Business Report 2018 Hotel, Hospitality & Meeting Guide

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

HOTEL,

HOSPITALITY

&

MEETING GUIDE A showcase of meeting spaces, accommodations, catering and amenities

BATON ROUGE MARRIOTT CHEF JOHN FOLSE’S WHITE OAK PLANTATION CLARION INN AND CONFERENCE CENTER THE COOK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER AT LSU EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL – BATON ROUGE L’AUBERGE CASINO HOTEL BATON ROUGE VISIT BATON ROUGE WAMPOLD HOSPITALITY COLLECTION WEST BATON ROUGE

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White Oak Plantation CHEF JOHN FOLSE’S White Oak Planation & Farm is an award-winning catering facility with menus to fit every budget. But that’s just the tip of the toque. White Oak Plantation & Farm is quickly becoming the outdoor meeting center of choice by top executives nationwide.

Rather than stifle creativity in sterile meeting rooms, take the group outdoors.

Enjoy freshly squeezed juice, hot coffee and breakfast croissants in the vegetable garden.

Meet at farm-style tables under the pavilion, accented with crystal chandeliers. Motivate the group with natural light, the sound of flowing water, and the laughter of the birds and the breeze. This beautiful space is mere steps from the fire pits where red snapper and a cochon de lait slowly roast for lunch, which is served on Persimmon Hill.

Seminar breaks? Head to the lake with cane poles and bobbers to catch and release large-mouth bass; gather eggs from the hen yard; feed the turkeys, pigs and rabbits; grind corn in the gristmill; visit the distillery where bourbon and rum are barreled; or swing under the oak trees sipping lemonade garnished with mint.

White Oak Plantation & Farm offers so much more than divine catering. Memorable experiences are our specialty—from the bride and groom to the CEO. Excellence without exception—time and time again—is delivered at this unique facility in the heart of Baton Rouge. ■

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

• On-site catering provided: Yes • Wait staff offered: Yes • Lines and setup provided: Yes • Alcoholic beverages provided: Yes • Pre-set or customizable menu: Both available • Food tastings offered: Yes • Rental equipment available (chairs, tables, etc.): Yes

OTHER SERVICES PROVIDED: White Oak Plantation offers full-service event planning—venue to menu—onsite or off premise. For 40 years Chef John Folse has catered special events down the street and around the globe—from Tiger Stadium to the Vatican.

Our party and event planners work with clients to select event location; specialty furniture, tables, chairs and linens; china, silver and glassware; lighting, sound systems and musicians; photography, floral and transportation; as well as food, beverage and bars for the reception, event and afterparty.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Clarion Inn and Conference Center PLAN YOUR next meeting or event at the Clarion Inn Conference Center hotel. Located in Gonzales near Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, this unique, New Orleans-style venue offers space and accommodations for groups of all sizes. With on-site catering options from Mike Anderson’s Seafood Restaurant, your next event will be a hit.

The family-owned Clarion Inn and Conference Center was fully renovated in 2009, and improvements continue as they build out their outdoor pavilion space to accommodate even larger groups.

With over 5,500 square feet of meeting space and a variety of rooms and set up options, Clarion’s event staff can help you design the perfect event for your corporate, holiday and personal gatherings. Event facilities consist of a conference center and meeting rooms. Free self-parking is available onsite. The main ball room can be set up to seat up to 250 guests, with capacity for more standing.

At Mike Anderson’s – Gonzales, the team prides itself on giving you a world-class dining

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experience. In order to serve you “Mike Anderson Style,” with the consistently delicious dishes and excellent service, the team works both whole-heartedly and diligently. Now, after over 30 years of dedication and perseverance, Mike Anderson and his team have built a reputation for the food and service that gives events at the Clarion Inn and Conference Center the unique flavor you are looking for.

Featured amenities include a 24-hour business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and dry cleaning/laundry services. All 170 rooms provide conveniences like refrigerators and microwaves, plus free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs with digital channels. Guests also enjoy room service, free full breakfast, in-room coffee makers, hotel restaurant and bar, fitness center and seasonal outdoor pool.

Nearby attractions include Tanger outlets mall, Pelican Point Golf Club, the Cajun Village, Cabela’s and Nottoway Plantation.

