Today, Visit Lake Charles celebrates Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), highlighting the vital role of meetings and events in driving tourism, business, and economic growth in Southwest Louisiana.
Meetings bring visitors who support local businesses and contribute to the economy. In 2024, meeting and event-related travel spending in the U.S. exceeded $126 billion, supporting nearly 620,000 American jobs. Locally, Visit Lake Charles hosted more than 129 meetings and events, generating $30 million in economic impact.
“Meetings bring significant economic benefits while fostering collaboration and business growth,” said Taylor Beard Stanley, the vice president of sales at Visit Lake Charles. “Each event is an opportunity to showcase Southwest Louisiana as a premier destination, driving continued investment in our region.”
Several meetings are happening across the city this week, including conferences at L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, Golden Nugget Lake Charles, Horseshoe Lake Charles, and West-Cal Arena & Events Center. Often years in the making, these gatherings welcome countless attendees who are not only here for the meeting but also enjoy the region’s food, outdoors, and cultural experiences, boosting visitor spending.
In partnership with local venues, meeting facilities, and hotels, the Visit Lake Charles sales team actively pursues and secures meetings and events that drive economic impact while strengthening relationships that keep Southwest Louisiana competitive for future meetings. Additionally, the sales team attends national and regional trade shows, such as Small Market Meetings and Small & Boutique Meetings, that expand opportunities to bring new business to the region.
As GMID highlights the significant economic impact of in-person events, Visit Lake Charles stays focused on generating sustained growth and establishing Southwest Louisiana as a top-tier meetings destination.
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About Visit Lake Charles
Visit Lake Charles, the official destination marketing organization for Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana, is the only organization in Southwest Louisiana providing advocacy, promotion, and education for the tourism industry. For more information on Visit Lake Charles and things to see and do in Louisiana’s Playground, log on to www.visitlakecharles.org.
