April highlighted the impact of Visit Lake Charles’ work across media coverage, industry engagement and community initiatives. This Tourism Works includes national placements featuring Southwest Louisiana’s food, road trip and outdoor experiences, updates on media familiarization tours that connect travel writers with local businesses, leadership participation in key industry events and advocacy efforts at the federal level, along with community projects and major destination milestones that show how tourism works to drive visibility and support local businesses across the region.
Visit Lake Charles Impact
From Visit to Visibility: Why FAM Tours Work for SWLA
Visit Lake Charles is delivering a strong start to 2026 by connecting national travel media directly with the local businesses that define Southwest Louisiana. Through strategic media familiarization tours, our team creates meaningful opportunities for restaurants, attractions and cultural partners to be experienced firsthand and shared with audiences across the country.
Through the first quarter, Visit Lake Charles, led by Director of Public Relations Devan Corbello, hosted nine journalists, resulting in coverage in leading publications including Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, National Geographic and AFAR. To date, those visits have led to 26 published articles, generating more than 1.1 billion impressions and over $10 million in publicity value. Each story highlights the people and businesses that make this destination unique, helping drive awareness that turns into visitation.
In March, Visit Lake Charles hosted travel writers Jenny Block and Rachel Pinn for a girls’ weekend getaway that showcased a range of local experiences. Their itinerary highlighted downtown Lake Charles, locally owned restaurants, art spaces and cultural attractions, along with resort properties and signature events such as Rum Revival, giving a well-rounded look at how visitors experience the destination.
Later that month, a Cajun and Creole heritage familiarization tour brought five travel writers through the flavors, music and traditions that shape Southwest Louisiana. The group experienced a private cooking demonstration at B&O Grocery with owner Jeff Benoit and an intimate zydeco performance with Sean Ardoin, offering a deeper connection to the region’s culture.
Writers dined at a wide range of local businesses, including Calla, Beauxdine’s, Lighthouse Bend, Darrell’s, The Bekery, Restaurant Calla, Augustine, Luna South, Coffee:30, The Village Coffeehouse and Biscuits & Jamz.
The experience also included visits to key cultural attractions such as the Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center and Port Wonder, ensuring local partners were front and center throughout the visit.
In April, individual visits continued with writers Melanie Smith and Jason Phillips. Phillips’ itinerary focused on the Creole Nature Trail, highlighting the outdoor experiences that define the region’s natural landscape and further expanding the range of partners featured.
Familiarization tours remain one of the most effective ways Visit Lake Charles supports the local tourism economy. By giving media direct access to local businesses, these visits translate into national storytelling that extends far beyond a single trip, creating long-term visibility and new opportunities for partners across Southwest Louisiana.
Corbello is continuing to expand Visit Lake Charles’ media outreach efforts, most recently attending the Travel South Global Summit in Mobile, where he met with more than 40 international travel writers. These one-on-one appointments help build relationships that bring new storytelling opportunities to Southwest Louisiana and, most importantly, to the local businesses that make the destination stand out.
As Visit Lake Charles continues to grow its network of media partners, the organization is focused on creating more opportunities for local businesses to be featured in future familiarization tours and media coverage.
If you are a local business interested in being part of upcoming media visits and storytelling opportunities, Visit Lake Charles encourages you to reach out to learn how we can work together to showcase your business to a broader audience. Email Corbello at dcorbello@visitlakecharles and Candy Rodriguez, director of communications, at crodriguez@visitlakecharles.org.
Around the Destination
Lake Charles Celebrates Opening of Mardi Gras Museum
Visit Lake Charles welcomed a vibrant, destination-defining landmark with the grand opening of the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, located in the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District. Replacing the original museum lost during Hurricane Laura, the reimagined space marked a major milestone in the region’s resurgence and became part of more than $50 million in new cultural attractions across Southwest Louisiana. The expanded museum features the world’s largest display of Mardi Gras costumes and offers a 6,000-square-foot, immersive journey through local Carnival traditions, from intricate, hand-crafted gowns to interactive exhibits exploring float-building, parade experiences and the stories behind more than 60 active krewes. Visitors can also experience Cajun and Creole culture, King Cake traditions and the full Mardi Gras season in a dynamic, sensory-rich setting designed to celebrate the artistry and heritage that define the region. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with admission set at $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and military, and $8 for children, and discounted group rates are available.
VLC Team Helps Nellie Lutcher Cultural District Shine
Ahead of the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu grand opening, the Visit Lake Charles team took part in Love the Boot Week 2026, supporting a cleanup effort in the Nellie Lutcher Cultural District. Our team helped prepare the corridor to ensure a welcoming experience for both visitors and residents, and it is rewarding to see that work come full circle as the museum now celebrates the culture and traditions that define Southwest Louisiana.
