Visit Lake Charles (VLC) is proud to announce Louisiana’s Playground has been recognized with three awards at this year’s Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Louey Award celebration and two Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy (LTLA) graduations in Lafayette on Jan. 22.
The Louey Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and service in the Louisiana tourism industry and honor individuals and organizations whose leadership has transformed communities. The LTLA graduation ceremony commemorates the completion of a yearlong training program designed to continue educating the next generation of tourism professionals.
Restaurateur of the Year: Eric Avery
A native of Sulphur, Louisiana, Eric Avery is recognized for redefining Southwest Louisiana’s culinary and cultural landscape. As founder of Crying Eagle Brewing Company, Avery transformed a simple question: “Why doesn’t Lake Charles have a brewery?”, into one of the largest microbrewery restaurants in the country, welcoming more than 200,000 guests annually.
From award-winning craft beers to live music, community events, and innovative cuisine, Crying Eagle has become a cornerstone of regional tourism. In 2025, Avery expanded his vision with the opening of Crying Eagle Lakefront, a waterfront destination that has quickly become a must-visit experience for locals and visitors alike.
“This award is incredibly humbling,” Avery said. “Crying Eagle has always been about bringing people together and creating a place where community, culture, and hospitality intersect. None of this would be possible without our family, our team, and a community that believed in the vision from the very beginning.”
Tourism Event of the Year: Smoke & Barrel
What began as a small gathering between friends on the banks of the Calcasieu River has grown into one of Southwest Louisiana’s most celebrated destination festivals. Smoke & Barrel, is a high-quality culinary and spirits-centered event that attracts visitors all while giving back to the community.
Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Smoke & Barrel, Inc. produces three annual festivals — Smoke & Barrel Lake Charles, Smoke & Barrel Lafayette, and Rum Revival. Through those events the organization blends bourbon, barbecue, Caribbean heritage, and philanthropy into unforgettable experiences. In 2024 alone, the festival generated more than $700,000 in total business sales and donated $30,000 to United Way of Southwest Louisiana’s SUCCESS BY 6 initiative.
“Smoke & Barrel was built on friendship, community, and the belief that great events can make a real difference,” said Nathaniel Allured and Adam Fontenot, founders of the nonprofit and festival. “To see it recognized at this level is an honor, and it reinforces our mission to create experiences that not only bring people together, but also give back to the communities we're proud to serve across Louisiana."
Will Mangham Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award: Anne Taber Klenke
For more than 35 years, Anne Taber Klenke has quietly shaped how the world experiences Southwest Louisiana and the state as a whole. Her career spans the Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (now the LTA), The Graham Group, and Visit Lake Charles, where she most recently served as vice president of destination development and community engagement.
Klenke’s influence can be seen in legacy projects such as the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, international tourism partnerships, and community-centered destination development initiatives. Known for her compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in tourism as a force for good, Klenke’s impact continues to be felt across the state.
“I have always believed that tourism is really about people — the people who live here and the people who come to experience our communities,” Klenke said. “I am deeply grateful for this honor and for the many colleagues and partners who have made this journey so meaningful.”
Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy Graduates: Toni Chapman and Emily Treme
During the Louisiana Travel Association’s Annual Meeting this month in Lafayette, Toni Chapman, digital content manager, and Emily Treme, director of association sales at VLC, were recognized as 2025 LTLA graduates. Chapman and Treme successfully completed the association’s training program. They were two of the over 20 graduates who were honored.
LTLA was created to build future tourism leaders, develop their leadership skills and strengthen their networks, therefore enriching their tourism-related organizations. Visit Lake Charles proudly has 15 LTLA Graduates to date.
“These honorees represent the very best of Southwest Louisiana tourism,” said Kyle Edmiston, the president and CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “Eric Avery, Smoke & Barrel, and Anne Taber Klenke have each made a lasting impact by elevating experiences, supporting their communities, and showing how tourism can be a powerful driver of pride and economic growth. I am also proud of the work of Toni and Emily and their commitment to expanding their knowledge of the Louisiana tourism industry. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the legacy they continue to build.”
Download the honorees and graduates’ photos here.
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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 VisitLakeCharles.org.
About the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA)
LTA is a trade association leading and strengthening Louisiana’s vibrant tourism industry through promotion, education and advocacy on behalf of our members. Tourism generated $18.5 billion for Louisiana in 2024 and employs more than 224,600 people statewide, remaining the 4th largest employer in the state.
