Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/926592
9,000 guest rooms in the Baton Rouge area to meet any group' needs and budg- et. Among those with ample conference space are the 299-room Baton Rouge Marriott, 300-room Belle of Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel, 294-room Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, 223-room Embassy Suites Hotel, 290-room Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, and 333-room Holiday Inn South. For pre-and post-convention free time, attractions in Baton Rouge Louisiana are full of excitement with things to do for any visitor type including delegates traveling with families, as well as vacationers and couples or groups on weekend get- aways. From swamp tours and theme parks to casinos and wineries, Baton Rouge attractions offer it all. While in the area, check out LSU for sporting events, visit local plantations to see why Baton Rouge is also called "Plantation Country" and discover local heritage by visiting his- torical sites. Attendees should explore the African American Museum, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting art, artifacts and buildings related to the history and culture of African-Americans in the rural communities along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport serves the area with flights daily to most major US cities, via Northwest, Delta, US Airways and Continental Airlines. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Baton Rouge – (800) LA-ROUGE www.visitbatonrouge.com ••NEW ORLEANS•• The New Orleans experience contin- ues to flourish with all the cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that visitors have come to expect. The historic and cultural ambiance that has attracted countless visitors for decades is as rich, charming, and wel- coming as ever. The most celebrated and legendary core of the city – including the Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street, Garden District, Audubon Park and Zoo and St. Charles Avenue – is still thriving. The city is still a great place to meet. The birthplace of jazz, home to some of the greatest restaurants in the world, and an example of service at its best, New Orleans attracts record attendance from associations and corporations. The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is an essential com- ponent of what makes the city's major business events so successful. With 1.1 million sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, 140 meeting rooms, a 4,000- seat auditorium and a 60,000-sq. ft. Great Hall, the facility is routinely voted one of the nation's top facilities by meet- ing planners. Also servicing the Big Easy and offering more than 166,000 sq. ft. of column free main floor space and the ability to seat 76,468, the Mercedes –Benz Super-dome excels in hosting a wide array of events including private of public concerts, special events, general sessions, banquets, convention trade shows and sporting events. There are more than 22,000 hotel rooms in the city that range from quaint bed and breakfasts to elegantly appoint- ed high-rises. The Louis Armstrong International Airport is located just 15 miles from the Central Business District and the French Quarter. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? New Orleans Metro CVB – (800) 672-6124 www.neworleans.com ••SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER•• Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana's Other Side is a unique combination of Cajun and Texan. The destination offers affordable hotels, flexible meeting venues, including the 350,000-sq. ft. Shreveport Conven- tion Center, immersive group experi- ences, and that famous Louisiana cuisine that visitors love. Meeting and event planners especially love that they don't have to sacrifice qual- ity for value when they meet here. Groups that book in Shreveport and Bossier City are rewarded with incompa- rable incentives, exceptional service and after-hours entertainment. Delegates love coming here because the destination boasts year-round festivals, a riverfront shopping venue, fun things to do, plus much more. Other meeting amenities the destina- tion includes, are more than 10,500 hotel rooms as well as three dozen attractions, seven casinos, more than 55 festivals and annual events and 500 local restaurants. The award-winning, Shreveport Regio- nal Airport is serviced by Northwest, American, Continental, Allegiant and Delta airlines providing conference attendees many options of airlines to choose from. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Shreveport/Bossier CTB (800) 551-8682 Shreveport Bossier AA Chamber of Commerce 318-220-9098 B M & T ••• November/December 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 Photo Credit: New Orleans Metro CVB AREA GUIDES New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center