LA Travel Promotion Association

LTPA Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon

2009-06-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

Friday, June 26th, 9:30 - 11:00am
Educational Seminar"Sell with Confidence", Speaker - Paul Vitale

Friday, June 26th 11:30am - 2:00pm LTPA Annual Membership Meeting, Luncheon & Installation of 2009-2010 Officers and
Board of Directors
11:45am - "Community Support & Partnerships" Speaker - Paul Vitale Guest
1:00pm - Installation of 2009-2010 Officers
and Board of Directors

$40 per person includes Educational SeminarPlease RSVP to ctullier@ltpa.org or
REGISTER HERE

PARC England Boutique Hotel, 1321 Chappie James Ave, Alexandria 71303Book your room online (www.parcenglandlhotel.com)

SWLA/Lake Charles CVB update

2008-09-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

From SWLA/Lake Charles CVB:

We are continuing to assess damages our local hospitality partners sustained during Hurricane Ike. The Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau building located at 1205 North Lakeshore Dr. in Lake Charles received minor water damage from Hurricane Ike. We currently have a crew cleaning up the building and hope to reopen it to the public by the end of this week. We will continue to keep this blog updated as we gain more information on the status of the building.

In the meantime, we are working remotely from a hotel property in Sulphur. We can all be reached via e-mail and this blog site. Our Web site, http://www.visitlakecharles.org/, is also being updated as we receive information.

For Administration:
Shanna Landry, Director of Administration
slandry@visitlakecharles.org

For Sales:
Tico Soto, Director of Sales
tsoto@visitlakecharles.org

For Communications:
Katie Harrington, Public Relations Manager
kharrington@visitlakecharles.org

For Tourist Information:
Melissa Serrano, Tourist Information Manager
mserrano@visitlakecharles.org

Monroe availabilities

2008-09-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

There is a handful of availabilities at: Days Inn, Motel 6 West Monroe, Hilton Garden Inn, La Quinta, Atrium Hotel, one at Rose Lee Inn B&B (has 28 stairs), and possibly a few more.

Hurricane Ike update

2008-09-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

The LTPA office will close at 3 p.m. this afternoon (9.12.08) and will resume normal business hours Monday, September 15th.

Please see below for more updates around the state:

Visit Baton Rouge offices will close at 1:00 pm on Friday September 12, 2008 and are scheduled to reopen normal business hours on September 15th.Home games for LSU and Southern University will be played at their normally scheduled times on September 13th.Currently, there are no hotel rooms available in the Baton Rouge area. For current information, log on to http://www.visitbatonrouge.com/.
No hotel availability along I-12 and I-55 corridors in Tangipahoa Parish/Hammond area at this time. Some cabin availability at Yogi Bear Jellystone Park, Hwy. 445, Robert, LA --- call 985.542.1507. Utility crews occupying hotels/campgrounds until Hurricane Ike passes. Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau will post a lodging availability update Monday, September 15, 2008. For more information, please call Tangipahoa Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800.542.7520.
There is availability in Sabine. For more detailed information please visit www.toledobendlakecountry.com

Hurricane Ike update

2008-09-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Vermilion Parish Tourist Commission (Abbeville, Delcambre, Erath, Gueydan, Kaplan, Maurice) will close at noon on Friday, September 12 and will remain closed until all advisories have been lifted and it is safe to reopen.For up-to-date information on hotel room availability and other tourist related news, please visit www.MostCajun.com
Some rooms have opened up in Natchitoches for Friday and Saturday. Meat Pie Festival was canceled for this weekend and will be rescheduled. The NSU vs Grambling game has been rescheduled for Sunday at 2pm. Please call the CVB at 800-259-1714 for local hotel numbers. Do not call the national toll free numbers for availability.
Limited hotel availability in the following areas:
Monroe
New Orleans
West Feliciana (B & B's have power)
Vinton Welcome Center is closed until further notice
U.S. 61 St. Francisville Welcome Center has re-opened

Shreveport hotel availability

2008-09-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

There are currently no vacancies in Shreveport until the early part of next week. To stay updated on room availabilities in the Shreveport area please visit.
http://blogs.louisianasotherside.com/Tarah/

