Even though Essence Festival is now over, don't look for a slowdown on the tourism front. New Orleans was named by AAA as the Best Large City for a Weekend Getaway for the third consecutive year.  

Tourism officials say that, once again, establishes the city as a premiere destination for travelers, especially for the tourists who are within driving distance of the Crescent City, and there were plenty of honors to go around.

To break down the latest tourism accolades from AAA, the Crescent City is home to the:

Best Large Hotel - Hotel Monteleone
Best Bed and Breakfast - Grand Victorian Bed & Breakfast
Best Attraction - The National WWII Museum
Best Brunch - Commander's Palace
Best Fine Dining - Galatoire's Restaurant

"It really does resonate with travelers who come here that visiting New Orleans today is better than it's ever been, and there's more options for travelers now than we've ever had in our history," says Kelly Shulz, Vice President with the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and spokeswoman for the local tourism industry.

The Fourth of July holiday and Essence Fest are now memories, but the local hotel industry isn't worried about a slowdown.  
Shulz says there are more big conventions coming this summer, including a huge one, with about 35,000 young people from the midwest, and their mentors, from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America taking over the city next week.

Additionally, several members of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau and its industry partners were recognized for excellence.  

"We are honored to be included in the 2012 AAA Southern Traveler's Best of the South list," said Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. "Being listed in so many top travel publications just emphasizes what we know, that there is no better place to spend your leisure time than in the city of New Orleans."

The list also includes New Orleans as a "runner up" for Best Gaming Destination and Brennan's Restaurant was recognized as a "runner up" for Best Sunday Brunch.

"Members of AAA are not only well-traveled, but they are also influential decision makers in the travel world," said Stephen Perry, President and CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "These rankings are not only important for us from a marketing standpoint, but they also help solidify New Orleans as a top southeastern destination.  We are grateful for this honor and congratulate all our industry partners who topped the lists, as they are the reason New Orleans is and will remain a premiere destination."

AAA Southern Traveler readers were asked to select their southern favorites in 17 categories says Shulz.  From there, three finalists were selected in each category and readers were asked to select the winners through the official poll.

Results will be published in the AAA Southern Traveler July/August 2012 issue.