In a state where even funerals are often transformed into relatively festive occasions, and with an intoxicating culture so rich it seeps under the closed doors of every boardroom, having a good time in Louisiana is not a matter of "if"—it’s "how much."
With such a mysterious and alluring reputation, it’s no struggle to coax attendees out to this enigmatic state, and it’s even easier to keep them happy when they get there. New Orleans, of course, is famous for its wild Mardi Gras festival, outstanding cuisine, omnipresent jazz scene and endless cultural events. But there’s even more fun to be had in this city once you scratch the surface. And the rest of the state—from antebellum Baton Rouge to Cajun Country to the Texas-influenced north—is just as intoxicating.
As a whole, Americans might consider Californians a little quirky, New Yorkers a tad brusque. But, more than in all the other 49 states, the fascinating people of Louisiana can make this place feel like another country. Claimed by both Spain and France before America bought it up, the state today embraces its uncanny blend of Creole and Cajun heritage, residual French influence and considerable contribution from West African and Haitian immigrants. The result is an unending and inimitable treat for all the senses—the food, the music, the sights, the easygoing laughter. No matter what kind of meeting you bring, or where in the state you bring it, Louisiana will leave its mark.
New Orleans
If you are looking to show your group a good time in New Orleans, it’s only natural to start with Mardi Gras. While the Carnival celebrations leading up to Ash Wednesday take place all over the world, perhaps the most famous are those in Brazil and New Orleans.
Of course, simply releasing a group into this citywide party would be easy enough, but there are also plenty of ways to combine the once-in-a-lifetime thrill with group bonding. Experts in group events, Mardi Gras World brings you up close to the mega floats as they are being constructed. After being thoroughly inspired by the masters, the group then builds their own mini floats, which are judged in a friendly team-building competition.
While Mardi Gras might be more than enough partying for the average city, it doesn’t come close to quenching New Orleans’ thirst; the city seems to have a major festival every week. Some of the best are the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Southern Decadence, the French Quarter Festival and the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. Considering their popularity, it’s best to work with the CVB for ideas in integrating your group with the festivities.
One major festival taking place 365 days per year, three times a day, is New Orleans’ fascinating dining scene. Long known for its unique Southern flavors, the city has made considerable contributions to top-caliber modern dining in the last dozen years. Even Hurricane Katrina couldn’t wash this away; the city’s chefs and restaurateurs were one of the first groups to return.
"When thinking about fun in New Orleans, the first thing that comes to mind is our restaurants," says Nikki Nicholson, vice president of convention sales for the New Orleans CVB. "It’s because we have so many different types all within close proximity. In the French Quarter, for example, you can find everything from a cheap bowl of gumbo to a four-course dinner. For groups, doing a dine-around is a must. I recommend using the bureau or a DMC to plan a dine-around."
Nicholson has also noticed that the current trend in vampires and the more mysterious sides of Southern Culture (several major movies, multiple novels and a few TV series) have begun bleeding into the event industry as well.
"People do seem to like events like that; vampires are such a big deal," she says. "That and voodoo are good themes, and this is a natural place to have that kind of themed event."
If vampires are not your thing, another spooky theme that works well for group fun is the hauntingly popular New Orleans Ghost Tour.
Music, of course, is another big draw, and your group is bound to get a healthy dose of it even if they don’t have time to seek it out. When Heidi Hagstrom, CMP, director of the ELCA Youth Gathering, brought 12,000 youths to New Orleans for five days in July, the focus was on bettering the community, not just having fun. But, when a second line band participated in a daily parade around the convention center, the kids could not help getting riled up.
"Our young people loved them, learned about the tradition of second lines, and danced freely with the musicians each afternoon," Hagstrom says. "It was fabulous to watch."
New Orleans’ two neighboring parishes, St. Tammany and Jefferson, each offer their own set of fascinating diversions for those looking to explore beyond the city center. As one of the most affluent parishes in the state, St. Tammany makes a great choice for a leisurely dinner party, cocktail event or wine tasting. For unique off-sites, there is also a winery, a brewery and numerous live-performance venues.
In Jefferson Parish, an exciting draw for groups is a swamp tour. Jefferson also has the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium, one of the country’s top-ranked zoos.
Baton Rouge
With a name that draws the envy of uninspired cities throughout the U.S., Baton Rouge has no problem meeting its expectations. As the state capital, the city excels at providing groups with a plethora of unique historic meeting venues, chief among them the Old Governor’s Mansion and the Old State Capitol. Host a reception or banquet here and your event will be infused with the charm of these stately buildings. Throughout the city, however, beautiful architecture abounds, particularly the surviving beauties from the antebellum era. In fact, Baton Rouge boasts the largest concentration of plantation homes in the South, and several tour companies excel at group programs.
"There is also a great tour company for groups, Beyond the Big House: The Other Story, which explains the influence of African-Americans during this era," explains Paul Arrigo, CEO of the Baton Rouge Area CVB.
For those with a taste for living exhibitions, the msytical lure of the famous Louisiana swamplands beckons just beyond the edge of civilization.
"We are within a quick drive of numerous swamp tours—a great way to see alligators and the unique flora and fauna of the swamp," Arrigo says.
With so much allure, it’s no wonder Baton Rouge has also been graced with the affection of Hollywood, particularly in recent years. Thanks in part to the considerable rise in vampire productions (including the Baton Rouge-based HBO series True Blood), the city saw 26 productions in 2009 alone.