Southwest Louisiana hotel availability and closures

2008-09-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

For the latest updates and hotel availability in the Southwest/Lake Charles region please visit http://www.swlacvb.blogspot.com/

From the Southwest Louisiana Wildlife Refuge Complex:Southwest Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex Closing September 11, 2008, effective6: 00AM due to Hurricane Ike. Sabine, Lacassine, Cameron Prairie and Shell Keys National Wildlife Refuges will be closed to all public access and recreational uses as of 6:00 am September 11, 2008. For the safety of the public and the refuge employees, all the refuge entrance gates will be closed at 6:00 am. This action corresponds with a Cameron Parish decision to implement a mandatory evacuation for all of Cameron Parish. The refuge will re-open when the Parish lifts the mandatory evacuation and it is determined safe to re-enter the Refuge marshes after the storm passes and damages, if any, are assessed.

Oak Alley resumes normal business hours

2008-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Although debris is on the ground, Oak Alley is making significant progress with their clean up. The alley of trees, mansion and other buildings are all in tact. Electricity has been restored. With the forecast taking Ike in the opposite direction, they have resumed normal business hours and are welcoming guests.

Preparing for Hurricane Ike

2008-09-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

In preparation for any effects from Hurricane Ike, mandatory evacuations have been ordered in Cameron Parish as well as for low-lying residents and those in mobile homes or with special needs in Calcasieu Parish. Other mandatory evacuations include Erath, Delcambre and parts of Vermilion below La. 14. Grand Isle and Lafourche Parish south of the Theriot floodgates are also under mandatory evacuation.

Voluntary evacuations are in place in low-lying areas of Allen, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes.

Jeff Davis Parish officials are recommending people in low-lying areas, mobile homes and areas that could be damaged by tropical storm force winds to find safe shelter. This includes special medical needs persons.

SWLA/Lake Charles CVB will be closed Friday and is scheduled to reopen Monday.

Closures due to Gustav

2008-09-11T10:33:00.000-07:00

Due to damage from Hurricane Gustav the following businesses will be closed temporarily:

Mulate's Breaux Bridge - closed four to six weeks for repairs

McGee's Landing

US 61 St. Francisville Welcome Center

Kentwood I-55 Welcome Center

Atchafalaya Welcome Center

River Road African American Museum - anticipate getting power restored September 17; please call ahead to ensure they are open before visiting. Please note their email address has changed to kathe@africanamericanmuseum.org. All other contact information remains the same.

LED launches call center for Louisiana's hurricane-impacted businesses

2008-09-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

LED has established two tools for Louisiana's hurricane-affected businesses to acquire information about available business recovery assistance.

The LED Business Recovery Call Center was created to provide recovery-related resources and contacts for businesses requiring assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. The call center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1.877.610.3LED (3533). Information on business recovery needs will be collected from callers, and LED will send alerts on new programs and resources as they become available.

LED's web site has been updated with relevant business assistance links (FEMA, SBA). The information on the site, which also can be accessed at LouisianaForward.com/BizHelp, will be updated with new resources as they become available. Interested businesses can also sign up for email alerts about assistance available in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav.

Message points from Louisiana Office of Tourism

2008-09-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Suggested Message Points

People of LA once again proved their resiliency and courage

Grateful that preparation paid off (evacuation, levees, communication)

Historic evacuation – first time all of south Louisiana evacuated
No panic, orderly evacuation of residents and tourists alike

Very little flooding in New Orleans, unlike Katrina
Thanks to the thousands who are working tirelessly to restore service quickly
and efficiently

Most Louisiana cities are open for business

For latest information, http://www.louisianatravel.com/ or call 1-800-44-GUMBO or 1-866-288-2484

Every state has its challenges when it comes to weather events
Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, blizzards
Important thing is we are alert, we are prepared
It takes more than a force of nature to change the quality of life, for residents and
visitors alike, that is unique to Louisiana

Evacuee lodging assistance info for hotels

2008-09-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

As we experienced in 2005/2006 with Katrina, FEMA has again created a Lodging Assistance Program for individual evacuees.

THIS TIME IT IS DIFFERENT !!

Unlike last time, where all evacuees were covered simply with their FEMA number, evacuees must be APPROVED for lodging assistance.

Before you can be assured of receiving payment for your rooms, you must secure authorization that your evacuee has been approved.

