CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for travel agencies in New Orleans, LA
Travel agencies in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area: 22 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 2-person team.
- Establishments
- 22CBP 2023
- Employees
- 45mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.3U.S. 2.7
- Rank
- 54th of 267areas by count
Travel agencies in New Orleans, LA by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 22 establishments classified as Travel Agencies (NAICS 561510) in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area. Together they reported 45 mid-March employees and $2,892,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 54th of the 267 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 966,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 2.3 travel agencies per 100,000 people, 16.8% below the national rate of 2.7. Establishments average 2.0 employees, 77.0% below the U.S. average of 8.9. Payroll per employee comes to $64,267, 34.3% below the national $97,789.
| Measure | New Orleans, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 22 | 68 | 9,308 |
| Mid-March employees | 45 (moderate noise) | 162 | 82,899 |
| Annual payroll | $2,892,000 (moderate noise) | $10,392,000 | $8,106,618,000 (moderate noise) |
| Employees per establishment | 2.0 | 2.4 | 8.9 |
| Payroll per employee | $64,267 | $64,148 | $97,789 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big travel agencies in New Orleans, LA are
Of the travel agencies in New Orleans, LA that had employees in March 2023, 100.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 79.3%). For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 21 | 100.0% | 79.3% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 11.1% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 4.7% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 2.7% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.2% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a travel agency in New Orleans, LA has to catch
Travel agents plan trips by phone and help travelers when plans go wrong. Reachability during disruptions builds loyalty. That holds for travel agencies in New Orleans, LA as much as anywhere.
Calls a travel agency in New Orleans, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A supplier calls about a booking.
- A traveler calls about a cancelled flight.
- A couple calls to plan a honeymoon.
After-hours calls
Travel disruptions after hours can be urgent.
With business-hours routing, calls after closing can go to transcribed voicemail or an optional AI receptionist instead of ringing an empty room.
What a phone system costs a travel agency in New Orleans, LA
The average travel agency in New Orleans, LA has 2.0 employees, so a 2-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 2 users would run $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata is $99.00 a month with 5 users included, which is more than either per-seat plan for 2 people; it becomes the lower price at 4 users or more.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $38.00 | $456.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $46.00 | $552.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $49.90 | $598.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $60.00 | $720.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in New Orleans, LA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 504 has the most, with 533 of 544 exchanges (98%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your travelers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 504 | 533 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 225 | 8 | Central | 1998 | none |
| 985 | 3 | Central | 2001 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
What travel agencies in New Orleans, LA get with Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in New Orleans, LA, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many travel agencies are there in New Orleans, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 22 travel agencies in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 45 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 2-person travel agency?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 2 users cost $60.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $49.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $99.00.
What area code should a travel agency in New Orleans, LA use?
Area code 504 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 225 and 985. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a travel agency?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.