Sponsored by Visit Baton Rouge
For organizational leaders, bringing a meeting to Baton Rouge can be a way to make planning easier and give attendees an experience they’ll remember.
When an organization starts choosing a destination for its next meeting, the biggest city isn’t always the best fit. Rising costs and changing attendee expectations have planners looking more closely at value, convenience and how well a destination suits their group. Baton Rouge offers a right-sized option, with meeting facilities, restaurants and local experiences that can help turn a gathering into more than an agenda.
“Planners now evaluate destinations based on their value, their ease of execution and overall fit for their organization,” says Laura Cating, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Public Affairs for Visit Baton Rouge. “That’s where we come into play.”
Baton Rouge is easy to reach by air and major highways and offers meeting venues for groups of all sizes. Downtown, the Raising Cane’s River Center offers multiple spaces all within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Additional options include the Crowne Plaza Executive Center, with 32,000 square feet of event space, and the Baton Rouge Marriott, with nearly 18,000 square feet. Smaller groups can also find distinctive places to gather, including the Old State Capitol, Court To Table and the Capital Park Museum.
A meeting’s memorable moments often happen outside the meeting room. Groups can gather at Red Stick Social, take a riverboat tour on the Mississippi River or explore other local venues and attractions. The river itself can offer a fresh perspective, even for people who live nearby. Cating says visitors are often drawn to the river’s scale, views and connection to the city’s character.
Visit Baton Rouge can also help arrange experiences that bring South Louisiana culture to an event, such as a second line led by a brass band or a baby alligator photo opportunity. These details can give out-of-town attendees a taste of the region and let local hosts share something they’re proud of.
For residents involved in national associations, professional organizations or other groups, suggesting Baton Rouge as a host city doesn’t mean taking on the planning alone. Visit Baton Rouge can help with venue options, proposals, incentives and site visits, tailoring recommendations to a group’s size and needs.
“All they have to do is really just propose Baton Rouge as a host city,” Cating says, “and we can take care of the rest.”
Support can be scaled to the gathering, from large conventions to family reunions, church conferences, corporate retreats and nonprofit galas. For smaller groups, an experience box can provide printed visitor information and promotional items for guests. Larger events may call for more hands-on planning and customized activities.
The first step, Cating says, can be as simple as raising the possibility. “It really just takes that one person raising your hand and asking, ‘What about my city?’ she says. “That’s what we’re asking of local residents is for them to bring us up in the conversation and let us take care of the details.”
From there, Visit Baton Rouge can help turn that idea into a gathering shaped by the city’s hospitality, culture and sense of place. Learn more at visitbatonrouge.com/meetings.
