Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

The Villaggio, Bossier City’s new upscale community, is located at 5200 E. Texas Street, at the intersection of Interstate 20 and Highway 80 in north Bossier City. It offers 239 luxury apartment residences and the scenic six-acre Lake Villaggio, as well as shops and soon-to-open restaurants for people to enjoy. The focal point of the development is a 45-foot clock tower located in the promenade area overlooking the lake.

Villaggio incorporates the rich traditions of Italian living in its architecture, streetscapes, sidewalk cafes, residences and shopping.

Recent announcements by The Villagio are sure to enhance the experience for shoppers and diners looking for a little variety. Check out what’s coming and be sure to visit Villaggio’s website often for new openings and updates at www.villaggiobossier.com.

Esther’s Heavenly Sweet Things: Sweet treats available just in time for Easter, brought to you by Mrs. Esther! Esther’s Heavenly Sweet Things is now open at the Villaggio. Mrs. Esther offers cakes, pies, cookies, pralines and more for you to enjoy.

Archie Hebert’s Sports Bar and Grill: Scheduled to open in mid-June, this sports bar and grill will offer a menu of burgers, steaks, seafood, signature drinks and seasonal Louisiana dishes. With a spectacular view of the six-acre lake, outdoor patio seating and 11 high-definition televisions, Archie Hebert’s Sports Bar and Grill will be the place to go this summer.

The Lakehouse: The Lakehouse, Villaggio’s state-of-the-art conference center, is now under construction and expected to be open in mid-June. The facility will hold 500 attendees for major events and seat 250 for weddings, business meetings, family reunions, church services, or parties. The Lakehouse boasts a grand view of Lake Villaggio and the Villaggio Clock Tower. For booking info, contact Chez Rivage Events at 318.747.5558.

Current shops and stores offer everything from medical spa services to handmade French soaps. There are more than 20 stores currently opened in The Villagio. Be sure to visit some of the already open shops such as Boutique di Bambini, Soumas Heritage  Creole Gift Shop, Pretty Medical Spa and others.

The Villaggio is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday and closed on Sunday. For more information call 318.746.6107 or check out The Villaggio online at www.shopvillaggio.com.

The Shreveport Farmers’ Market will soon have something new to boast about. Southern Living magazine is including the local market in its new book, Farmer’s Market Cookbook. The book, focused on farmers’ markets from around the country, went on sale March 16.

The summer market will be held on Saturdays, 7 a.m. to noon, starting June 5 through September 4 and Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. in June and July only. The fall market will open after the Red River Revel Arts Festival leaves and will stay open until Thanksgiving.

Noma Fowler-Sandlin has been the manager of the Shreveport Farmers’ Market for three years and has been a vendor for five years. She says that the local market is made up of a diverse group of individuals that keep the past alive through handed-down methods and recipes, yet keep up with the future by new marketing strategies.
 
“It’s a great market and one that is really growing every year. Our farmers and vendors really know what they’re doing, and the shoppers recognize that. It’s no surprise that such a creative and knowledgeable group would be featured,” says Sandlin.

She doesn’t give the vendors all the credit for making the Shreveport Farmers’ Market so unique, though.

“It’s not just the vendors that make it special – it’s our committed shoppers, too, who have their favorites and come back every time the market is open. There are more of them each year. They are learning a new way to shop and staying connected with their food and who produces it.”

So what can shoppers expect from the 2010 Shreveport Farmers’ Market? According to Sandlin, a lot!

“Every year we are seeing more interesting foods. Last year, we got cheese for the first time. We will have hot, fresh beignets and café au lait this year, and maybe even a juice bar.”

The market offers produce, wine, beef and ready-to-eat foods that you can eat at the market or take home with your purchases. “It’s not just the greens, but the hot sauce for the greens. It’s a gourmet field day,” boasts Sandlin.

On Tuesdays shoppers are treated to home-grown music to go with the food. “It’s truly a family-oriented experience that draws people together and blurs that producer/shopper line.”

You can purchase the Farmer’s Market Cookbook at most book stores nationwide for $29.95. Sign up on Facebook to learn more about the Shreveport Farmers’ Market, Click here for the facebook page.

Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival 2009

Oil City, La. – Revel in the captivating Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival on the banks of Caddo Lake in Oil City’s Earl Williamson on Saturday, Dec. 5.

The festival will kickoff at 3:30 p.m., followed by the fireworks display at 6:30 p.m.

