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Carnival Season Officially Begins With Twelfth Night; Louisiana Office of Tourism Launching Twelfth Night Campaign
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With Christmas and the Louisiana college bowl season behind us, it’s time to gear up for the next party in Louisiana – Mardi Gras. The Carnival season kicks off each year with Twelfth Night, or January 6. Twelfth Night marks the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas and the holiday season. It’s also kicks off the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s Twelfth Night campaign, spreading the Mardi Gras spirit to folks around our region, inviting them to Louisiana to join in the revelry before the observance of Lent.
This year’s campaign will feature information on helping people plan their trip, including how far they need to drive and which flights are available, along with Mardi Gras events around the state during their stay. The 2017 Twelfth Night campaign will be seen in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, Memphis, Mobile-Pensacola, Nashville, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Tulsa starting Monday, January 9, 2017.
From parades and pageantry to the Courir de Mardi Gras in Cajun Country, everyone has their own way to celebrate the season but one thing seems to be universal – King Cakes. Do you know the history and origin of the King Cake? You can read more about it here. And, just for fun, here are 10 Things You Might Not Know About Mardi Gras.
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Five Ways to #TakeADay in 2017; Study Shows Americans Leaving More Vacation Days on the Table
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A recent study by the Washington, D.C.-based Project: Time Off shows Americans are leaving millions of unused vacation days on the table each year.
A recent Baton Rouge Business Report article examines this alarming trend in the workplace and how disconnecting, even for a day, could help productivity in our country. You can read the full article here.
The new year brings a clean slate and 365 opportunities to have a great day in Louisiana. In conjunction with the Project: Time Off study, you are challenged this year to #TakeADay and stop treating vacation days like a time bank.
Check out this LouisianaTravel.com blog for 5 Ways to #TakeADay in 2017.
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Three Louisiana Cities Listed As Having Undiscovered Places You'll Love in the South
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Southern Living Magazine features many lifestyle recipes, house plans, garden plans, and more recently, insight on Southern travel and culture. Louisiana is known for its unique cultures and destination sites; so, it‘s only fitting Baton Rouge, Covington, and New Orleans are all featured in their recent article – 50 Undiscovered Places You’ll Love in the South.
Known as the Great River City, Baton Rouge is commended for its hot spots of leisure and cuisine. With City Pork opening other locations and the Baton Rouge Beach becoming a new hangout spot, “Red Stick” is a great place to come together.
New Orleans is also recognized for their leisure living. Locals visit The Fly to picnic and to watch the sun sink into the Mississippi.
Just about an hour outside of New Orleans and on Lake Ponchartrain’s Northshore, Covington is known for its charm and Southern style cuisine. Appearing on Food Network’s Chopped, LOLA Restaurant is a fan favorite located right off the bayou and has become a popular wedding venue.
Read about all 50 Undiscovered Places You'll Love in the South
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The 16 Places You Should Go in Louisiana in 2017
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We all know Louisiana has a lot to offer, from the swamps and prairies of the south to the rolling hills of the north. In her travels throughout the state during 2016, Kezia Kamenetz wrote several stories on places that are definitely #OnlyLouisiana. Looking ahead to 2017, she wrote about 16 places you should see in our state.
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Make Sure You are Registered for the LTPA Annual Luncheon
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The Louisiana Travel Promotion Association Annual Meeting is set for Wednesday, January 25, and Thursday, January 26, in Natchitoches. If you have not registered yet for this year's networking luncheon, please do so by Wednesday, January 11, 2017. You can register here.
This year's meeting will include the Louey Awards, graduation of the 2016 Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy, and introduction of the 2017 class.
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What's New in Louisiana Tourism - Spring 2017
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The Louisiana Office of Tourism is updating What's New in Louisiana, an online document in our pressroom including information on new attractions, tours, trails, restaurants, overnight providers, online tools, apps, major infrastructure affecting visitors or anything else relevant to tourism in your area. The asset does not have to be new; it can be improved, expanded or renovated.
To submit an asset, please email Barry Landry (
blandry@crt.la.gov
) by Friday, January 27. Include the name of the asset, a brief description, physical address, primary contact person and contact information including a website and email address.
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Upcoming Meetings & Events
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- Jan. 12: LACVB Meeting, Morgan City
- Jan. 26: LTPA Annual Luncheon, Natchitoches
- Jan. 30-Feb. 2: Louisiana Sales Mission to Paris and Lyon, France
- Feb. 9: Louisiana Brand USA Immersion Day, Washington, D.C.
- Feb. 19: 66th NBA All Star Game, New Orleans
- Feb. 28: Mardi Gras Day
- March 1: DMAI Spirit of Hospitality Celebration, Wash., D.C.
- March 8-12: ITB, Berlin, Germany
- March 12-15: Travel South USA Domestic Showcase, Branson, MO
- March 20-22: DMAI CEO Summit, Knoxville, TN
- March 24: LTPA Board Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA
- March 27-29: Southeast Tourism Society Spring Symposium, Knoxville, TN
- March 28-29: U.S. Travel Association Destination Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
- April 4-6: World Travel Market - Latin America, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- April 13: LACVB Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA
- May 8-12: National Tourism Week
- June 3-7: 2017 International Pow Wow (IPW), Washington, DC
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