Aside from those feasting on blood, Baton Rouge is well known for its cuisine, offering a unique blend of Cajun, Creole and traditional Southern cuisine.
"It makes for a certain taste—a blend of all three—spicy, but nothing overwhelming," Arrigo says.
Shreveport/Bossier City
With the second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the state and regular festivals like Mud-Bug Madness and Red River Revel, how could you not have a good time in Shreveport-Bossier City?
The region is located in the northwest corner of the state, ideally situated between Red River and Cross Lake. Because of its locale, the influence of neighboring Texas and Arkansas bleed heavily into the culture, making it the center of an area dubbed Ark-La-Tex.
"We have a little of both worlds," explains Kim Brice, vice president of convention marketing at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. "We have the fabulous influence of food and fun from New Orleans, but we also have that Texas drawl, as well as their food. Not only can you get those great Southern dishes, but also the steaks and barbecue. We have the best of both worlds."
Brice says that most groups plan their meetings around the destination’s many festivals, making it a focal point for after-hours recreation. Mud-Bug Madness, for example, is a festival in honor of the crawfish, and locals cook it up and eat it up in every way imaginable, though typically with famous Cajun/Creole flair. While food is the focal point, numerous live-music acts, art vendors and entertainment make it a full-fledged affair.
Shreveport additionally boasts an impressive music history, and music buffs should consider a group visit to the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, annexed by a museum that features the area’s considerable contributions to American music. Even Elvis Presley owes his success to Shreveport, as the city’s Louisiana Hayride show opened him up to the masses at an early age.
Lafayette
Considered the epicenter of Cajun culture, it’s no wonder Lafayette draws plenty of curious visitors. And with Cajun cuisine at the top of the cultural list, this city boasts one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the country.
If you are planning a meeting for June or August, the eight-week Eat Lafayette event is an ideal way to incorporate a group visit with some serious chow time. Restaurants feature enticing discounts and are well equipped to host everything from banquets to dine-arounds. If you are looking for more of a hands-on experience, several of these restaurants also offer cooking classes in Cajun and Creole cuisine. For foodies, the sheer amount of culinary appreciation in Lafayette is enough to take up several days’ worth of group adventuring. Just leave the diets back home.
When they’ve filled themselves to the point of immobility, a genuine zydeco performance is a natural digestif. While Lafayette has long been the home of zydeco, it’s only recently that several hometown bands have brought this recognition to the national stage, and the best zydeco bands in the world can be heard almost any night of the week in their home town.
Lastly, Louisiana wouldn’t be what it is without its swamps, and Lafayette has some of the best. Several tour companies handle group excursions, while McGee’s Landing offers the added advantage of floating guest cabins, banquet and meeting space, and an assortment of other guided services, from fishing to airboat tours.
Lake Charles
With much of Louisiana dead-set on revelry in the way of cuisine, festivals and music, it’s good to know there are parts of the state that engage just as wholeheartedly in outdoor recreation. Lake Charles, in Southwest Louisiana, is blessed geographically, squeezed between three separate bodies of water. The city is also known for its casinos, ideal venues if combining meeting space, good food and the thrill of live gaming sounds like a match for your group.
Despite these "alternative" attractions, festivals, in true Louisiana fashion, are a highlight of the destination. Lake Charles is actually nicknamed the "Festival Capital of Louisiana," ringing in a whopping 75 a year. At this rate, it’s almost statistically impossible to fit in a meeting here without hitting at least one party.
Contraband Days, a 12-day annual festival in May, draws more than 200,000 people. There’s no piracy or actual contraband anymore, but all the succulent Cajun food and live music will make it feel like a steal when you add it to your meeting budget.
Monroe/West Monroe
With the major annual event DeltaFest, it may sound like Monroe is located on the banks of the Louisiana Delta. However, tucked up in the Northeast corner of the state, the festival gets its name for being the birthplace of the world’s largest airline. The four-day event of live music, food and fun takes place every April, and groups can take part in such team competitions as the Crawfish Scramble.
Monroe is also the birthplace of another international biggie: It is the first bottling site of Coca-Cola. A new museum shows off this interesting heritage, and combing a tour with a group event at the 1914 Biedenharn Home and its gardens, or the adjacent Bible Museum, can make for a fascinating day of events and American history.
For slightly more fast-paced group fun, Monroe is a town that loves its racing, offering both a speedway and dragway. If you don’t know the difference, just ask your group if they prefer really fast cars or frighteningly fast cars. Either way, you’ll have their hearts racing.
Lastly, Monroe is surrounded by a whopping seven wildlife refuges and preserves, which can make for such group outings as wildlife excursions, horseback riding or guided fishing trips.
Alexandria/Pineville
Sitting in the exact geographic center of the state, the towns of Alexandria and Pineville are split by the Red River, which gave the area a considerable amount of historical importance. Today, the river is still a focus for recreation and fun, and a number of excellent museums provide a window into the past, particularly in terms of African-American contributions and the Civil War. Several of them are ideal for group events, with regular speakers, workshops and other cultural events.
Outfitters like Kayak Adventures and Campbell’s Canoe Rentals provide groups with a great way to experience the river, while the 4B Dude Ranch takes groups on horseback adventures and has guest rooms and event space ideal for groups.
As far as festivals go, the towns naturally join in the Mardi Gras festivities, but also host several of their own, such as Uncle Sam Jam and Jazz on the Red.
—Hunter Holcombe is a freelance writer who covers leisure travel and the meetings, conventions and incentives industry.