Earn rewards including free nights and gift cards with our Choice Privileges Rewards program. ■

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

• Nearby attractions: Tanger outlets, Houmas House Plantation, Lamar-Dixon Expo Center, Malco Cinema • Credit cards accepted: American Express, Visa, Master Card, Discover • Internet: Free Wi-Fi in guest rooms and meeting rooms • Business center: Yes • Pet policy: Yes • Total number of guest rooms: 162 • Total number of suites: 2 • Total non-smoking rooms: 147 • Fitness center: Yes • Complimentary breakfast: Yes • Onsite parking available: Yes • Valet parking available: No • Number of meeting/conference rooms: 6 • Total meeting space: 5,500 square feet • Meeting room capacity: 250 • Onsite catering: Yes • Website: clariongonzales.com • Phone: (225) 647-8000 • Address: 1500 West Highway 30, Gonzales, LA 70737 As the recipient of the 2018 Best of Choice Award, choosing the Clarion Inn Gonzales will put you and your event at the best of over 1,000 hotels/complexes in the country.

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EMBASSY SUITES HOTEL — BATON ROUGE MODERN, APPROACHABLE ELEGANCE. EMBASSY SUITES spent $14 million dollars renovating our hotel with one goal in mind: providing a high-end contemporary feel that is never intimidating or off-putting. While many new and renovated hotels place form over function for effect, that’s not us. Comfort and approachability are what we’re about.

We don’t have any guest rooms. We only have 500-square-foot suites with separate living and sleeping areas. We want you to feel at home and our oversized suites do just that.

Being a full-service Hilton product, we know a thing or two about meeting planning.

We have more than 7,000 square feet of meeting space, accommodating a boardroom setting for 10 or a 400-person training session.

We have comprehensive audiovisual capabilities,

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high-bandwidth internet, and ample free and easily accessible parking. You can also earn Hilton Honors points for meetings you place, getting you one step closer to that well-deserved vacation.

Find out why we’re consistently rated one of the best meeting venues in Baton Rouge.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD. WE’D PUT our five-star chef up against any in the city—or the entire state of Louisiana for that matter.

Chef Steve is the former head of culinary for Hyatt Hotels and brings a breadth of skills and enormous amounts of creativity to every dish we serve.

We offer a wide range of meeting and event food options, all prepared onsite, that range from high-value to breathtakingly extraordinary.

Whether you choose offerings from our broad

published menu, or want to create your own custom menu in consultation with Chef Steve, we can promise that your guests will rave about their dining experience.

YOUR HOTEL’S DÉCOR SHOULD NEVER WORK HARDER THAN ITS STAFF. SERVICE. SERVICE. SERVICE. While many hotels distract you with ornate and overwrought aesthetics, our staff would rather impress you with its attentiveness to your needs.

There’s no more important stay or event than yours. We understand that and strive to deliver an experience that suits your style. Want us at your beck and call? Just ask.

No two guests have the same expectations and it’s our job to tailor the experience we deliver to match each and every unique need.

For a little more than you’d pay for a rectangular box, we offer you so much more. ■

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

• Credit cards: Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Diners • Business center: Yes • Pet policy: No pets • Number of guest rooms: 223 (all suites) • Number of nonsmoking rooms: 100% nonsmoking • Fitness center: Yes • Dining: Complimentary cooked-toorder breakfast • Parking: Complimentary onsite parking available • Location: Near LSU, Towne Center, Louisiana State Capitol, USS Kidd, Mall of Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center • Number of meeting/conference rooms: 5 • Maximum seating capacity: 500 • Total meeting space: 5,600 square feet • Onsite catering: Yes • Website: batonrouge.embassysuites.com • Phone: (225) 924-6566 • Address: 4914 Constitution Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70808

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VISIT BATON ROUGE VISIT BATON ROUGE is confident that with more money generated from a voter-approved hotel occupancy tax increase last fall they will be able to attract more visitors to Baton Rouge, while showcasing what Louisiana’s capital city has to offer.

Last November, voters approved an additional 2% hotel occupancy tax, estimated to generate $2.6 million annually. Half of the money will go to Visit Baton Rouge to pay for marketing efforts, while the other half will go to the Raising Cane’s River Center.

