Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau

March-April 2017 Newsletter

AKA Conference Brings Travel Writers Experience 318 Restaurant Week Inside: 4,000 Delegates page 3 Mardi Gras page 3 Returns March 14-18 page 3 Nominations Sought for 2017 P.R.I.D.E. Awards Dates to Remember: Nominate Today! Hospitality Breakfast 3/1 8 a.m. Fairfield Manor Bed & Breakfast 4/5 8 a.m. Hilton Garden Inn Shreveport Do you know an outstanding individual in Shreveport-Bossier’s Hotel and Lodging hospitality and tourism industry? Association Meeting If so, nominate today by visiting 3/9 Noon Stacy Brown, president of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, Venue TBD presents Hollie Fritz of Travelhost of Northwest with the 2016 P.R.I.D.E. www.Shreveport-Bossier.org/Pride 4/13 Noon Master Award, the region's highest honor among tourism professionals. Venue TBD For more HLA info, contact The 2017 P.R.I.D.E. Awards, The evening will feature an Tourist Bureau. “The evening’s final Rob Brown at [email protected] an annual awards presentation awards program honoring the award, the P.R.I.D.E. Master Award, hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier most outstanding individuals in is the region’s highest honor among P.R.I.D.E. Awards 5/11 5:30 p.m. - Reception Convention and Tourist Bureau, Shreveport-Bossier’s hospitality and tourism professionals and last year 6 p.m. - Dinner and awards will be held Thursday, May 11, at tourism industry. Nominations are the industry recognized Hollie Fritz of presentation Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in currently being sought for more than Travelhost of Northwest Louisiana.” Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Bossier City. A reception will open 20 award categories, ranging from There is no charge associated at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner and Outstanding Attraction Professional with nominating an individual for awards presentation following at 6 to Outstanding Culinary Professional. awards consideration. To submit Get Social … p.m. The acronym P.R.I.D.E. stands All hospitality industry professionals nominations, visit www.Shreveport- with Us! for “Proud Residents Involved in from hotels, restaurants and Bossier.org/Pride. Nominations close Developing our Economy.” The attractions can be nominated. at midnight, Sunday, April 9. Tickets /LouisianasOtherSide awards are held each year during the “The P.R.I.D.E. Awards are an will be on sale March 6 – April 26 @sbctb first full week in May, in conjunction excellent opportunity to honor and cost $40. For more information, @seeshreveportbossier with National Travel and Tourism individuals who go above and contact Charlie Rice, executive /sbctb11 Week, which will be observed May beyond in their jobs every day,” assistant at the Tourist Bureau, at Blog: www.20x49.com 7-13, 2017. said Stacy Brown, president of the [email protected]. Events: www.SBFunGuide.com SEE IT. BET IT. TASTE IT. www.Shreveport-Bossier.org www.Shreveport-Bossier.org Your Bureau at Work Follow the Shreveport- Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s Instagram account 3/4 42nd Street @SeeShreveportBossier. Strand Theatre The featured photographer in February was 3/4 Artini Shannon Palmer (@Shannon_Palmer_ 601 Spring Event Center Photography). 3/10 Stevie Nicks The communications Brandy Evans and Danny Schlag represented the CenturyLink Center department and the Tourist Bureau at the 2017 Shreveport-Bossier 3/11 Battle of the Gumbo Gladiators convention and tourism American Advertising Awards Gala, Feb. 11. Shreveport Festival Plaza sales department hosted Danny Schlag, graphic 3/14-18 318 Restaurant Week the Shreveport-Bossier design manager, won two Various Shreveport-Bossier restaurants Mardi Gras Roadshow at Shreveport-Bossier American 3/17 St. Patty’s Day Block Party Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ Advertising Awards – also Red River District Chris Jay in Tyler, Texas, Jan. 27. known as the “ADDYs.” 3/18 Louisiana Redbud Festival The event attracted more than 500 potential The mission of the ADDY Vivian Townsquare leisure travelers and Chris Jay, social media competition is to recognize Danny Schlag 3/19 Drumline Live and public relations manager, did several and reward the creative Shreveport Municipal Auditorium interviews with East Texas media promoting spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. The 2016 Festivals and Annual Events brochure 3/25 ASEANA Spring Festival: Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier. Asian Festival David Bradley, vice was awarded a Bronze Award for Sales and Asian Gardens president of convention Marketing Collateral Material – Brochure, and 3/31 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and tourism sales, the Be a Fan of Shreveport-Bossier promotion Margaritaville Resort Casino attended the Professional was awarded a Bronze Award for Visual Elements 4/1 BLOOM Festival Convention Management of Advertising – Illustration. R.W. Norton Art Gallery Association’s Convening Erica Telsee, tourism 4/1 Cork: A Red River Wine Event Leaders Conference in sales manager, attended the Shreveport Festival Plaza David Bradley Austin, Texas, Jan. 8-11. American Bus Association’s 4/1 Sinbad Bradley also attended Rendezvous South in Annual Meeting and DiamondJacks Casino & Hotel Roanoke, Va., Feb. 27 – March 1. Marketplace in Cleveland, Stacy Brown, president, Ohio, Jan. 14-17, where 4/7-8 44th Annual Street Rod Reunion Boomtown Casino & Hotel and Carlton Golden, she had 17 appointments board chairman, attended Erica Telsee and received three leads. 4/8 Ark-La-Tex Ambassadors BBQ Cook-Off Washington Mardi Gras, Telsee graduated from the Louisiana Tourism Shreveport Festival Plaza in Washington, D.C., Feb. Leadership Academy, Jan. 26. Telsee also hosted 4/14-23 Holiday in Dixie 8-12, where they met and 450 out-of-town participants at the 11th annual Shreveport Festival Plaza networked with state and Red River Mardi Gras Bash in Shreveport, Stacy Brown 4/20 Brantley Gilbert federal officials. Brown Feb. 18. Sponsors of the event were SoBo CenturyLink Center also participated in the Louisiana Brand USA Promotional Products, Lilah’s King Cakes, Tubbs International Immersion, Feb. 9. Hardware & Cajun Gifts, Tyler Convention and 4/22 Chimp Haven Spring Fling Chimp Haven Suzanne Card, Visitors Bureau, Multicultural Center of the South convention sales manager, and Wyndham Garden Shreveport. 4/22-23 Louisiana Comic Con Hirsch Memorial Coliseum and Bradley in conjunction The Shreveport-Bossier Sports with partners from Hilton Commission hosted the Louisiana High School 4/24-30 ArtBreak Shreveport Convention Center Hotel Shreveport, Hilton Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament Garden Event Center and at the CenturyLink Center, Feb. 10-11. The event Submit your events to www.SBFunGuide.com Shreveport Convention included more than 12,000 spectators and over Suzanne Card today to be included in future promotional efforts. Center attended the 80 participating teams of 700 wrestlers. The Religious Conference Management Sports Commission won the bid to host the Association’s Emerge Conference in Chicago, Powerboat Nationals on the Red River between Ill., Feb. 7-9, where they had 10 appointments Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets in Bossier City and www.SBFunGuide.com and numerous tradeshow floor meetings. RiverView Park in Shreveport, Sept. 1-3. 2 www.Shreveport-Bossier.org March-April 2017

