Press Releases

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Announces Return of Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown in 2024

Raceland, Louisiana (August, 22, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the destination management organization for Lafourche Parish, announced they have once again been selected as the host of the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown, a premier roller derby tournament composed of teams from across the United States. Following its inaugural success in 2023, the competition will make its return to Warren J. Harang Auditorium in Thibodaux the weekend of February 22-25, 2024.

The event will be hosted as part of a joint effort from Team Louisiana Roller Derby, the state’s collective all-star roller derby team, and Red Stick Roller Derby Juniors, the Baton Rouge-based youth roller derby team. In early 2023, the City of Thibodaux welcomed nearly 500 participating athletes, coaches, and officials, making it one of the largest events to take place in Lafourche Parish.

The economic impact for the City of Thibodaux from the 2023 tournament resulted in 400 room nights at local hotels and Airbnb’s. It is also estimated over 900 meals were consumed at local restaurants, and additional visitor spending was made at local attractions and shops in the community.

“After a successful first year, we are excited to see the return of the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown to Thibodaux” said President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Cody A. Gray. “Events like these bring in visitors from across the country and provide significant economic activity in our parish. We sincerely appreciate the tournament organizers for choosing Lafourche Parish to host their exciting event for the second year in a row.”

Details about the 2024 tournament including the announcement of the teams competing, the competition format, ticket information and more will be coming soon! For further information about the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown, visit their website linked below. For vendor/sponsorship opportunities, contact Kaitlyn Estes, Tournament Organizer at [email protected].

https://www.yallstars.com/ 

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Celebrates Acadian Heritage Day Following Cultural Immersion Trip to Nova Scotia

Raceland, Louisiana (August 15, 2023) – In July 2022, tourism officials representing Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, the Municipality of Clare in Nova Scotia, Yarmouth & Acadian Shores in Nova Scotia, and the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024 announced a historic partnership with the intent to bring two regions with close ties to the Acadian culture closer together, in a campaign titled “From Acadian to Cajun: Two Countries, One Culture.” In a continued effort to strengthen the partnership and to recognize and embrace Lafourche Parish’s deep Acadian roots, members of the staff of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism returned from a cultural immersion and media trip to Nova Scotia the first week of August 2023. They were accompanied by a travel journalist who had recently visited Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.

The Acadian culture, deeply rooted in both Louisiana and Nova Scotia, is a celebration of resilience, language, music, cuisine and traditions that have been passed down for generations. Louisiana's Cajun Bayou Tourism believes that cultural tourism plays a vital role in preserving the legacy of the Acadian and Cajun people. Engaging visitors in the traditions, language and customs of the culture creates a deeper appreciation and understanding, encouraging future generations to continue passing down these treasured traditions.The tourism office’s goal with this trip was to experience the Acadian lifestyle so its staff can better understand the origins of the Cajun culture and the connections between the two countries, as well as demonstrate the ongoing partnership to an influential travel journalist.

Upon arrival in Nova Scotia, Cody Gray and Ian Wallis of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism met with the Executive Director of the Congrès Mondial Acadien 2024, Vaughne Madden, and members of the Municipality of Clare. At this meeting, the officials exchanged gifts, acknowledging and celebrating their partnership and officially welcoming the Louisianans to Canada.
Throughout their time in the area, Gray and Wallis visited many important Acadian historic sites, including the Grand Pre National Historic Site (the site of the Acadian Deportation), Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (the Acadian Village) Le Musee des Acadiens des Pubnico (the Acadian Museum & Archives), and the University of St. Anne. They toured Tusket Island, accompanied by Colton LeBlanc, the Minister of Acadian Affairs, and Sally Kenney, the Family Reunions Coordinator for CMA 2024. To experience Louisiana from the Canadian point of view, the pair was invited by Daniel LeBlanc, the Director of the Festival Acadien de Clare, to attend a “Louisiana Night”-themed event, where they were recognized and introduced to the community.