Visit Lake Charles on the Geaux
Bringing Southwest Louisiana’s Voice to Capitol Hill
Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of Visit Lake Charles, joined the Louisiana delegation in Washington for the Destination Capitol Hill, hosted by the U.S. Travel Association, to advocate for policies that support the future of travel. During meetings with members of Congress and Senate offices, discussions focused on protecting domestic air travel during government shutdowns, maintaining the Visa Waiver Program, opposing proposed visa fee increases and strengthening international visitation efforts through continued support of Brand USA. These priorities directly impact destinations like Southwest Louisiana, where tourism supports local jobs, drives visitor spending and strengthens small businesses. By engaging in these conversations at the national level, Visit Lake Charles helps ensure policies remain in place that keep the U.S. competitive and communities like ours accessible and ready to welcome visitors.
Building Opportunity Through Sports Tourism
Eric Zartler, executive director of the Lake Charles Regional Sports Authority and senior vice president of sports for Visit Lake Charles, represented Southwest Louisiana at two key industry events focused on growing sports tourism. Zartler attended the NJCAA Annual Conference in Denton, following Lake Charles’ first year hosting the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship, to strengthen relationships and position the destination for future championship opportunities. He also attended the Sports ETA Symposium, where destinations connect directly with event organizers responsible for bringing competitions to communities nationwide. These efforts play a critical role in how tourism works, helping secure future events that drive hotel stays, support local restaurants and generate lasting economic impact across Southwest Louisiana.
Aubrey Caldwell Honored at 2026 eTourism Summit
Visit Lake Charles is proud to share that Sports Events and Marketing Manager Aubrey Caldwell, MBA attended the 2026 eTourism Summit in Louisville, where she was recognized as an eTourism Emerging Tourism Star. This national honor highlights rising leaders shaping the future of travel, and Aubrey’s impact is evident across Southwest Louisiana through her work in sports marketing and large-scale event coordination. While at the summit, she also served as a panelist alongside fellow honorees, sharing insights with industry leaders from across the country. Her recognition reflects both her recent promotion and the continued growth of Lake Charles as a premier destination.
Matt Young Represents VLC at City Nation Place Americas
Matt Young, senior director of community engagement at Visit Lake Charles, recently attended City Nation Place Americas 2026 in Vancouver, joining more than 200 place leaders from around the world, alongside partners from Visit Shreveport-Bossier and New Orleans & Company. The conference reinforced a clear takeaway: strong destinations are built from within. Through collaboration, authentic storytelling and data-driven advocacy, Visit Lake Charles continues to strengthen Southwest Louisiana as a place residents are proud to call home and visitors are eager to experience.
Empowering Women Leaders in Tourism
Visit Lake Charles was proud to have Taylor Beard Stanley, vice president of sales, Shanna Landry, chief operating officer, and Heather Savoie, senior vice president of finance, represent the organization at the Louisiana Travel Association’s Women in Leadership Forum hosted by Visit Baton Rouge. Opportunities like this strengthen leadership, foster collaboration and bring fresh perspective to our work, ultimately supporting the local businesses, partners and visitor experiences that drive tourism in Southwest Louisiana.
In the News
Mardi Gras Museum Announcement: Media Reach Results
The announcement of the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu and milestone year generated significant national visibility for Southwest Louisiana, resulting in 1,347 media placements and more than 233.9 million in reach through a national wire distribution.
This level of exposure expands awareness of the destination at scale, positioning Lake Charles as a cultural hub and reinforcing its appeal to travelers seeking authentic, experience-driven destinations. Broad media reach like this supports long-term visitation by keeping Southwest Louisiana top of mind across diverse audiences.
Latest Headlines
AFAR: “The Best U.S. Road Trips in the South”
AFAR featured Lake Charles and Vinton in its roundup of the best U.S. road trips in the South, highlighting the stretch of Interstate 10 between Lafayette and Texas as a hub for some of the region’s best boudin.
This placement positions Southwest Louisiana as a key stop along a broader travel journey, capturing road trip audiences already in motion. By showcasing local flavors and experiences along a major corridor, the coverage encourages travelers to stop, explore and spend time in the region, directly benefiting local businesses and extending visitor stays. Read More
Southern Living: “Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail and Famous Foods”
Southern Living featured Southwest Louisiana’s Boudin Trail and iconic local cuisine, spotlighting the region’s rich culinary heritage and the small businesses that define it.
Coverage in Southern Living places Southwest Louisiana in front of a highly engaged audience that values food-driven travel. By highlighting signature experiences like the Boudin Trail, the story drives visitation to local restaurants and specialty food stops, supporting the culinary economy and reinforcing the region’s reputation as a must-visit food destination. Read More
FinanceBuzz: “Most Popular Lake Towns to Visit”
Lake Charles was named the most popular lake town to visit in Louisiana by FinanceBuzz, highlighting the destination’s growing appeal among travelers seeking waterfront experiences.
This recognition reinforces Lake Charles’ positioning as an accessible, drive-market destination and introduces the region to new audiences researching travel inspiration. Placements like this help attract visitors looking for outdoor recreation, scenic experiences and relaxed getaways, driving interest that supports local businesses and accommodations. Read More
