Friday, 20 January, 2012 11:45
by Chris Jay
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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