Shreveport - Bossier, Louisiana's Other Side

Upwards of 300 delegates expected; Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne to present annual keynote

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – The 2012 Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit, an annual conference organized by the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA), will take place, Jan. 24-26, at the Shreveport Convention Center. Over 300 delegates from throughout Louisiana are expected to attend. Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne will speak at the annual “Breakfast with the Lieutenant Governor” session at 8 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 25. Throughout the conference, delegates will network with fellow tourism industry professionals, attend educational break-out sessions, and learn about emerging travel industry trends. The Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit was last held in Shreveport-Bossier in 2005.

During the conference, delegates will also participate in familiarization tours of Shreveport-Bossier, becoming acquainted with our area’s offerings. Four themed tours organized by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau will acquaint delegates with Shreveport-Bossier’s thriving film industry, unique local eateries, haunted places, and popular shopping destinations. Each tour will have 25-50 participants.

“While you can measure its immediate economic impact in dollars, the on-going impact of Summit is immeasurable,” said Kim Brice, vice president of convention marketing for the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “There is no better opportunity for us to showcase our hometown than by hosting the state’s tourism professionals.”

In addition to the Lieutenant Governor’s presentation, highlights of the conference program include an opening reception at Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, a travel industry update from the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and the annual Louisiana Travel Fair Breakfast. 

To follow happenings at the 2012 Louisiana Tourism Industry Summit on Twitter, follow the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau at @sbctb or on Facebook by searching for “Shreveport-Bossier ~ Louisiana’s Other Side.”

NOTE TO MEDIA: For local media seeking to coordinate on-site interviews during the event, please contact Chris Jay at (318) 272-1696 (cell).

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“Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announces largest film contest of its kind at Jan. 26 event

SHREVEPORT, LA – One lucky filmmaker could receive the largest prize of its kind when a new short film contest launches in Shreveport on Jan. 26. “Haynesville” filmmaker Gregory Kallenberg will announce his new contest, the La. Film Prize Contest and Film Festival, at a press conference, 5 p.m., Jan. 26 at Robinson Film Center. The press conference will be followed by a celebration during “The Last Martini,” a film industry networking event, held 6 to 8 p.m. at Robinson Film Center.

The La. Film Prize Contest and Festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to create and present a short film under one condition – it must be shot in Shreveport-Bossier. The winner will receive a grand prize of $50,000.

Filmmakers will have five months, from February 1 to July 9, to produce their film. Each filmmaker will be provided with an ambassador and a team of volunteers, resources and aids to help them with production, housing, promotional events and other needs during their stay. 

The top 20 films will be selected to promote and screen their film during the La. Film Prize Festival weekend, Oct. 12-14. The winner will be chosen based on the votes of a panel of expert judges from all over the country, as well as the vote of the filmmaker’s audience. Finalists are encouraged to heavily promote their project and enlist turnout support from friends, family and the public to heighten their chances of winning.    

Organizers hope the La. Film Prize will further grow and transform Shreveport-Bossier’s creative community, alongside the existing efforts of organizations like Moonbot Studios, Gorilla Design Studio, CoHabitat, Robinson Film Center and artspace.

“Ever since I returned to my hometown, I’ve wanted to find a way to help spur the ongoing evolution of our town into a creative mecca and give our city a national brand as a home to the creative class,” Kallenberg said. “As SXSW transformed Austin, the La. Film Prize will do the same for our region.”
 
Contact Gregory Kallenberg 318-213-6437 or visit www.lafilmprize.com to enter and learn more information about the La. Film Prize Contest and Festival.

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Family-friendly selection of parties and parades welcomes visitors

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, LA – With the 12th Night Celebration held on Saturday, Jan. 7, Shreveport-Bossier officially marked the beginning of Mardi Gras season in the region known as “Louisiana’s Other Side.” Now through Fat Tuesday, which falls on Tuesday, Feb. 21, visitors and locals alike can enjoy a diverse array of parties, parades, and special events. The major parade dates for 2012 are Feb. 11 (Krewe of Centaur) and Feb. 18 (Krewe of Gemini). Both major parades roll at 4 p.m., following a route that includes Clyde Fant Parkway along the Shreveport riverfront, Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, and East King’s Highway. According to a study prepared by the Center for Business and Economic Research at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, an estimated total of 400,000 parade viewers will attend these two parades, making Shreveport-Bossier’s Carnival season one of the largest in Louisiana.

In addition to the major evening parades, Shreveport-Bossier offers a number of unique Mardi Gras events ranging from neighborhood celebrations to smaller, themed parades. The Krewe of Barkus and Meoux, a pet parade featuring hundreds of pets and their owners dressed in Mardi Gras finery, will march through downtown Shreveport’s Riverview Park at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. Known as “the animal krewe,” the Krewe of Barkus and Meoux often includes cats and dogs, as well as rabbits, ponies, chickens, and more.

The Krewe of Highland Parade, which rolls through Shreveport’s historic Highland neighborhood at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, is known for being family-friendly (it occurs during daylight hours) and for its unique throws, which include items as unexpected as grilled hot dogs and SPAM sandwiches. The Krewe of Highland parade begins and ends at Byrd High School, 3201 Line Avenue in Shreveport, traveling a circular route through the Highland neighborhood.

The Krewe of Aesclepius Children’s Parade, a parade geared towards families and children, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21, at Pierre Bossier Mall, 2950 E. Texas Street in Bossier City. Shreveport-Bossier’s Mardi Gras festivities will officially come to a close at midnight on Fat Tuesday with the Krewe of Aesclepius Texas Street Bridge Closing Ceremony, as visitors and krewe royalty meet at the center of the Texas Street Bridge to bless the bridge and bring Mardi Gras 2012 to a close.

For a complete listing of all Mardi Gras events scheduled to take place in Shreveport-Bossier, including information on parade routes, visit www.shreveportbossierfunguide.com and click “Mardi Gras in the Ark-La-Tex.” To keep up with photos, video, and live reports from Mardi Gras in Shreveport-Bossier, follow the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau on Twitter at @sbctb. More information on things to see and do in Shreveport-Bossier can be found on-line at www.shreveport-bossier.org or by calling (888) 45-VISIT.       

NOTE TO MEDIA: High-quality, print-resolution images of Mardi Gras festivities in Shreveport-Bossier may be requested by contacting Chris Jay at cjay@sbctb.org or (318) 429-0658. Multimedia elements such as Youtube videos are also available.

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