Mayor LaToya Cantrell travels to Qatar for economic forum

Just days after returning from a trip to Montreal, Mayor LaToya Cantrell has flown to Doha, Qatar, to take part in an economic forum, another in a series of international trips that have raised eyebrows for their frequency.

The mayor’s office said Saturday that Cantrell and mayors from Michigan and Florida will meet with U.S. and Qatari officials, including the U.S. Ambassador to Qatar. She will participate in the Qatar Economic Forum, which is sponsored by Bloomberg, discussing economic development and climate change, according to a news release.

No other details about the mayor’s itinerary were released, and it was not clear when she left or when she will return. The mayor’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. 

Cantrell has taken several trips abroad, for climate-related conferences, and this is her eighth international trip since the summer of 2022. The mayor’s travel has often sparked controversy over its frequency and its cost to taxpayers.  

Cantrell just returned from a two-day climate conference Montreal, and in December, she went to Dubai for a United Nations’ climate change conference. This followed a trip to Kenya for a conference on plastics pollution.

On this trip, the city said, Cantrell with meet with Qatar’s minister of environment and climate change to “share expertise and resources on disaster preparedness, urban resilience, sustainable infrastructure development and equitable energy transition.”

The mayor will also discuss the two cities’ experiences hosting major events: the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and Super Bowls — including Super Bowl LIX next year — in New Orleans.

Cantrell’s travel history has not been without turbulence. The state Board of Ethics found in 2023 that the mayor violated rules by using thousands in taxpayer dollars to fly first class to sign sister city agreements overseas, a violation of city policies. She ultimately had to pay back a portion of the tens of thousands she spent in airfare.

Gambit recently reported the mayor was out of town on travel for 36 days between Nov. 11 and March 13, and her frequent travel comes at a time when she’s facing questions for not speaking out on major issues affecting the city.

The news release notes that upon her return — the date is not specified — Cantrell will attend a ribbon cutting for the new police headquarters downtown and give remarks at a State of the Utility event with Sewerage & Water Board leaders.