VLC Showcases Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana at IPW 2024 in Los Angeles
The Visit Lake Charles (VLC) team made waves at the U.S. Travel Association's IPW 2024 in Los Angeles earlier this month. VLC’s Kyle Edmiston, Timothy Bush, Taylor Beard Stanley, and Kaitlyn Gallegos were there to highlight Lake Charles' unique attractions and hospitality, foster international connections and promote future travel.
IPW is the leading inbound travel trade show, historically generating more than $5.5 billion in future travel by facilitating business between U.S. travel exhibitors and global buyers. This event is crucial for promoting U.S. destinations like Louisiana’s Playground and ensures the country’s position as a top global travel destination. The event also connects VLC with travel buyers and journalists from over 60 countries, allowing the team to showcase the best of what Lake Charles has to offer.
The team also worked with the Louisiana Office of Tourism and Travel South USA to help enhance the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana message to audiences interested in Louisiana and the broader Southern region.
Visit Lake Charles Celebrates National Travel and Tourism Week
Last week marked National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), and Visit Lake Charles celebrated the impact of travel and its role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life for communities across the country, including Southwest Louisiana, by recognizing our partners.
Team members delivered cookies and VLC swag to thank partners for their ongoing support of the destination. The sales team also hosted a luncheon at the Lake Charles Regional Airport to show their appreciation to our transportation partners.
According to research from MMGY Global, Louisiana welcomed 43 million domestic and international visitors in 2023, an increase of 420,000 over 2022. These visitors spent a total of $18.1 billion in 2023, an increase of 5.4% compared to 2022. International visitation showed the most significant gain, increasing 16.9% in 2023, with spending reaching $1.7 billion.
Additionally, in 2023, visitor spending generated $1.9 billion in state and local taxes. Tax revenue generated through travel and tourism spending saves each household in Louisiana $1,098 a year in taxes that would be needed to maintain current services.
Honoring Our Partners at ROSE Awards
In Southwest Louisiana, the travel and tourism industry's significant impact on the community is largely due to our thriving hospitality industry. The hospitality sector, the backbone of our community, plays a crucial role in supporting our economy and creating memorable travel experiences for our visitors and locals alike.
Visit Lake Charles recently celebrated the vital contributions of our workforce in hotels, restaurants, attractions and local businesses during the third annual Rose Awards at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. The evening honored eight remarkable professionals for their dedication and hard work through their roles as hospitality professionals, as well as nine tourism industry professionals who make powerful contributions to Southwest Louisiana through the Legacy Awards. Visit Lake Charles extends its heartfelt gratitude to these partners for their unwavering commitment to hospitality and excellence.