Step one is for you to register your property with Corporate Lodging Consultants in the Lodging Assistance Program. You can do this by going to www.corplodging.com/ELA or calling 866.545.9865.

Once registered you must also be sure that anyone seeking FEMA lodging assistance has FEMA approval for lodging and a lodging assistance authorization number.

YOU WILL ONLY BE PAID FOR THOSE WITH FEMA AUTHORIZATION NUMBERS.

Should you have any questions feel free to call Natasha Carr with the Greater New Orleans Hotel and Lodging Association at 504.525.9326.

Food Relief Efforts Following Gustav

2008-09-09T08:42:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA), is assisting Gov. Jindal's office with food relief in Lafourche, Terrebonne, Ascension/southern Livingston and Pointe Coupee Parishes - the hardest hit areas.

If you have a commissary in the southern part of Louisiana or a mobile kitchen, and are interested in contracting with the state, please register online as a potential vendor to expedite the process.

http://www.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/vendorcenter/docs/vendorregistration.pdf

If you have the means to assist in food relief, please call Camille Conaway in Gov. Jindal's office at 225.342.7015.

Many LRA members are already assisting in the recovery. The LRA is compiling a list of all members helping the community as a result of Hurricane Gustav and would like to recognize you for your work. Please email or call Wendy Waren at wendyw@LRA.org or 504. 454.2277.

Out-of-state B & B's

2008-08-29T14:21:00.001-07:00

Here are some additional B&B’s outside of Louisiana with availability

Mountain View, Arkansas - Pam & JR Rivera, Innkeepers, Wildflower B&B-On the Square, Mountain View, Arkansas 800-591-4879 or 870-269-4383 - We would be willing to help accommodate folks if there is a need and we have the ability.

Ahern’s Belle of the Bends, Vicksburg, MS 2 rooms for tonight only (Friday 8/29) 601-634-0737.

Ardmore, OK Shiloh Morning Inn, 2179 Ponderosa Road, Ardmore, OK 73401, 888-554-7674, FAX 580-223-9615, http://www.ShilohMorningInn.com, We would be happy to accommodate any innkeepers or guests who are evacuated from the hurricanes. We are two hours north of Dallas. Because of our occupancy license, we can only accommodate two people per unit so please put us down for adult couples. .

Georgia Coast - Bill and Jan Chamberlain, Blue Heron Inn, Darien, Georgia, 912 437-4304, www.blueheroninngacoast.com

Norman Oklahoma - We are a bit far from most of your inns, however, the Welcome mat it out!!!!! Please let us know if you need rooms. Our prayers and thoughts are with you! Montford Inn, (405)321-2200, (800)321-8969, http://www.montfordinn.com

Hot Springs Arkansas , Faith Kraemer - Owner / Innkeeper, Hilltop Manor Bed & Breakfast, www.hilltopmanorhotsprings.com, 501-625-STAY (7829) Suites – Date (Most can accommodate up to 3 guests) 1 – Today (Friday) 2 – Monday (9/1) 3 – Tuesday & Wednesday (9/2) 2 – Thursday (9/3) 1 – Friday (9/4) 2 – Saturday (9/5)

Eureka Springs, Arkansas - have some availability September 1 through September 16 and if there are a number of people I work with 12 other Inns here in Eureka Springs and we will all work to help anyway we can, Beverly & Doug Breitling, Arsenic and Old Lace Bed & Breakfast Inn, 60 Hillside Ave, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, www.EurekaSpringsRomanceBB.com, 800-243-5223

Yellville, Arkansas - new B&B located in North Central Arkansas. It is the Red Raven Inn in Yellville, Arkansas. I have three rooms available. Two of them have queen-beds and private bath w/shower. The third has a queen and a twin with private bath/shower. I'd be happy to make them available to any of your folks that may be dislocated due to the approaching hurricane. phone number is 870/449-2500; cell is 870/404-3134. Innkeeper, Cindy Young

Little Rock, Arkansas – Robinwood B&B . 501-372-0999 I have one room available on Sunday - from Monday on, I have 3 rooms available. Our web address is www.robinwoodbnb.com.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas – Eleven Singleton House Bed & Breakfast, ph: 800-833-3394 has availability www.singletonhouse.com

Eureka Springs, Arkansas - 800-833-3394 – Free Reservation service - working with Chamber of Commerce to develop list of vacancies for Eureka Springs Arkansas

St. Landry Parish information

2008-08-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

St. Landry currently has no vacancies.

