"Lagniappe" is a Cajun-French word meaning "a little something extra." And it's an appropriate description for Louisiana, a state that fills the senses with its flavors and traditions. From New Orleans in the South to Shreveport in the North, there's definitely more than a lagniappe of opportunity for great events in Louisiana's major cities.
New Orleans
This grand old city – despite its slow rebuilding from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina – still makes meeting attendees throb with excitement at its many positive offerings, from music to history to its outstanding cuisine. The French Quarter – which escaped the floods – is back with a vengeance, and numerous other symbols of the city are re-emerging as well.
For example, one of the most enduring symbols, the streetcar, recently returned to its Garden District route along St. Charles Avenue, providing an unforgettable ride through the city's west side out to the Audubon Zoo. Another encouraging sign: The New Orleans CVB has announced that the Professional Convention Management Association is bringing 3,000 meeting industry leaders to New Orleans in January 2009 for its annual convention.
It's easy to plan a great convention here. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center underwent a major restoration and is back, bigger and better than ever. In addition, there are many other meeting venues from large to small to fit your needs, including high-tech corporate facilities or historic sites that experts from the New Orleans CVB will happily help you locate.
[ return to top ]
Baton Rouge
For great service and cultural flare, you can also book your gathering in Baton Rouge. This historic city has a high profile among meeting planners. The Baton Rouge Convention and Visitors Bureau recently received the 2007 Gold Service Award from Meetings & Conventions magazine, on the heels of recognition as a Top Destination from Facilities & Destinations magazine. "It's a big honor to be recognized with back-to-back awards for our continuing efforts to provide great customer service and to promote Baton Rouge as an ideal destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel," says Paul Arrigo, BRACVB President and CEO.
Of course, the city's location offers much in and of itself. Baton Rouge boasts Louisiana's State Capitol, offering a hotbed of politics and history for educators to study. The education-minded will also appreciate a visit to the campus of Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge, is also a river city, situated along the Mississippi. Plan some time in your group's itinerary for a riverboat cruise or floating casino trip. Military organizations will surely want to take a tour of the USS Kidd, a restored WWII destroyer and Veterans Memorial Museum. Naturalists can view wildlife up close at the Alligator Bayou and Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. A sub-tropical climate nurtures lush botanical gardens, some of which can be a lovely setting for an outdoor event.
For your meeting menus, plan on typical Louisiana cuisine – seafood, po-boys, muffalettas and jambalaya are sure to please for your luncheon or buffet. Accommodations are also diverse. A large concentration of plantation homes are open for tours, and some serve as bed and breakfasts for smaller groups. Luxury hotels dot the riverside, as well as many budget-minded choices.
[ return to top ]
Lafayette
Billed as "the sports lover's city," Lafayette is home to the Cajundome, offering 22 luxury suites from which to enjoy a variety of sports and entertainment events, from small groups to gatherings of 100 people. The facility also links to the Layafette Convention Center, making it a versatile event location.
But there's more to Lafayette than just incredible facilities. Here you'll find a feast for the senses based in Cajun traditions. The music blends German, Spanish, Scottish, Irish, Anglo-American, Afro-Caribbean and American Indian influences with French flair. The result is up-beat and vibrant – a description that's apt for the local cuisine as well. Specialty dishes frequently feature ingredients such as okra, sweet potatoes, crawfish, rice and cayenne pepper, giving your event a real kick.
There are also plenty of opportunities to get out of the city and into Southern Louisiana. Popular draws include eco-tourism in the area's swamplands, gardens and riverways, as well as agricultural/food manufacturing insights – from craw-fishing tours to a behind-the-scenes look at the making of hot sauce.
[ return to top ]
Shreveport
Shreveport is a bustling center of commerce, ideal for a variety of group meetings. Located along the Red River in the northwest corner of Louisiana, Shreveport sits right next to Bossier City, together making it Louisiana's third largest metropolitan area. Here's you'll find a concentration of hospitality and fun with five riverboat casinos ready to entertain your guests. There's also a "Louisiana Boardwalk" sprinkled with a variety of restaurants, bars and retail outlets for a colorful night on the town.
When you're ready to get down to business, an array of options abound. Harrah's Louisiana Downs, home one of the country's largest thoroughbred racetracks, attracts smaller meeting groups with two dining rooms and four hospitality suites, a favorite for fraternal organizations. Educators will enjoy a visit to the Sci-Port Discovery Center, where groups can dine, view an IMAX show and take in the world's only open-access space planetarium. The Strand Theatre is available for receptions in its grand foyer, or book an outdoor event at the Gardens of the American Rose Center, which showcases more than 30,000 roses in its 40 gardens. Shreveport's largest employer is Barksdale Air Force Base, home of the B-52 Stratofortress operations and bomber crew training, making the location of special interest to military event planners.
So as you look ahead to another year of event planning, don't let the "little something extra" that Louisiana offers slip by your radar. There's definitely an option for your group, no matter its size or needs.
[ return to top ]
Louisiana Site Specs and Hotels
- The Baton Rouge River Center, located on the Mississippi riverfront, offers more than 200,000 square feet of new and renovated space, including a 70,000-square-foot exhibition hall that links to a 30,000-square-foot arena. The complex also provides a theater, concession/kitchen facilities and meeting rooms. Nearby, you can book rooms at the historic Heidelberg Hotel, which recently underwent a $70 million renovation along with the old Capitol house to create the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. The combined facility offers accommodations, restaurant, spa and 20,000 square feet of meeting space. It's within walking distance from the Baton Rouge River Center and the Shaw Center for the Arts.
- The Shreveport Convention Center provides over 350,000 square feet of multi-purpose meeting space. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to accommodate any event, from major conventions and trade shows to intimate gatherings. The metropolitan area offers more than 8,500 hotel rooms at a range of price points to meet every budget need.
- The Lafayette Convention Center offers nearly 100,000 square feet on two levels, including over 37,300 square feet of exhibition area; nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet facilities; and a 5,000 square foot mall for concerts, RV/boat shows, etc. Choose from approximately 4,000 hotel rooms in the Lafayette area, as well as more than 20 bed and breakfasts and an assortment of campgrounds.
- New Orleans' Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is America's largest contiguous space exhibit hall. It offers 1.1 million square feet of exhibit space in 12 separate/combinable halls, 140 individual meeting rooms and two luxurious ballrooms. In addition, it now also features a new 4,000 seat Conference Auditorium. For accommodations, there are more than 29,000 hotel rooms in New Orleans, ranging from quaint bed and breakfasts to elegantly appointed high-rises. Over 90 of the city's 140 hotels are located downtown.
[ return to top ]