With an office downtown, Visit Baton Rouge employs 17 full-time staff members, as well as a number of part-time workers who staff the agency’s welcome centers and serve as hosts during meetings and conventions.

One of the largest roles of Visit Baton Rouge is working to increase the number of meetings and conventions and sporting events hosted here.

The Visit Baton Rouge staff works directly with meeting planners and event organizers, here locally and throughout the country, to consider Baton Rouge as a possible host city.

Pursuing more sporting events is another goal of Visit Baton Rouge.

Secondly, the Visit Baton Rouge staff

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continues to increase the number of people traveling to Baton Rouge for leisure and making sure business travelers are aware of what there is to do before and after their meeting or event. In line with that, a key strategy is working more with organizers of festivals and concerts to promote their events. “By doing so, we are making sure that these local events are more visitor-driven,” says Paul Arrigo, president & CEO for Visit Baton Rouge. “It’s an opportunity for promotion for the city and in turn visitors will talk about what a wonderful time they had.”

Additionally, the Visit Baton Rouge staff works diligently once these groups and individuals choose Baton Rouge to ensure they have a great time while they are here. The staff recommends local businesses, such as: caterers, florists, musicians, speakers, and other resources. The office also can direct visitors to restaurants and local attractions during their stay.

“Whatever their needs are, we make sure we put them in contact with a local resource to meet their needs and make sure they have a good time,” Arrigo explains. “This also means that the visitors give local businesses a source of revenue.” ■

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

• Leads: 33% increase over number of leads distributed in 2016 • Events & conventions hosted: • Sports: 7 new events in 2017 • Conventions: 330 hosted in Baton Rouge in 2017, welcoming over 181,000 attendees • Group tours: 68 groups visited in 2017, bringing in over 3,000 attendees • International visitors: increased in 2017 • Total room nights: 69,322 • Organizations serviced: 608 • FAMs/sites visits hosted: 50 • New hotels: 3 opened in 2017 and 2 on the horizon in 2018 • Visitor inquiries: 10% increase • Riverboats: • Dockings: 70 • Attractions visited: 7+ • Visitors: Nearly 14,000 • Food service mention: 1 riverboat company utilizes a local food service • New boats: 1 in 2017 and 1 in 2018 • Website: • Mobile: Over 50% of visitors use their mobile device to visit the website • Trip planning: 85% of visitors are now planning their trip on their way or when they arrive in a city • Partner listing visits since 2015: 380,000+ • Articles/Headlines: • Most Fun Cities in America, No. 61 – WalletHub • Top 10 Digital City in America, No. 5 Center for Digital Government (also No. 5 in 2016, up from No. 10 in 2015) • Awards & Recognitions: • Outstanding Convention & Visitors Bureau/Tourist Commission of the Year, 2017 Louey Awards - Louisiana Travel Promotion Association • 2017 Reaccredited Destination Management Organization - Destinations International From VBR’s 2017 Year in Review

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Watermark Baton Rouge

WAMPOLD HOSPITALITY COLLECTION WHETHER YOU want to be in the heart of the medical district and the city’s best shopping or in the midst of bustling downtown, the Wampold Hospitality Collection provides unparalleled hotel experiences across the Baton Rouge area.

With deluxe amenities and stylish décor, the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel combines southern hospitality in a contemporary setting—making it an ideal locale for business and group travelers, as well as those looking for a weekend getaway.

Just minutes from the Mall of Louisiana and LSU campus, it provides the perfect place to stay during your visit to Baton Rouge.

The hotel offers a fully equipped fitness center, resort-style pool and terrace, fine dining restaurant and lounge. The 13,000 square feet of flexible, state-of-the-art meeting space features a 7,500-squarefoot ballroom and eight spacious meeting rooms with high-speed internet. These amenities and others have transformed the Renaissance into a top business hotel in the area as well an ideal location for conventions, weddings,

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galas and social events.

An ideal location for extended stay, business travel and leisure guests alike, Wyndham Garden features 120 two-room suites with microwaves, refrigerators, complimentary hot breakfast and Wi-FI. Watermark Baton Rouge is a historic icon in the heart of downtown and the newest addition to the Wampold Hospitality Collection. Featuring a stately presence and a storied past, Watermark offers one of the richest and most eclectic experiences available for any guest.