Message from LA Restaurant Association

2008-08-29T13:21:00.001-07:00

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) began implementing its Hurricane Evacuation Plan earlier this week, in the event an evacuation is called for the Metro New Orleans area. All measures have been taken to ensure that our servers, archives, and assets are secured. In addition, our website hosting will switch over to the secondary hosting datacenter in New York.

The LRA Crisis Management Team will evacuate to the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association’s offices in Jackson, MS. You should be able to reach us through our regular phone number at (800) 256-4572. If you are not able to reach us on that number, the phone number for the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association’s offices in Jackson is (601) 420-4210.

Should an evacuation take place, we will be updating our website at www.LRA.org with all the resources you will need to contact us. We have established our evacuation plans to minimize any disruption in service for LRA members.

For your safety, the following links may be helpful:

State of Louisiana “Get a Game Plan: www.getagameplan.org

State Police Hurricane Guide: www.lsp.org/pdf/HurricaneGuideSE.pdf

Jefferson Parish Evacuation Guide: http://show.nvs-inc.com/JEMS/Routing/index.jsp

Message from LA Restaurant Association

2008-08-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

Lafayette hotel availability

2008-08-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

Please visit www.LafayetteTravel.com for updates on hotel availability every two hours.

Ruston, Monroe, Alexandria

2008-08-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

There are no hotel availabilities in these areas at this time.

Campground/RV Availability

2008-08-29T13:01:00.000-07:00

Ozark View RV Park in Omaha Arkansas has space available for Louisiana campers. Our website is www.ozarkviewrv.com. We will offer reduced rates for those displaced by the hurricane.

We are located in southeast Tennessee an hour north of Chattanooga. We thought we were a bit too far away for anyone evacuating out of New Orleans, but we've already had one family call to check for availability. Our website is: www.mountainglenonline.com, Our toll free number is: 877-716-4493, Mountain Glen RV Park, Pikeville, TN 37367

Texas Rose RV Park - Yes, we still have about 15 sites at this time but are still receiving calls. you can call us at 903-882-4485 if you need to

PECAN PARK CAMPGROUND, 50 Squirrel Run, San Marcos, TX 78666, 1-888-808-7181 www.pecanpark.com We have been receiving calls all morning checking availability for this reason, and I am happy to say we will have sites beginning 9/1/08 (we do have overflow sites available a.s.a.p. but all of our full hook-up sites are booked for Labor Day weekend). We hope no one is forced to evacuate and utilize our sites for that reason, but if they do we are more than happy to accommodate them. Hope we are able to

We still have a few sites available here at Quail Crossing RV Park in Waco, TX, Cora Wilson, Quail Crossing RV Park, 824 Spanish Tr, Waco, Texas 7671, (254) 848-4818

I have plenty of space at my park but we are little far from La. but willing to help all we can. RV Sites and Cabins - Marie Howard Manager, Sleepy Valley Resort Mission Texas, 956-581-1871

Please be advised we " TranQuil Gardens RV Park " in central Texas is able to take some campers that need to get out of the way of the storm., We are half way between Austin and Waco. Call 254-947-5192, TranQuil Gardens RV Park, 5644 FM 2484, Salado Texas 76571, 254-947-5192

Open starting on Monday for people looking to relocate for the storm - sites for RVs, pop-ups and cabins are available. We are located midway between Austin & San Antonio just outside of San Marcos. All directions and maps can be seen at our website, www.leisureresort.net, Please let us know if we can assist any travelers this way. Leisure Resort, 1 River Lane * Box 277, Fentress, TX 78622, 512.488.2563www.leisureresort.net

We have spots available for anyone who needs a space with their RV, to be able to get out of harms way of the hurricane. Please pass this along to any one who is coming to San Antonio, TX. Our # 1-800-999-7872 or 210-647-7878, We will help in any way we can. We are not an over 55 plus resort. Web site: www.admiraltyrvresort.com, Admiralty RV Resort, 1485 N. Ellison Dr., San Antonio, TX