Alpha Kappa Alpha Conference Brings 4,000 Delegates to Shreveport-Bossier, March 15-19 Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., the well as Sci-Port Discovery Center, first Greek-lettered sorority Robinson Film Center and more. established by African-American Partners like Downtown college women, will host its Development Authority and 85th annual South Central Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets Regional Conference at the are working with the sorority to Shreveport Convention Center, attract AKAs and their friends March 15-19. The South Central by displaying the sorority colors region is the third-largest region – pink and green – through in the sorority, with members signage, displays and special hailing from Louisiana, Texas, offers. Arkansas and New Mexico. There The Shreveport-Bossier are 4,000 registered attendees Attractions Association will be who will also be bringing family The convention and tourism sales department has been working with hospitality and promoting specials, discounts and friends along for the trip tourism partners to prepare for the "pink and green" takeover that will accompany the and other perks. 318 Restaurant to Shreveport-Bossier. The Alpha Kappa Alpha 85th annual South Central Regional Conference, March 15-19. Week will be promoting the fixed conference is utilizing 22 host While much of the official Shreveport-Bossier are also price lunch and dinner specials hotels throughout the area. business of the conference included in daily outings and from more than 40 local eateries Many of those hotels are already will take place at Shreveport activities. There are events for as well as 12 unique, one-night- sold out for the duration of the Convention Center, attractions spouses and children that involve only dining experiences, March conference. and restaurants throughout outings to local golf courses as 14-18.