Our story began nearly a century ago, high on a bluff overlooking the majestic Mississippi river, when intrepid financiers built our iconic skyscraper as the headquarters of Louisiana Trust & Savings Bank.

Today, echoes of that era remain, in hand-painted ceiling murals, carved marble walls and staircases, and old bank vaults converted into dramatic meeting and dining spaces.

Watermark is fused with regional pride, local culture and cuisine curated towards the 21st century traveler and experience seeker. ■

Watermark Baton Rouge

Renaissance Baton Rouge

Renaissance Baton Rouge

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

GARDEN

®

RENAISSANCE BATON ROUGE • Credit cards: All major • Guest rooms: 256 | Suites: 63 • Location: Near Perkins Rowe and the Mall of Louisiana; in the heart of the medical district • Meeting/conference rooms: 13 • Maximum seating capacity: 1,000 • Total meeting space: 13,000 square feet • Onsite catering: Yes • Phone: 225-215-7000

Watermark Baton Rouge

• Address: 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810 WATERMARK BATON ROUGE • Credit cards: All major • Guest rooms: 144 | Suites: 9 • Location: In th heart of downtown, near the Shaw Center for the Arts; Raising Cane’s River Center and Third Street nightlife • Meeting/conference rooms: 3 • Maximum seating capacity: 100 • Total meeting space: 2,200 square feet • Phone: 225-408-3200

Watermark Baton Rouge

Renaissance Baton Rouge

• Address: 150 Third Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801 WYNDHAM GARDEN • Credit cards: All major • Guest rooms: 120 (all suites) • Location: Near Perkins Rowe, Mall of Louisiana and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana • Meeting/conference rooms: 2 • Maximum seating capacity: 100 • Total meeting space: 1,500 square feet • Phone: 225-293-1199

Wyndham Garden

• Address: 5600 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70809

| BUSINESS | BUSINESS Daily-Report.com Daily-Report.com REPORT, REPORT, March May14, 8, 2018 2017

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

West Baton Rouge Convention Center

West Baton Rouge LOCATED OFF I-10 at Exit #151 in West Baton Rouge is the best kept conference center secret in the Baton Rouge area. Come and see why the West Baton Rouge Conference Center is the place for all occasions— business or pleasure. We are an elegant, newly renovated facility offering space for groups of 10 to 500 at an affordable price.

The 7,000-square-foot conference center space includes a large meeting room for accommodating 200-250 guests for a sit-down meal with full service.

Four 600-square-foot breakout rooms offer expandable soundproof walls for increasing or decreasing your meeting space.

One 300-square-foot room designed for board meetings includes a 50-inch smart TV for special presentations.

Amenities include free Wi-Fi, drop-down screens and projectors, in-house sound and a business center. If you have catering

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needs for your event, one of nine full-service catering companies can accommodate any appetite.

Now imagine walking into a plush, grand reception room adorned in cypress doors, cabinetry and wainscoting. A brick fireplace, elegant carpet and crisp white linens complete the look. The West Baton Rouge Conference Center is captivating with its warm, luxurious atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot for that special occasion.

The 8-acre grounds of the West Baton Rouge Conference Center can also accommodate special outdoor events such as reunions, picnics, barbecues or training with special sized equipment.

Our location is five minutes from downtown Baton Rouge and can provide plenty of free parking. There are 240 hotel rooms all within walking distance of the Conference Center.

These hotels also offer additional meetings rooms if needed.

At the nearby Hampton Inn and Suites Port Allen, you can relax in a Hampton Inn & Suites fresh Hampton Bed® in front of your 32-inch flat-screen TV. Accessible rooms and suites have lowered amenities for comfort.

Work from the comfort of your room with free high-speed internet access. You can host meetings for up to 100 guests at Hampton Inn & Suites Port Allen and rent A/V from its business center to make presentations easy.