The annual festival will feature the best in local entertainment, in addition to delicious food, comical clowns, creative arts and crafts, and much more. Children will be amazed by the clowns, games, lights, and of course Santa Claus. He will make his way to the festival, bearing a gift for each child the event. Children may also have their picture taken with Jolly Old St. Nicholas.

"This event gives the people of north Caddo Parish something to enjoy with their families and friends," said Festival Organizer Mary Dunn. "The event is free to all and the fireworks and decorations will be wonderful."

Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival, Inc. was formed 15 years ago as a partnership between the Vivian Chamber of Commerce and the Oil City Rotary Club.

The organizations invited all 10 towns in northwest Caddo Parish to join together to plan the free event with fireworks, food, entertainment, Santa Claus and activities for children with a goal of serving the people of North Caddo and the surrounding area.

Those towns are Belcher, Blanchard, Gilliam, Hosston, Mira, Ida, Mooringsport, Oil City, Rodessa and Vivian.

The event now brings in more than 12,000 people from throughout the Ark-La-Tex, some of which camp at the park in RVs.

Each year the event has been held the first Saturday in December at Earl Williamson Park in Oil City. The Caddo Parish Commission, who is in charge of the park, helps to set up holiday decorations, lighting, electricity, a stage and other details and services.

Directions: Take I-20 to I-220, exit Highway 1 and 71 North. Take Highway 1 North toward Oil City. The event is in Earl Williamson Park on Caddo Lake at Oil City, LA. Locals can head north up Highway 1 to Oil City.

For more information, please call (318) 631-0182 or email mdunn76635@aol.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Tarah Holland, Public Relations/Social Media Manager

Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourist Bureau

(318) 429-0653 or tholland@sbctb.org

October 20, 2009

Trail Offers 40 Nights of Holiday Lights

Annual Holiday Trail of Lights offers the season’s best

free or affordable events for those seeking memorable experiences

There’s nothing like being home for the holidays. So why not experience the best that the season has to offer by creating fun, festive memories at free or affordable, family-friendly holiday events right in your own backyard.

For years, the annual Holiday Trail of Lights has been a one-of-a-kind, regional partnership between two states – Louisiana and Texas – and six cities – Shreveport, Bossier City, Natchitoches, Marshall, Jefferson and Kilgore to promote holiday festivities along I-20 and I-49.

Shreveport-Bossier’s annual Lighting Ceremony will kickoff the season’s 40 nights of wondrous nights of lights on Nov. 20. Other nightly, self-guided tours of lights and other events will follow through Jan. 1, 2010.

The partnership held a kickoff event Tuesday, Oct. 20 at the Klima Center at the Gardens of the American Rose Center in Shreveport.

"Given the financial strains on families in our current economy, we understand that it can be difficult to plan holiday leisure travel," said Iris Harper, president of the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. "But affordability is what makes the Holiday Trail of Lights so unique. For a spectacular 40 nights of holiday lights, this year’s trail offers so many free or affordable options within driving distance for families in a 100-mile radius of the six cities."

This year’s trail will feature an abundance of free holiday events for families, couples and individuals alike including the Lighting Ceremony at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City on Nov. 20; Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival north of Shreveport on Dec. 5; the Wonderland of Lights Festival in Marshall on Nov. 25; the Turn on the Holidays Festival in the Natchitoches Historic District on Nov. 21; a walk through the Enchanted Forest amid a sparkling wonderland of beautifully decorated Christmas trees in Jefferson, Nov. 27-Dec.31; and a slide down the Mt. Kilgore Snow Hill in Kilgore, Dec. 11-12.

Holiday Trail of Lights is the only marketing coalition of its kind that is not limited by state boundaries. In addition, the trail is an example of economic growth that is bred from successful regional partnerships. Similar initiatives have been lauded as models for building economic development, while expanding limited resources.

Not only does the trail offer visitors an abundance of things to see and do, it also offers a boost to the economies of each city through holiday tourism dollars spent at retail shops, restaurants and hotels.

"We encourage visitors to take a day drive or plan a weekend stay along the Holiday Trail of Lights to create lasting holiday at spirited events, while holiday shopping, browsing the arts or any of the other activities in each of the six cities," said Mike Coston, president of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

Shreveport, Bossier City and Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Jefferson, Kilgore and Marshall, Texas each have classic and also new and exciting events along this year’s trail. For a complete list of holiday events, please visit www.holidaytrailoflights.com, and while there, sign up to receive our e-newsletter and monthly updates.

