.m.
• Monday 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Wednesday 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Route 3

Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Downtown French Quarter

• Pick-up at Carondelet entrance

Higgins Hotel New Orleans

• Pick-up at Higgins Blvd entrance

Times:

• Sunday noon – 11 p.m.
• Monday 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Wednesday 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Route 4

Voco St. James

• Pick-up at Poydras & Magazine

Queen & Crescent

• Pick-up at Poydras & Camp

Intercontinental & Residential Inn

• Pick-up at Poydras & St. Charles

Times:

• Sunday noon – 11 p.m.
• Monday 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Wednesday 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Route 5

Sheraton New Orleans

New Orleans Marriott Canal Street

JW Marriot New Orleans

• Pick-up near the intersection of Canal Street and Camp Street

Times:

• Sunday noon – 11 p.m.
• Monday 5:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Tuesday 5:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Wednesday 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

(EDITOR’S NOTE – Timothy Cockes is a Baptist Press staff writer.)