His wife reported him missing after he failed to meet his daughter for a flight home later that morning. Schantz's hotel key card had not been used since Thursday afternoon, and his bank and phone accounts were untouched, Defillo said.
"It's completely out of line with how this individual conducts his day-to-day business," Defillo said. "Typically when someone comes to New Orleans to have a good time, they'll be gone for a couple of hours. When he has engagements and did not attend, that's a concern."
He said Schantz's colleagues were coming to New Orleans with plans to distribute fliers asking for information about his whereabouts across the French Quarter. His colleagues also have doubled the Crimestoppers reward for information to $5,000.
Schantz is described as white, about 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, with a medium build, blue eyes and short, straight, dirty-blonde hair. He was last seen wearing a navy blazer, a white shirt and a tie.
It was not clear whether the video police were trying to get was from private or city-owned cameras.
Schantz has been president of Sequent since 2003, overseeing natural gas asset management, supply and distribution, trading and producer services. He also is a member of the executive advisory board of the Entergy-Tulane Energy Institute based at Tulane University.