Your stay at Holiday Inn Express Port Allen will be unforgettable, which is why it offers quality amenities, including an indoor heated pool, free highspeed, wireless internet access and an expanded and wellequipped Fitness Center. Be sure to start each morning with the free Express Start Breakfast Bar, which features hot items. ■

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WEST BATON ROUGE CONFERENCE CENTER • Number of meeting rooms: 6 • Maximum seating capacity Four meeting rooms: 50 One board room: 12 Banquet Hall: 450 • Catering: 9 approved providers HAMPTON INN PORT ALLEN • Number of guest rooms: 86 • Internet: Complimentary wired and wireless high-speed access • Dining: Complimentary free hot breakfast available • Location: Within five miles of downtown Baton Rouge, Raising Cane’s River Center and the LSU campus • Rates: Special group rates available • Phone: 225-389-6655 • Address: 2755 Commercial Drive, Port Allen, LA 70767 HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS & SUITES PORT ALLEN • Number guest rooms: 89 • Maximum seating capacity Large meeting room: 65 Conference room: 8 • Fitness center: Large full-size room • Dining: Complimentary breakfast • Phone: 225-343-9967 • Address: 2860 N. Westport Drive, Port Allen, LA 70767

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RECENT RENOVATIONS to the Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel make it the city’s premier event venue! It boasts more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including 18 different rooms. The spaces are flexible and can easily accommodate corporate meetings, lunches and breakout sessions. The new, modern ballroom, featuring wood-paneled doors, bronze accents and geometric lighting, offers over 6,000 square feet, which can accommodate up to 900 people for a theater experience or 600 people for a sit-down banquet. This property is now the perfect fit for various special events, from conventions to banquets to weddings! Catering for events is available through the hotel’s new dining option, Stinky’s Fish Camp.

• Nearby attractions: Citiplace and Towne Center malls, LSU, Knock Knock Museum, Rural Life Center, Downtown • Credit cards accepted: All major cards • Internet: High Speed Wi-Fi, fees may apply • Business center: Yes • Total number of guest rooms: 297 • Total number of suites: 2 • Total non-smoking rooms: 299 • Fitness center: Yes • Complimentary breakfast: No • Onsite parking available: Yes • Valet parking available: No • Number of meeting/conf. rooms: 18 • Total meeting space: 20,000 square feet • Onsite catering: Yes • Website: marriott.com/btrmc • Phone: (225) 924-5000 • Address: 5500 Hilton Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

L’AUBERGE BATON ROUGE Casino and Hotel is a unique casino entertainment complex featuring an expansive singlelevel, 74,000-square-foot casino; a 12-story hotel with unique rooftop pool and state-of-the-art fitness center overlooking the Mississippi River; four dining outlets; and a casino nightclub with breathtaking views of the river. Rated among the nation’s elite lodging facilities, L’Auberge has earned the prestigious AAA Four Diamond designation.

• Nearby attractions: Louisiana State University, Tiger Stadium, Alex Box Stadium and downtown Baton Rouge • Internet: Free Wi-Fi in guest rooms and meeting rooms • Business center: Yes • Pet policy: No pets • Total number of guest rooms: 205 • Total number of suites: 30 • Total non-smoking rooms: 205 • Fitness center: Yes • Complimentary breakfast: No • Onsite parking available: Yes • Valet parking available: Yes • Number of meeting/conference rooms: 3 • Total meeting space: 15,000 square feet • Maximum seating capacity.

Event Center with concert seating for 1,400 people or banquet seating for up to 800; Chatsworth Room is a multipurpose space for 15-75 people; Executive Board Room can seat 10 people; outdoor festival grounds have capacity for 2,500 • On-site catering: Yes • Website: lbatonrouge.com • Phone: (225) 224-4139 • Address: 777 L’Auberge Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70820

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Baton Rouge

Hospitality AT A GLANCE

Number of attendees at conventions and meetings OVER

181,000 Total room nights booked

Keep up with events in Baton Rouge at www.visitbatonrouge.com

69,322

Number of conventions and meetings held in 2017

330 BOOKED BY VISIT BATON ROUGE

Organizations serviced*

608 *This number includes groups not directly booked by Visit Baton Rouge

EXPERIENCE

SOURCE: Visit Baton Rouge

elevated

BOOK NOW TO SEE OUR NEW LOOK

Every stay makes a difference 3848 W. Lakeshore Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 thecookhotel.com 225.383.2665 Located on LSU campus

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