Thursday, 30 September, 2010 6:45
by pat
Shreveport-Bossier, La. - Just about anyone can toss together some ingredients and bake a cake, but it takes real talent and the best ingredients to create something people will talk about long after they’ve eaten it.
The same is true of planning a successful small meeting. The ingredients include great speakers, efficient scheduling and a venue delegates can enjoy during meeting sessions as well as in the breaks. Put it together in the right way, and the experience will have participants excited before the meeting even starts, and talking about it for weeks afterward.
Shreveport-Bossier has recently added a couple of new additions to the small meetings mix that will help planners create a memorable event.
The Louisiana Boardwalk now boasts a brand new Courtyard by Marriott property right on the grounds of Louisiana’s largest lifestyle and shopping destination. With 119 rooms and nine suites, and a 920-square-foot meeting room, it’s the perfect spot for meetings of up to 60 people. The state-of-the-art lobby provides free Wi-Fi, access to the latest news, weather and airport conditions, and comfortable and flexible work spaces that are just right for meeting with three or four people at one time.
Courtyard by Marriott also offers a complimentary fitness center, an outdoor pool, and a 24-hour business center. The location is also popular with delegates. It’s just steps away from more than 60 outlet shops, a variety of dining choices, nightlife and a movie theater. Hotel guests enjoy parking separate from the Louisiana Boardwalk.
The property is located at 100 Boardwalk Boulevard in Bossier City, La. For more information call 318-742-8300.
Another exciting addition to the meetings mix is the Villaggio Lakehouse on the grounds of the Main Street Shops at Villaggio. It is scheduled to open on Sept. 25, 2010.
Set amidst a village of Tuscany-styled buildings, gardens and courtyards, the Lakehouse looks as if it belongs in a lakeside village in Italy with its pedestrian storefronts on the ground level and its balconies and windows on the story above.
The Lakehouse is perfect for a variety of events but it’s much more than a typical meetings and banquet facility. With its own Porte Cochere entrance, the space can stay open even when other Villaggio operations are closed.
In the upstairs meeting rooms guest are treated to views of a private garden. With 3,000 square feet, the room will accommodate 25 tables with ten seats per table for a total fo 250 guests.
At the very top guests are rewarded with a 3,000-square-foot, church-like space that frames remarkable views stretching out over the development and the lake. This room will accommodate 200 seats in a church/assembly setup. A covered deck provides an additional 1,893 square feet of space.
The Lakehouse is a special collaboration shaped by the vision of the Villaggio development team, fashioned by the insight of custom caliber architects and articulated by craftsmen and artisans who welcome the highest expression of the arts.
The Villaggio is located at 5200 E. Texas in Bossier City, La. For information and booking contact Nealy Digilormo, Chez Rivage Events, at Nealy@villaggiobossier.com or 318-510-2218.
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