BATON ROUGE, La. — Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser closed out the Lt. Governor’s Annual Travel Summit today in Lake Charles on a high note, debuting the new advertising campaign aimed at encouraging people to travel to Louisiana to feed their soul. Inspired by the state’s new brand, unveiled in January, this new advertising campaign features soul-feeding experiences unique to Louisiana.
“The new ad campaign we are unveiling to attract more visitors to Louisiana is inspired by just some of the experiences that can only be done in Louisiana,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “I’m thrilled to present these new commercials to all of our tourism partners at the Annual Travel Summit here in Lake Charles. This ad campaign is the result of months of data research and marketing strategy. I am confident our new advertising strategy and Feed Your Soul branding will continue to grow our record breaking tourism numbers.”
From turning the purchase of a hat into lifelong memories, to the emotional connection of letting the good times roll and saving a ticket stub, to how a shrimp poboy is more than just a sandwich, each commercial puts viewers in the middle of unique Louisiana experiences that will feed their souls and leave them wanting more. View and download the new advertising campaign here.
Lt. Governor Nungesser also took time to recognize the 2018 Champions of Tourism, each a great ambassador for helping promote travel to Louisiana. This year’s list of honorees included:
Lafayette Mayor-President Joel Robideaux
Mayor-President Robideaux leveraged Lafayette’s talent and infrastructure to launch CREATE (Creative, Recreation, Entertainment, Arts, Tourism, Economy), an initiative ultizing the parish’s culture to further diversify the economy.
Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker, his council, and all elected officials
A new and improved Ruston Sports Complex is expected to open in March 2019. The 36-field complex is anticipated to generate more than a billion dollars over the next 18 years. While it can host six different sports simultaneously, the first event will be the 2019 Dixie Youth Baseball World Series.
Sterlington Mayor Vern Breland, his council, and all elected officials
The Sterlington Sports Complex, with 12 fields – five high school baseball fields, five softball fields, and two t-ball fields – opened in May 2018. The complex is the only one of its kind north of I-20 and is fully equipped to host tournaments year-round.
Louisiana Sheriff’s Association
The purpose of the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association is to maintain the power of the sheriff as a peace officer. The Association is comprised of more than 14,000 sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who are dedicated to keeping Louisiana residents and tourists safe.
Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police
The Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police provide state of the art training, instruction, and education in the most current law enforcement related to state and federal regulation. The Association is recognized for being fervent voices for municipal police departments across the state, employing the men and women always ready to help ensure safety at tourism events around Louisiana.
The Bar Pilots Association and the Crescent River Port Pilots Association
Rain or shine, river boat pilots guide ships up and down the Mississippi River to their destination. Together, these groups of pilots contribute to the tourism industry by helping transport more than one million cruise ship passengers safely in and out of port.
The Ranch Film Studios
The Ranch Film Studios helped revive the St. Bernard Parish economy by providing a home for major blockbuster films. Sidney Torres and Jason Waggenspack built a state of the art film studio and developed an ecosystem fostering education, creativity, and economic development. The studio has been the site of such films as Deepwater Horizon and Terminator Genisys.
Keep Louisiana Beautiful
In the 2016-2017 fiscal year, Keep Louisiana Beautiful removed more than 517,000 pounds of litter from Louisiana, contracting with more than 30,000 participants. Keep Louisiana Beautiful is recognized for its philanthropic role in the state and influence within the litter removal industry.
The Hotel Bentley
Well-known for its beautiful architecture, the Hotel Bentley also has a rich history and involvement in World War II when the U.S. military trained more than half a million troops in the Alexandria area. During the Louisiana maneuvers, commanders Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton resided at the Hotel Bentley for long period of times.
Pat’s of Henderson and the Huval family
Pat Huval’s legacy began in 1948 when Agnes and Pat Huval opened their first restaurant in the small town of Henderson. During Pat’s 22 years as Mayor of Henderson, he vastly improved infrastructure by building a city hall and local jail, creating a 20-arce park, helping establish the city’s fire department, and helping the people of Henderson afford livable homes. The Huval family is recognized for providing southern hospitality and authentic Cajun cuisine to visitors in a way that is uniquely Louisiana.
Steamboat Bill’s
Kathi Vidrine and her three daughters came to Lake Charles in 1982 with an unrelenting need to succeed. Known as “Kathi, the shrimp lady”, she became a staple in the business community. Almost 36 years later, Steamboat Bill’s has consistently been voted the best seafood and crawfish in southwest Louisiana.
The Annual Lt. Governor’s Travel Summit was held in Lake Charles at the Golden Nugget resort from August 21-23. Presented by the Louisiana Travel Association, the annual summit brought together more than 500 tourism professionals from Louisiana and surrounding states for the largest tourism educational opportunity in Louisiana.
