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Dear Tourism Stakeholder,
Voici les nouvelles (Here is the news):
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Iberian Ambassadors of the Week
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April 22
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Iberia Parish Tourist Commission Meeting, 10:30 a.m. at IPCVB
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Gracias, merci, thank you!
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Madame Jane Braud for the artwalk map.
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- Monsieur Alex Palmer toured our area on April 4 for an article to be published in the New York Daily News. Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens offered a complimentary two-nights stay to Monsieur Palmer at its B&B. Our attractions provided free admission and IPCVB hosted lunch and dinner.
 | | From left, Monsieur Alex Palmer, writer with the New York Daily News; Madame Tasha Dugas, marketing representative at Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens; and Monsieur Mike Richard, owner of Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens. |
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We had two more media tours last week:
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Monsieur Ingle Werk toured our area on April 14. He's writing a travel guide book about the Bayou Teche region. His son Corey with Bayou Teche Experience leads eco adventures in the Bayou Teche region from his location in Breaux Bridge and is the planner for Cajun Classique. Our attractions provided complimentary admission.
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Monsieur Bob Jenkins, a freelance travel writer, toured our area on April 15. IPCVB provided breakfast and lunch, Super 8 provided a room and our attractions offered complimentary admission.
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- IPCVB's interpretative panels were installed on April 9 at four different locations in New Iberia: in front of City Hall, Shadows-on-the-Teche, Bayou Teche Museum and the Episcopal Church. IPCVB will hold an official unveiling during National Tourism and Travel Week next month.
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Help us spread the word about the Joe Daigre Bridge Grand Opening Walk to be hosted by the 6th grade class of the Iberia Parish Gifted and Talented Program. They are preselling T-shirts to commemorate the event. T-shirt order forms are available at New Iberia City Hall, West End Park, New Iberia City Park and the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce. All proceeds will be donated to purchase new playground equipment for West End Park. Connect with them on Facebook.
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- Our brand new pocket guides are in! Contact our office if you would like to distribute them at your business.
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- Cooper Street, a new coffee house just opened at 214 Cooper Street in Jeanerette.
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Marketing & Funding Opportunities
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 SOCIAL MEDIA/WEB TIP #31: Offer downloadable material on your website. Some travelers don't always have access to the Internet while on the road. Give them the option to download your pdf content (ie. restaurant menu, coupons, map, rack card, etc.) to their mobile devices before their trip for quick reference. We recently added the following to our website:
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Do you want to promote your business/organization/event for free during National travel and Tourism Week? Join the IPCVB in our booth at the Atchafalaya Welcome Center on May 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to promote Iberia Parish. The Atchafalaya Welcome Center receives over 20,000 visitors per year. Don't miss this free marketing opportunity to visit with and thank the staff for promoting Iberia Parish and our region. Contact our office for registration information.
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ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS: the Greater Iberia Chamber is facilitating the Shop Berry Small campaign in a partnership with the IPCVB, City of New Iberia and BestLife Iberia. Take advantage of this free marketing opportunity! Click here for the registration form.
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The Cajun RVera needs your brochures, rack cards, flyers, maps, etc. to distribute to guests. Our visitor guide, the Discover Iberia Community Resource Guide, is being distributed. Contact Madame Bettina Kelly at 337-365-7539, bkelly@sugarena.com
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Is your business a member of the Certified Folder brochure distribution program? You, your employees and dependents could qualify for the Anne Marie Fearn Memorial Scholarship. Deadline: April 30, 2014.
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 We are promoting the Cajun RVera and our tourism assets in a new ad published in the Baton Rouge Advocate's 2014 Vacation & Travel Insert (p. 19). Our ad ran in the New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Acadiana print editions. Lake Fausse Pointe and Cypremort Point State Parks, as well as Jefferson Island Rip Van Winkle Gardens are mentioned in the editorial (p. 20-21).
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- The Louisiana Hometown Network Main Street Road Show featuring Main Street New Iberia will be broadcast on April 28 on Channel 15/16 at 5 p.m.
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 The world premiere of "The Story Of The Cajuns Part I" was held on April 19 at an assisted living residence, Vista Shores, in New Orleans. Cajun Artist, Mary Anne Pecot de Boisblanc, appears in the film and is now at the home.
Footage was shot in Canada, France and Louisiana by award winning filmmaker, Brenda Jepson and her husband Alan in collaboration with Dr. Francoise Paradis, who coaxed amazing stories from Cajuns.
Free showings throughout Acadiana include:
- Lafayette, Vermillionville, April 22, at 6:30 p.m.
- Lafayette, Festival International, April 23 - 27 Continuous Showings @ Chevron Scene/ St. John Street
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- Good Morning America viewers experienced a sample of Louisiana's Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday, thanks to a promotional effort by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, anchor Robin Roberts and spokeswomen for three DMOs. Carolyn Cheramie, Arlene Gould and Dona Richard with the tourist commissions in Lafourche, Natchitoches and St. Martin parishes, respectively, danced with the band donning Mardi Gras masks and boas before tossing Pick Your Passion beads and sharing a king cake with the show's hosts. Roberts, who went to college in Louisiana, got the king cake baby.
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A bientôt (See you soon!)
Welcome Center Open Monday - Saturday
2513 Hwy 14 * New Iberia * Louisiana * 70560
(337) 365-1540 * (888) 942-3742
Visit Our Website
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Writer and show host Dylan Ratigan, who rang the bell for the grand opening of the Creole Market, praises our 