Oil City (north of Shreveport) – The Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival will be 3:30 p.m.-9 p.m., Dec. 5, at Earl Williamson Park, 11425 LA Hwy 1 in Oil City. The annual event features family-oriented fireworks display with booths, concessions, entertainment, Santa, thousands of lights and a multitude of light sculptures. Fireworks will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Bossier City – The annual Lighting Ceremony will take place at 6 p.m., Nov. 20, at the Louisiana Boardwalk. This year's event will feature a 40-foot Christmas tree, 5,000 twinkling lights, performances by musical guest John Frazier and local dance groups, a snow blizzard and Santa's first area appearance.

Natchitoches – Downtown Natchitoches will kick off the holiday season during "Turn on the Holidays" on Nov. 21. The event is full of free family entertainment and the highlight is the official turning on of thousands of Christmas lights that illuminate the Natchitoches Historic District. Events begin at 11 a.m. with a holiday concert featuring the Northwestern State University "Spirit of Northwestern" Marching Band. That evening, Josh Hyde and the Hitchhikers will perform blues, jazz and zydeco hits from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Marshall – The city’s Wonderland of Lights, Nov. 25, rivals any lighting scene in the country, with more than 10 million lights throughout the community. The Historical Harrison County Courthouse, located in the center of the Downtown Square, is the festival’s jewel with more than 125,000 tiny white lights.

Jefferson – Take a spectacular walk through the city’s Enchanted Forest, Nov. 27-Dec. 31, to see the sparkling wonderland of beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The trail starts at 6 p.m. at Lions Park, 600 East Jefferson St.

Kilgore – A snow hill in Texas? Travel to Kilgore to take a slide down the Mt. Kilgore Snow Hill, Dec. 11-12. While you're there, enjoy activities for the whole family including cut your own family Christmas tree and holiday shopping in downtown Kilgore. Don't miss the "City of Stars" spectacular display of stars atop over 70 oil derricks throughout the town, starting Nov.19.

Media Contact

Brandy Evans

Vice President of Communications

318-218-6126 or bevans@sbctb.org

September 25, 2009

Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side outperforms state, national tourism trends

Shreveport-Bossier, La. – Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side tourism industry is strong with Louisiana’s highest hotel occupancy rates, despite a drop in travel figures for many destinations nationwide.

The July Smith Travel Research report shows the Shreveport MSA leading all other Louisiana cities in hotel occupancy for the month of July with 73.5 percent. Baton Rouge’s is 64.1, Lafayette – 49.6, and New Orleans – 64.6. Year-to-date hotel occupancy in the Shreveport MSA has dipped 1.2 percent from 68.9 to 68.1.

According to the Smith data, the U.S. hotel occupancy rate in July was 64.1 percent, down from 69.2 percent in July 2008. Year to date, the U.S. hotel occupancy rate was 56 percent, down from 62.5 percent from last July.

On the upside, Shreveport-Bossier’s upbeat tourism market can be attributed to several factors including a new brand, strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, successful regional partnerships, strong marketing efforts and positive national and regional media attention, according to Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau President Stacy Brown.

"Though we are doing extremely well in light of a sluggish economy, we do recognize that we have some challenges, in particular in the gaming sector," Brown said. "That is why we are forming a coop with all of our local casinos to reposition ourselves in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and East Texas market."

Hotel revenue has nearly doubled from 1998 to 2008. Along with the growth in revenue has been a steady increase in hotel inventory. In 1998, there were about 5,000 hotel rooms. Today, there are about 9,500 rooms. In 2009, year-to-date supply has increased by 6.3 percent and demand has increased by 5 percent. New projects on the horizon will push the number of hotel rooms past the 10,000 mark.

In a June article in the Savannah Morning News, Randall cited Shreveport-Bossier’s increase in tourism over last year as a bright spot in the south’s tourism outlook. The sister cities offer varied attractions, such as casinos, a steady film industry, sports and conventions. Repeat customers also are a factor, according to the article.

In a recent Visitor Intercept Survey conducted for the tourist bureau by Randall Travel Marketing, repeat visitation to Shreveport-Bossier saw a growth of 13 percent over last year’s figures. In total, 87 percent of visitors are coming more than once a year.

