Courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB
Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana
The six riverboat casinos in Shreveport-Bossier are considered floating palaces, offering high-energy entertainment and nonstop gaming.
“In the summer of 2013, Parrot Heads will be flocking to our newest addition, Margaritaville Resort Casino at Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City,” said Chris Jay, public relations manager for the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.
“Groups love this area because of our heritage,” Jay continued. “They typically take time to explore our Victorian properties with a tour guide like our esteemed Yesterday’s Lady, a woman who collects authentic Victorian clothing and organizes an unusual group experience.”
Tours are also arranged at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, the home of “The Louisiana Hayride,” a nationally broadcast radio show that helped launch the careers of Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.
“While the weekly programming ended in 1960, the building, the finest example of Art Deco construction in our state, still hosts musical events and more. The museum in the lobby is loaded with lots of musical history,” said Jay.
Jay assists in pointing groups in the right direction for one of his favorite segments of Louisiana’s heritage: the food.
“If you’re coming blind into our community, it may be overwhelming to find those dives we all love,” he said. “Try Ralph and Kacoo’s, the quintessential authentic seafood joint, and Marilynn’s Place, with their New Orleans brunch and the best po’boys and etouffee.”
Mississippi Gulf Coast
Twelve casino resorts grace the Mississippi Gulf Coast, many offering full-service spas and ocean views.
Taryn Sammons, media relations manager for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, said these resorts all have a different flavor, from the luxurious Beau Rivage Resort and Casino to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
The Biloxi Visitors Center, which features a history museum and film, is the first stop for bank groups to discover the area’s options.
“Groups choose the Mississippi Gulf Coast for many reasons,” said Sammons. “They are especially excited to know they can meet the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis, Bertram Hayes-Davis, at Beauvoir, the retirement estate of the famous Confederate president.”
Renowned for pottery and art, nearby Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs offer one-of-a-kind shopping and museums. And for years, the shrimp trip/shrimp boil package has been a smash hit with groups.
“Groups can go out on a shrimping vessel, enjoy an entertaining afternoon with the captain and have a shrimp boil to celebrate,” she said.
And don’t miss a dinner at McElray’s Harbour House on the small-craft harbor, where playful dolphins are the entertainment during your meal.
www.gulfcoast.org
