BRACVB Invests in Baton Rouge
The Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors recently approved the 2010 budget which calls for a $600,000 investment in conventions and special event coming to the Baton Rouge area. Paul Arrigo, CVB President and CEO, said this substantial investment from the CVB reserves will bring thousands of visitors through the city in 2010.
Of the investment $300,000 is allocated to the Bayou Country SuperFest stadium concert festival which projects over 100,000 attendees. The US Regional Soccer tournament will kick into Baton Rouge with 12,000 attendees bringing a $7.5 million economic impact to Baton Rouge.
Bayou Country SuperFest Takes Over Baton Rouge Memorial Day 2010
Baton Rouge, Louisiana will host the first annual Bayou Country SuperFest Memorial Day Weekend in Death Valley also known as Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium. The best in country music will descend upon Baton Rouge for a one of a kind two-day stadium concert festival. Headliners include Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, and Keith Urban.
Film: Baton Rouge Holds onto Title as “Hollywood South”
The Baton Rouge Film Commission, a partner with the Baton Rouge CVB, saw tremendous growth in the Baton Rouge film market in 2009 with 26 productions shoot in the Baton Rouge area. Baton Rouge played home to the Sony and Columbia Pictures Blockbuster “Battle: Los Angeles” and the HBO Hit Series “TRUE BLOOD.” Baton Rouge continues to maintain its status as a preferred film location for large and independent productions.
Conventions
Baton Rouge will welcome many large and niche conventions to the city in 2010. The following organizations will host their conventions in Baton Rouge this year:
National Black Law Students Association
Louisiana Society of Association Executives
Association of Caribbean Women Writers and Scholars Conference – international conference
American Camellia Society Conference
Southern Comparative Literature Association Conference
State of the Coast Symposium
Mid-West Travel Writers Association
Southeast Museum Conference
Southern Public Relations Federation
The General Grand Masonic Congress A.F. & A.M.,U.S.A. – 98th General Grand Masonic Congress
African Methodist Episcopal Church – Eighth Episcopal District
Baton Rouge Area Hotel Update
Baton Rouge saw a 10-percent increase in hotel room space according to BRACVB Executive Vice-President Renee Areng in 2009. Several new hotels opened their doors to leisure, convention and business travelers in the Baton Rouge area including Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites (located just outside the gates of LSU), Microtel Airport, Springhill, Cambia Suites and Drury Inn. The current city hotel room availability stands close to 10,000 rooms.
Baton Rouge is also looking forward to the opening of the King Hotel by Hotel Indigo in 2011. This boutique hotel will provide 90 additional rooms in the downtown Baton Rouge area near the Baton Rouge River Center.
Baton Rouge is Group Friendly
Group tours in Baton Rouge are anything but ordinary! With many new and renovated restaurants, attractions and shopping venues, there are plenty of unique options for groups! The Visit Baton Rouge Tourism Development staff works directly with domestic and international Travel Professionals to build customized itineraries and provide exceptional services that ensure groups find Baton Rouge memorable and enjoyable. In 2010, the tourism staff will meet with hundreds of travel professionals at five trade shows across the country to identify their needs and promote Baton Rouge.
BRACVB Continues Standard of Excellence with 2009 Awards and Recognitions
The Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau closed out a successful year and maintained its status as a preferred destination for conventions and visitors in 2009.
The Baton Rouge Area Convention & Visitors Bureau was among seventeen destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to have achieved accreditation from the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP) in April 2009. Developed by Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the industry-wide accreditation program is designed to recognize organizations that meet or exceed industry standards. DMAP distinguishes official destination marketing organizations committed to industry excellence.
The Louisiana Travel and Promotion Association recognized the Baton Rouge CVB as the 2008 Large CVB of the Year at its annual LTPA Travel Summit.
Paul Arrigo, CVB President & CEO, received the Marketer of the Year award from the Society of Meeting Executives
A dedication to quality service is the key to maintaining customers and is also the key to winning Meetings & Conventions’ Gold Service Award. The Baton Rouge CVB received this prestigious award that recognizes CVBs that have excelled in professionalism and dedication in their service to meeting professionals.