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Member Spotlight – Andrea Thornton

March 16, 2026 | Spotlight

 

Member Spotlight:
Andrea Thornton
Manager, Lanaux House & Tourism Consultant

Andrea Thornton has done what she refers to as “the full Monte”.  After many years as Tour and Travel Director at the Hotel Monteleone, she left to open her own Receptive Tour Operation and Travel Agency called Tours by Andrea.

Tours by Andrea successfully operated for 10 years,growing from 2 to 23 employees and grossing $6 million annually.  She then sold her Receptive Wholesale operation to Hotard Coaches and returned to the hotel industry as Director of Travel Industry Sales at the Sheraton New Orleans, followed by a 2-year stint as Director of Marketing at the Casino Riverboat Queen of New Orleans and renamed Flamingo Casino.

In 2000, she returned to the Hotel Monteleone as Director of Sales and Marketing overseeing revenue management, reservations, catering, hotel sales and marketing. She retired in 2013.

Andrea became a member of Mid-South Women In Travel in the very early years before it transitioned into Mid South Women in Tourism.  She was on the initial Board of Tales of the Cocktail, past Board member of New Orleans CVB, the Board of French Quarter Business Association, Board member of Historic Hotels of America and served as Chairman of Historic Hotels of America Sales and Marketing Committee. She was President of Hospitality Education Networking Association (HENA), President of SKAL New Orleans in 2003, President of MPI (Meeting Planners Int’l.)

She was honored in 2003 as one of the “Women of the Year” in Citibusiness, won the Silver Plume Award for Best Director of Marketing by Where Magazine, and was honored by the New Orleans CVB with the “Hats Off” Award. Currently, she sits on the Board of the River Road Historical Society.

Even though Andrea considers herself  “retired”,  she manages the Lanaux Mansion Bed and Breakfast and consults in sales and marketing for Gray Line /New Orleans Steamboat Company. She has also consulted for other B&Bs, St. Joseph and Felicity Plantations, and a few tour companies.

She remains an active member of MSWIT and is so proud that the organization is celebrating its 50th year!