2026 Per Diem Calculator for Louisiana

Planning a business trip to Louisiana

Business-travel costs in Louisiana are not uniform across the state. Match the destination’s rate with the rules in your corporate travel policy so the booking, allowance, and approval process stay aligned.

Where business travelers stay in Louisiana

For a trip involving New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette, travelers building an itinerary around a venue or arrival point can compare hotels near the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and hotels near New Orleans airport with the per-diem rate for that market. Location, transfer time, and an early departure can matter as much as the nightly price.

Conferences, meetings, and company offsites

When an agenda combines client meetings, a conference, or an offsite in Louisiana, choose the rate for the actual overnight location rather than a nearby market. Confirm the venue, airport, and hotel plan before the trip so attendees are working from the same assumptions.

Using per diem and documenting expenses

Per diem is an allowance framework, not a substitute for an employer’s rules. Treat each qualifying business expense according to your policy, retain supporting documentation when required, and submit an expense report with the business purpose and trip details your organization requests.

Top Industries:

• Energy: Major hub for oil and natural gas production, including refining and petrochemicals.
• Agriculture: Significant producer of sugarcane, rice, and seafood.
• Tourism: Attractions include New Orleans, Mardi Gras, and historic sites.
• Manufacturing: Includes chemical production, machinery, and aerospace components.
• Healthcare: Major medical centers and research institutions, including Tulane University Medical Center.
• Finance: Presence of major banks and financial services firms, especially in New Orleans.
• Education: Home to universities like Louisiana State University and Tulane University.
• Technology: Growing sector with a focus on software and digital media.
• Retail: Includes both local and national retailers.
• Shipping and Logistics: Significant activity due to the Port of New Orleans.

Some of the Biggest Companies:

• ExxonMobil (Baton Rouge): Major oil and gas company based in Houston, TX, with refining and chemical operations in Baton Rouge.
• Entergy Corporation (New Orleans): Provides electricity to a large region, including Louisiana.
• Cajun Industries (Baton Rouge): Provides construction and engineering services.
• Ochsner Health System (New Orleans): Operates a large network of hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Tulane University (New Orleans): Major research university and healthcare provider.