Group: Miss Universe Organization
Event: 2018 MISS USA® and 2018 MISS TEEN USA®
Date: May 11-21, 2018
The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau assisted the Miss Universe Organization with planning the 2018 MISS USA® and 2018 MISS TEEN USA® pageants.
This year’s pageant marked the 20th anniversary of the competition’s first appearance in the sister cities of Shreveport-Bossier. Pageant contestants and their families arrived in Shreveport-Bossier on May 11 and remained until after the 2018 MISS USA® Competition Finals May 21.
The Tourist Bureau’s assistance included scouting for a venue, coordinating transportation, coordinating hotel room blocks, hosting site visits for event planners, media and promotions, selling community sponsorships, coordinating sponsored meals for contestants during rehearsals, and coordinating volunteers to assist with all events. The Tourist Bureau helped secure more than 100 local volunteers from Shreveport, Bossier City and Barksdale Air Force Base.
Shreveport-Bossier is known to its visitors as the epitome of Southern hospitality. Some of the personal touches coordinated by the Tourist Bureau included a welcome crew and baggage handlers at the Shreveport Regional Airport, welcome tables with goodie bags at the two host hotels, craft services for pageant crew daily at the main venue, and police escorts for the contestants.
On May 13, the Tourist Bureau welcomed contestants and their families at a cowboy-themed barbecue dinner at Silver Star Smokehouse. American Idol season 16 contestant and Bossier City native Garrett Jacobs performed live during the event. Pageant contestants were taught how to line dance and attendees celebrated the contestants with birthdays in the month of May.
The residents of Shreveport-Bossier welcomed MISS USA® and MISS TEEN USA® contestants at the Mardi Gras in May Parade on May 14, which rolled through the heart of downtown Shreveport.
Contestants rode on floats and tossed Mardi Gras beads to parade-goers. Other parade participants included Shreveport’s Mayor Ollie Tyler, Bossier City’s Mayor Lo Walker, the Booker T. Washington High School band, Parkway High School band, as well as several Shreveport-Bossier Mardi Gras Krewes and their royalty.
The Tourist Bureau also hosted a dinner for pageant contestants entitled “The Taste of Shreveport- Bossier” May 15 on the rooftop of the Remington Suite Hotel in downtown Shreveport. Nine local restaurant partners were invited to showcase Shreveport-Bossier’s local cuisine.
The sold out 2018 MISS USA® Competition Finals aired live May 21 on FOX, from George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport-Bossier.
CVB CONTACT INFORMATION
Shreveport-Bossier CTB
318.222.9391; 800.551.8682