Townsend Great Smokies KOA in Townsend, Tennessee has sites available, Townsend Great Smokies KOA, 800-562-3428, www.TownsendGreatSmokies.com

Rockport, Texas , www.raintreervpark.com Raintree RV Park (361) 729-7005 RV sites & Cabins

Windsor Place RV Estates, 1506 W. Corsicana St., Athens TX 75751, www.windsorplacerv.com, email: stay@windsorplacerv.com, Telephone: 903-477-4001 – ADULTS ONLY

We here at Alamo Fiesta RV Resort have space for any one headed this way, we are off exit 543 on interstate 10 just north west of San Antonio Texas in Boerne, we have 200 sites and there is plenty of things to do and see in the area. Hope this will help our phone number is 830-249-4700 or you can go to our web site and make reservations. www.alamofiestarv.com

On Monday Sept. 1st. we will have lots of room if anyone wants to come to East TN., Misty River Cabins & RV Resort, LLC, 5050 Old Walland Hwy., Walland TN, 37886, Office (865) 981-4300, www.MistyRiverRV.com

we do have plenty of availability, Palms RV Park is a new RV park in Dickinson, Texas, south of Houston. We are easily accessed off I-10 at Highway 146, You can give any of your Louisiana parks or campers our park number (281) 957-5533 or my direct cell number (281) 204-5780. We have a full staff and resident park hosts available to assist you in any way possible. Susan Evans, Palms RV Park, 2705 Dickinson Avenue, Dickinson, TX 77539, Cell (281) 204-5780, Office (281) 957-5533, www.palmsrvpark.com

Shreveport information

2008-08-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

August 29, 2008Phone: 318-222-9391E-mail: ldavis@sbctb.org www.shreveport-bossier.orgArea Hotel Occupancy for this weekend:

Area Hotel Occupancy for this weekend:

West Shreveport Hotels:
Friday -100%
Saturday - 100%
Sunday - 100%

Downtown Hotels:
Friday -100%
Saturday -100%
Sunday -100%

Bossier City Hotels:
Friday -100%
Saturday -100%
Sunday -100%

What's happening in Shreveport-Bossier City:

Hoteliers in Shreveport-Bossier are asked to visit our blog, http://blogs.louisianasotherside.com/Tarah/, to update their occupancy numbers as some groups may or may not cancel current reservations as we await further projections regarding Tropical Storm Gustav. Please indicate your property name in your post.

In addition, the Louisiana Office of Tourism will create a web site for hoteliers across the state to update their occupancy numbers via http://www.louisianatravel.com/emergency_info/.
The storm is anticipated to make landfall along Louisiana’s coast as a Category 3 hurricane sometime early on Tuesday. If the governor issues an evacuation order, these are the shelters that will be activated:
• Bossier Civic Center – Special Needs
620 Benton Rd., Bossier City, LA 71111
(318) 741-8900

• Hirsch Memorial Coliseum – FEMA operated, pets will be placed in the next door barn for shelter
3701 Hudson Ave
Shreveport, LA 71109-5348
(318) 635-1361 phone

• (Old) Sam's Club Facility – State operated center
8810 Jewella Ave.
Shreveport, LA 71108

• Sports Mall
Industrial and I-20

• LSU-S – First general population, people with cars; operated by American Red Cross
One University Place
Shreveport, LA 71115
(318) 797-5000

• Ruston Civic Center
401 N Trenton St
Ruston, LA 71270
(318) 251-8613

• PE Building at Northwestern in Natchitoches
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, Louisiana 71497
(318) 357-6011

Lake Charles/SWLA information

2008-08-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

In an effort to be prepared for Hurricane Gustav the SWLA/Lake Charles CVB has set up a blog, www.swlacvb.blogspot.com to post hotel room availability, openings/closings of hotels, restaurants and attractions and other emergency information for Calcasieu Parish.

This information will be posted as it becomes available. The bureau will also have a section for storm information on their Web site, www.visitlakecharles.org.

staying in touch during Hurricane Gustav

2008-08-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome! In efforts to keep members of Louisiana's tourism industry connected before, during and after Hurricane Gustav, *LTPA has activated this blog spot. Please use this site to report on conditions in your area and as a tool to stay in touch with your colleagues.

*All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA) makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.