For FestiGals, It Is All About the Heart This Month

For the month of February, FestiGals is making it even more enticing to leave the men behind for the weekend, with a special promotion that goes straight to the heart.

FestiGals, an annual four day festival (June 11 – 14), hosts women from all over the country in a series of events; empowering seminars, inspirational speakers, luncheons, their signature “Bodacious Bras for a Cause” fundraiser, and New Orleans cooking classes, shopping and second-lining experiences. 

Now in their fifth year, FestiGals is mixing it up a little.

Hotel Monteleone has been the home base for FestiGals for the past four years, but having expanded from 150 attendees in 2011 to over 1,500 in 2014 – FestiGals has moved to J.W. Marriott with the goal to keep all the activities and events on site in one location.

“We loved our relationship with the Monteleone and they were a great partner, but we have just outgrown them,” says Sandra Dartus, partnership liaison for FestiGals.

“For four years we have mainly been focused on the French Quarter and of course the ladies love to experience the French Quarter, but this move is promoting other offerings in the city,” Dartus says.

With attendance increasing every year, FestiGals already boasts a 40 percent return rate, women coming back often bring their mothers, daughters, or girlfriends along for the weekend-long celebration of women.

“In the past we have had people come in from 15 different states,” says Dartus. “Sure we want to bring people in because it is about economic impact but it is also about helping the people in our greater New Orleans region and Gulf Coast rediscover New Orleans, be empowered and feel good about the city that they live.”

Women can either come for the entire weekend or pick and choose different events to attend. Such as the professional development day, which features a variety of seminars on branding you.

“We created a professional day for working women or women who wanted to improve their brand,” says Dartus. “It will have several different tracks for the professional or the mom who wants to have other skills or to keep up with what is going on in the work place.”

To be part of this inspirational experience, book during February for added perks; FestiGals is donating 14.7 percent of every Ultimate Weekend Package sold to the American Heart Association “Go Red for Women” campaign – the Ultimate Package is $395, exclusive of accommodation and transport to New Orleans. 

Alternatively, women can save $55 off of the Ultimate Weekend Package until February 20 – choosing this option will not contribute to the AHA.

For more information or to register visit http://www.festigals.org/archives/4391 or call 1-855-GAL-WKND (452-9563).