Anna Strider, director of digital strategy and online marketing for Visit Lake Charles, was recently honored with the Emerging Leader Rising Star Award by the Travel & Tourism Research Association (TTRA) at the association’s Marketing Outlook conference in Houston.

 

“Since joining Visit Lake Charles, Anna has demonstrated leadership, dedication to excellence, and a desire to focus on data and research to make informed decisions that move the needle when it comes to inspiring visitation through online strategies,” said Kyle Edmiston, president/CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “ She is very deserving of this honor, and the team at Visit Lake Charles is proud of her achievement.”

 

Strider was hired as the director of digital strategy and online marketing at Visit Lake Charles in February of 2022. Since joining the organization, Strider's role in data analysis and website management has reshaped the destination’s strategic decision-making for digital advertising, content development, and research implementation. She’s helped identify new demographic trends to expand marketing reach in Austin and San Antonio, which increased web traffic and visitation, ultimately resulting in the organization being awarded Campaign of the Year by the Louisiana Travel Association. In addition to online marketing, she is also a co-host of the new Louisiana’s Playground podcast, working with co-host Brady Renard to create dynamic strategies to reach engaged listeners. She previously worked as the manager of marketing and public relations at St. Tammany Parish CVB/Louisiana's Northshore. 

 

She currently serves on the U.S. Travel Association’s Research Advisory Committee and the Southeast Tourism Society’s Networking committee. Locally, Strider is a Fusion Five Young Professionals member, sits on the Lake Charles Downtown Business Association board, and she is a member of the Just Imagine SWLA’s McNeese Resiliency Committee. In October 2022, Anna was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority by the Mayor Nic Hunter.

 

She is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University, earning both her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Management in 2017 and MBA in 2018. She also completed the 2020 Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy’s program by the Louisiana Travel Association.

 

For more information on TTRA, go to www.ttra.com.

 

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For more than 45 years, TTRA has been the industry’s go-to for evidence-based, global data and analysis. The association unites the travel and tourism research community – university academics, professional practitioners, and users of research – so they can network and collaborate in person and across borders.