"We find Shreveport to be an affordable destination," said Texas residents Carol and Calvin McCall. "We visit once or twice a year, for one or two nights each time."

Shreveport-Bossier’s convenient location in between Dallas, Texas and Jackson, Miss. also offers the couple a midway point to meet family for birthdays and other outings.

"We also enjoy the Bass Pro and Boardwalk shopping," the McCalls said. "We have visited the shops every time we visit and find the Farmers Almanac Store and Bass Pro to be especially enjoyable."

In 2008, the tourist bureau spent more than $1.6 million on direct sales and marketing efforts to generate overnight visitation. Over and above that, the tourist bureau allocated another $329,000 for partners such as the Shreveport Convention Center, CenturyTel Center, Shreveport Regional Sports Authority, Shreveport-Bossier Film Office and funds assistance for many other local organizations.

Moreover, it also has a cooperative advertising budget in 2009 of $146,211 to help local attractions and events keep visitors walking through their doors. Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, Robinson Film Center, Artspace, Barnwell, Shreveport Little Theatre and many more have benefited from the coop dollars and programs such as the spring/summer digital billboard campaign.

The tourist bureau has facilitated advertising in Louisiana newspapers for a recent IMAX program, helped the museum secure billboard advertising for programs in the early summer and, in addition, regularly splits the cost of Sci-Port’s property brochure, according to Rebecca Proscino, Sci-Port’s Director of Marketing and Strategic Projects.

"But the biggest help was this year when they awarded us a marketing start-up grant for our inaugural Mad Scientist Cycle for Sci-Port – a bike ride benefit to support the center that showcases rural Louisiana," Proscino said. "As a result of that extra help with marketing dollars, so far, we have over 100 riders in the first year of an event. The tourist bureau is helping us, help ourselves by giving this event a solid foundation."

Another partner that has benefited is Christmas on Caddo Fireworks Festival held in Oil City annually. Mary Dunn, organizer, said the tourist bureau’s efforts help her to reach so many more people than the committee could by itself.

"Partnering with the tourist bureau has made a tremendous difference in the attendance at our event. The tourist bureau has an excellent brochure program. As a non-profit, we would not have the funds to do this alone."

The national media is turning its attention to Shreveport-Bossier and all the wonderful things happening in the area.

In 2009, Shreveport-Bossier has been featured in USA Today Weekend, the Miami Herald, the Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, Convention South Magazine, Group Tour Magazine and others.

A recent article in the Dallas Morning News (Shreveport-Bossier City has more than gambling to offer – Sept. 11, 2009) characterized the area as "Gambling, of course, is the big draw, with five riverboat casinos and a horse-racing track. But when you need a break from the slots, tables and ponies, there's plenty beyond the neon."

SHOW US YOUR SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER! 

Showcase your talents on screen or behind the camera in the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau’s "Show Us Your Shreveport-Bossier" video promotion.    

The tourist bureau announced the kickoff of the promotion, today, May 18, at a news conference in the Kilpatrick Café at the Robinson Film Center.

"Our newest promotion is aimed at raising awareness of the Louisiana’s Other Side brand and also generating community pride in Shreveport-Bossier," said President Stacy Brown. "The entire community is encouraged to take part in this innovative way to star in their own movie and showcase the things they love most about Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana’s Other Side."

The tourist bureau is now accepting promotion entries. All video entries must be uploaded to YouTube.com and, upon approval based on specified terms, the tourist bureau will embed those videos on the promotion website at www.Shreveport-Bossier.org. Video entries may be submitted through June 30.

Once all the videos have been uploaded and the video entry submission date ends, the public will decide who has the best video. Voting will run through July 17.

After all votes have been counted, the tourist bureau, along with its partner the Robinson Film Center, will host a red carpet premiere event to showcase the best videos in the film center’s Willis Knighton Theater at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 23. The top finalists will be recognized and some lucky person will receive a check for $2,500. This event will be FREE and open to the public.   

So that no one is at a disadvantage, the Robinson Film Center will host a free workshop – How to Make Your Video Better – at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, June 7. The course will offer participants an opportunity to get their questions answered, review recording techniques, hear tips on posting videos to YouTube and much more.    

"This contest is a great example of how film can help build and strengthen communities, and we’re proud to be a part of it," said Chris Jay, director of marketing and programming at the film center. "One of our goals at The Robinson Film Center is to empower members of our community to tell their own stories through the medium of film, so this is a natural partnership."