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B M & T ••• March/April 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 15 BATON ROUGE, LA U ncover the secrets of one of America's fastest growing cities and immerse yourself into the many landscapes that define Louisiana's capital city. From the legendary Southern cuisine that tantalizes taste buds to the renowned action of The LSU Fighting Tigers and SU Jaguars to the blossoming film and television industry, Baton Rouge's past is intriguing and its hospitality and charm is contagious. With plenty of opportunities to explore the history, culture, music, and food, Baton Rouge offers meeting planners the perfect mix of work and play. Choose from a variety of traditional and upscale hotels and an array of unique venues for offsite meetings and events. Centrally located in the downtown area, the Raising Cane River Center (formerly known as the Baton Rouge River Center), is within walking dis- tance of various attractions, cultural sites, hotels, restaurants and bars. With surroundings rich in Louisiana culture and entertainment, the River Center provides its patrons a unique environment for memorable experiences. The entire complex, including the existing Arena and Theatre for the Performing Arts, as well as the new Exhibition Hall, includes more than 200,000 sq. ft. of new and renovated space. The center also incorporates state-of-the-art exhibition, meeting rooms, and concession and kitchen facilities. The 70,000 square-foot Exhibition Hall can be combined with the existing Arena to create more than 100,000 sq. ft.t of contiguous exhibit space in addition to a total of 17 breakout meeting rooms. The historic setting at Magnolia Mound Plantation is a great backdrop for all special events and meetings. Magnolia Mound has two venues for your special events – the Hart House and the LaGrange. The recently renovated Hart House allows for a smaller, more intimate setting for your special event. Holding up to 50 guests, the historic Hart House will add to the elegance and beauty of your gathering. LaGrange, a French Creole barn, is an outdoor venue that can hold up to 250 guests. The LSU Museum of Art, located in the new Shaw Center for the Arts, is an exceptional venue for your next meeting or function. With 14 different galleries, soaring 16-ft. ceilings and stunningly beautiful lighting, your guests will be surrounded by both imaginative and historical works of art. Upon entering the lobby, visitors will be greeted with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River. The 13,000-sq. ft. gallery can accommodate up to 400 people. Also available is the Bert and Sue Turner Gallery, a 2,000-sq. ft. space also overlooking the Mississippi. The gallery can accommodate about 200 people, reception style. Conference attendees will experience southern hospitality at its finest with the many options they will have to choose from when it comes to hotel accom- modations in Baton Rouge. The Crowne Plaza-Baton Rouge is a 294-room, full-service hotel with over 30,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space offering planners a perfect choice to house its attendees. Located downtown, the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center hotel is adjacent to the Shaw Center and the Raising Cane River Center, less than five minutes to the Louisiana State Capitol and three miles from Louisiana State University. The hotel is equipped with 290 rooms and 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Conference attendees and leisure travelers alike will find Baton Rouge is the perfect place to experience great music, attractions, adventures and activities. From the distinct tastes of the local cuisine to the soulful sounds of blues, gospel, Cajun & Zydeco, Baton Rouge celebrates life to the fullest. Spend a night on the town at one of the many live music clubs for rhythm & blues or Cajun two-step as part of the experience at restaurant/dance halls like Boutin's. For more information contact Visit Baton Rouge at (800) LA ROUGE or www.visitbatonrouge.com Baton Rouge River Center COLUMBIA, SC W hether you're traveling to the Columbia region for business or leisure there is plenty to choose from to fulfill your needs, for this city is known to accommodate a diverse array of groups. Whether you're looking to discover the perfect hotel for your next trip or you're building your itin- erary with exciting things to do, you'll be happy that you decided to explore Columbia, SC. Make sure your next event is the most successful ever by meeting in Columbia. Here in the heart of South Carolina, visitors experience the excitement of a thriving metropolis with a proud past rich in history and tradition. With over 537,449 square feet of meeting space available in the region (including a 142,500 sq. ft. Convention Center), there are several conventional & unconventional facilities to choose from for your next event. Centrally located in South Carolina's historic state capital, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center is in the middle of an exciting urban scene that includes open-air cafes, deluxe accommodations, live music, exciting sports venues and concert tours. With the temperate seasons, Columbia offers your guests a perfect year-round business and social climate with a wide variety of world-class cultural and natural attractions.