Travel Writers Experience 318 Restaurant Week Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Gras Returns March 14-18 This Mardi Gras season, the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau hosted four travel writers to generate awareness and interest in Shreveport-Bossier’s carnival season, particularly in regional drive markets. The four The group of travel writers journalists represent The Austin experienced Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Chronicle, Houston Woman Magazine, Gras firsthand as they rode on a float Empty-nestopia.com and The Atlanta in the Krewe of Highland Parade XXII. 318 Restaurant Week will return now. Diners who participate in 318 Journal Constitution. experience the season because we to Shreveport-Bossier, March 14-18, Restaurant Week are asked to share The four day tour, Feb. 24-27, know once they visit, they will come featuring fixed price lunch for $10 their experiences on social media included a ride on the Loving This back often for the fun and rivalry,” and dinner specials for $20 from using the hashtag #Eat318. Life float in the Krewe of Highland said Brandy Evans, vice president of more than 40 local eateries as well To view the list of the more than Parade XXII, attendance at the Krewe communications at the Tourist Bureau. as 12 unique, one-night-only dining 40 participating restaurants, visit of Gemini Parade XXVIII, tour of In addition to the media familiarity experiences. www.318RestaurantWeek.com. Artspace’s Creole Wild West Mardi tour, the communications department Visitors and residents alike can Like 318 Restaurant Week on Gras Indians exhibit, tastes of king sent out various news releases about all meet chefs and dine with fellow Facebook to receive daily updates cake at Lilah’s King Cakes, shopping at of the Mardi Gras parades and Red River “foodies” at multi-course food and from participating restaurants, Enchanted Garden, plus much more. Mardi Gras Bash; produced the 2017 drink events ranging from casual information on giveaways and “Shreveport-Bossier has one of the Mardi Gras Gris Gris Guide to Shreveport- patio parties to elaborate fine more. 318 Restaurant Week is preeminent Mardi Gras celebrations Bossier, Louisiana; and marketed events dining experiences. Space is limited sponsored by the Shreveport- in Louisiana and we want the media on social media, traditional print ads, at each of the one-night-only Bossier Convention and Tourist and our regional visitors to come and radio and online advertising. dinners and tickets are available Bureau, and Waitr. 3 Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau March-April 2017

Newsletter Industry Briefs: Board of Directors:

Each year, Louisiana Life the new Riverview Restaurant and Carlton Golden, Rob Brown, Shelli Murphy, magazine’s editors compile a list Brewhouse, March 3. Chairman Shreveport-Bossier Hotel Harrah’s Bossier Parish & Lodging Association* Louisiana Downs* of Louisianians who stand out Lieutenant Governor Billy Police Jury* above the crowd in industries Nungesser and the Louisiana Office Sandy Cimino, Africa Price, like community service and of Tourism announced the official Tanita Baker, Bossier Chamber Shreveport Mayor’s culinary to education and medical launch of the #OnlyLouisiana Vice Chairwoman of Commerce* Office* professions. Chef Hardette Harris Ambassador Program. Also Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber of Debbie Coleman, Gary Theus, in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana was known as “the Bayou Krewe,” Commerce* Shreveport-Bossier Hotel Shreveport-Bossier Hotel named one of the eight recipients this initiative seeks to showcase & Lodging Association* & Lodging Association* of the 2017 Louisianians of the Year Louisiana to the world through Jason McKinney, in the January/February issue. crowdsourced social media and Treasurer Mary Dunn, Patricia Wooldridge, During its 69th Annual Gala held asks members to use the official Louisiana Restaurant Shreveport-Bossier Caddo Rural Tuesday, Jan. 31, at the CenturyLink Louisiana hashtag, #OnlyLouisiana, Association* Attractions Association* Municipalities* Center, the Bossier Chamber of in a concerted effort to share Ray Tromba, Pam Gloriso, Commerce named Margaritaville compelling images of unique, Secretary Bossier Office of Resort Casino’s Senior Vice President Louisiana places and experiences. Bossier City Mayor’s Office* Community Services* and General Manager Barry Regula To sign-up to become a member Business Person of the Year for and receive a free sticker, visit Richard Bremmer, Kellie Morris, Greater Shreveport Caddo Parish

2016. Margaritaville is also opening www.louisianatravel.com/social-hub. Chamber of Commerce* Commission* *Appointing Organization

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Bureau Tourist & Convention

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Shreveport-Bossier