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Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 62 BAYOu STATE TOP OF MIND FOR MEETING & INCENTIVE PlANNERS BY SCOTTIE BRICE Louisiana boasts the most colorful history of any state. Their architec- ture is a lasting impression of French and Spanish rule. Today, there are many reminders of the past in their museums, plantations, historic sites and attractions. However, it's the gaming and the great outdoors, culi- nary delights, rhythm and blues that make visiting Louisiana exciting. If you were to make a list of all the unique things Louisiana has to offer visitors, you'd quickly see the long- lasting influences of their French, Spanish and African ancestry. A past preserved today through the architec- ture, music, food and their rich cele- bration of life. SHREVEPORT BOSSIER Shreveport and Bossier City are joined by the Red River in the north- west corner of Louisiana about 20 miles east of Texas and about 35 miles south of Arkansas. Shreveport is the third- largest city in Louisiana and the second- largest tourism destination, second only to New Orleans. The northwest part of the state, in and around Shreveport- Bossier City, is said to be a little differ- ent than the rest of Louisiana. It's a mix- ture of the wide-open Texas spirit and the spicy Cajun attitude where cowboy meets Creole and spicy Louisiana craw- fish meet big Texas t-bone steaks. Louisiana's other side is a term the locals use to describe their location in the state and it's unique combination of Louisiana Cajun culture and East Texas cowboy heritage. In this area, there is a great love for a good festival and they are held from spring to fall, celebrating everything from the arrival of mudbugs to the creation of exquisite art. Louisiana festivals attract hundreds of thousands of people from across the nation and an array of museums show- cases the history of the area. The Shreveport-Bossier City area continues to attract international attention for AREA GUIDES lOuISANA S T A T S HOTEL ROOMS Boomtown Casino & Hotel 188 Clarion Hotel Shreveport 267 Hilton Shreveport Hotel 313 Courtyard Shreveport Hotel 90 Residence Inn Shreveport Bossier City 70 EXHIBITION FACILITIES SHREVEPORT CONVENTION CENTER total exhibit space 350,000 sq. ft. largest hall 318,000 sq. ft. meeting rooms 10 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Shreveport – Bossier CVB (888) 45-VISIT shreveport-bossier.org Shreveport Bossier A-A Chamber of Commerce (318) 220-9098 www.sbaacc.org Hands On Activities at Artspace, Shreveport's first arts center dedicated to the creation, produc- tion, presentation, promotion and exploration of all of the art disciplines and forms for multi-gen- erational audiences. Photo Credit: Shreveport – Bossier CVB