News from IPCVB Oct. 1, 2013

NEWS FROM IPCVB

Events Merci Industry News Marketing Media Web Louisiana

Oct. 1, 2013

Dear Tourism Stakeholder,

Voici les nouvelles (Here is the news):

Iberian Ambassador of the Week

Margaret Melancon with winning flower specimens

Congratulations Madame Margaret Melancon, Iberia Parish Tourist Commissioner, for placing at the Louisiana Garden Club Federation's Southwest Judges Council on Sept. 17 in Houma. Madame Margaret's rose (pictured left behind her) won first place in the rose category and her geranium (pictured right) won first place and an award of merit in the annuals category.

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Meetings and Events

Oct. 5-6	Auditions for IPAL's holiday production
Oct. 11-13	Navy Air and Cajun Fare
Oct. 22	Iberia Parish Tourist Commission Meeting, 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 23	Iberia Cultural Resources Association's Fall Meeting

Gracias, merci, thank you!

Gracias TABASCO® and KONRIKO® for providing 50 giveaway items, and Acadiana Bayous and Byways for donating a cookbook for the grand opening of Pride Vacations in Denham Springs, La. They also have an office in Yazoo City, MS. IPCVB provided Tour to Savor brochures and the Iberia Parish Professional Travel Planner.

Thank you Madame Gail Garcia for sending us the press release for the Louisiana Scandals History Talk to be held next Wednesday at the Jeanerette Museum.

Merci Madame Cathy Indest with Iberia Cultural Resources Assoc. for sending us information for the press release on New Iberia Beneath the Balconies.

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Industry News

Welcome Madame Pam Blanchard, Super 8's new GM!

Check out the progress on the Jeanerette Museum annex expansion. The museum still has free outdoor space available for artists and crafters that wish to sell items during Jeanerette Museum Day Live! to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 19.

IPCVB's Executive Director Fran Thibodeaux and her husband David were honored to be the Grand Marshals of the Royalty Parade at the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival last Sunday.

Did you know that 43 percent of overseas travelers who have visited our country say they will recommend avoiding a trip to the U.S. because of hassles involving the entry process? Millions of travelers are choosing not to come to the U.S. because our current entry process is often slow and at times confusing, creating an unwelcoming environment for guests visiting the U.S. and negatively impacting our economy. Click here for the full report. Please advocate for this travel issue.

Café le Jardin is now serving lunch at the Ramada Conference Center in New Iberia. Visit their facebook page for daily lunch specials.

IPCVB is partnering with tour operator Allons à Lafayette to target student tours in Acadiana and around Louisiana. We will include this itinerary in our Iberia Parish Official Group Planner when communicating with schools and youth groups.

Marketing & Funding Opportunities

SOCIAL MEDIA TIP #7: YouTube. Make sure to post videos on YouTube, the second search engine in the world after Google. Learn more about YouTube.

We are requesting donations for gifts, meals and accommodations to put together a weekend getaway for our upcoming Facebook photo contest. If you can contribute a prize, please contact our office.

Halloween is right around the corner. Send us your halloween recipes, pictures and videos to be featured in our consumer newsletter, "Iberia's Sweet Picks," and our social media channels.

Many of the Louisiana Office of Tourism travel trade endeavors offer stakeholder buy-in marketing opportunities. Details here. For more information contact our office.

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Iberia in the Media

Kudos to Nicole Patin for promoting Tour du Teche on KLFY. Watch the video.

Read how this Country Roads magazine writer would spend "36 hours in New Iberia" in the October issue.

The Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival made it in Louisiana Cookin's and Country Roads' e-newsletters. It was also featured on KATC and in the Sept./Oct. issue of Louisiana Kitchen and Culture (p. 81). Get your complimentary copy of Louisiana Cookin' and Louisiana Kitchen and Culture at our welcome center.

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On the Web

Last Tuesday was TABASCO®Tuesday on the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Association's facebook page.

LouisianaTravel.com promoted the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival on its facebook page last week.

Duffy's Diner is now on facebook.

Missed a newsletter? No problem. Log on to our Iberian Ambassadors page and consult our archive. Password: IberianAmbassador1.

Louisiana and Beyond

Former Governor Edwin Edwards, who spoke last week in New Iberia at the Beneath the Balconies' fundraiser, will have his own reality show. See the article and video.

Did you know that more and more travelers seek out local information via their mobile devices? Among US leisure travelers with a household income of at least $50,000 who took a trip at least 75 miles from home in 2012, 62% used smartphones this year, and 43% used tablets. Read more.

A bientôt (See you soon!)

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2513 Hwy 14 * New Iberia * Louisiana * 70560

(337) 365-1540 * (888) 942-3742

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