After the team returned to Louisiana on August 8, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III signed a proclamation recognizing August 15 as Acadian Heritage Day in Lafourche Parish. This proclamation acknowledges the work being done to promote the Acadian and Cajun culture in the parish.
To learn more about the Acadian to Cajun partnership and all of the ways visitors can experience Cajun culture on a visit to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, please visit https://www.lacajunbayou.com/from-acadian-to-cajun. 

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Announces Takeover of Lafourche Pavilion Operations

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Honors Tourism Partners at 2023 Bayou Ambassador Awards Luncheon

Raceland, Louisiana (May 11, 2023) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, the destination management organization for Lafourche Parish, honored five tourism partners with their Bayou Ambassador Awards in recognition of their dedicated service to the tourism industry in Lafourche Parish.

The Jean Lafitte Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux was selected as Attraction of the Year, Grady V’s Restaurant in Thibodaux was selected as Restaurant of the Year, the 2022 French Food Festival in Cut Off was selected as Event of the Year, and Ms. Tiffany Dardar, Sales Manager at the Candlewood Suites in Cut Off was selected as the Hospitality Employee of the Year. The recipients were honored for their exceptional service and commitment to making Lafourche Parish a year-round tourism destination in 2022.

A special award, The Spirit of the Bayou Award, was given to the Cajun Music Preservation Society. This award was created to honor a tourism partner who embraces the true authentic brand of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou as someone who whole-heartedly encompasses the spirit of the bayou. Members of the Cajun Music Preservation Society including Quenton Fontenot, Misty McElroy, Gary LaFleur, and Tysman Charpentier accepted the award.

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism (LCBT) Board Chair, Marguerite Knight-Erwin, delivered a special welcome to guests that included the importance of the visitor economy in Lafourche Parish. Additionally, the President & CEO of LCBT, Cody A. Gray, provided an update on projects he and his organization are working on, including a parish-wide signage project, a new visitor’s center, and the announcement of a revamped Cajun Bayou Food Trail.

“Our Bayou Ambassador Awards and luncheon as a whole is our way of showing thanks and giving back to our tourism partners who show an unwavering support to our overall goal in making Lafourche Parish a premier tourism destination” said Cody A. Gray, President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou. “As we continue to recover from Hurricane Ida and the effects of Covid-19, we appreciate their support and we look forward to working with and supporting them in the future. Congratulations to all of our award winners on their much-deserved recognition.”

The 2023 Bayou Ambassador Awards Luncheon coincides with National Travel & Tourism Week, an annual celebration of the United States tourism industry.

LOUISIANA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION HONORS LOUISIANA’S CAJUN BAYOU WITH 2023 LOUEY AWARD FOR TOURISM CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Annual awards recognize best of the Louisiana tourism industry

Raceland, LA (January 23, 2023) – The Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) introduced Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism as the winner of the 2023 Louey Award for Tourism Campaign of the Year, Campaign Budget up to $29,000, for their historic cross-border partnership and virtual media event: From Acadian to Cajun: Two Countries; One Culture.

The campaign which officially launched in July 2022 was a joint effort between Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, the Congrès de Mondial (CMA 2024), and the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores Tourism Association in Nova Scotia to reconnect two cultures forcibly split apart more than 250 years ago. The partnership launched a one-of-a-kind virtual media event that took place live from Le Ptit Robicheau restaurant in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia and the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute in Thibodaux, Louisiana. With help from local historians, chefs, and musicians from both destinations, 16 top-tier journalists from the United States & Canada were invited to learn more about the two separate, but uncannily similar communities.

“From Acadian to Cajun: Two Countries; One Culture was a culmination of many months of dedicated zoom calls (Most of which took place over 3 different time zones), in-depth research, and rehearsals prior to going live to the media” said Ian Wallis, Sales & Marketing Manager for Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. “It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Louisiana Travel Association for 2023 Tourism Campaign of the Year. Our roots are a big part of our culture here in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, and we are excited to have this partnership in place to promote and educate people about the Acadian-Cajun connection.”

“I am thrilled and could not be any prouder of the recognition received for our organization and parish” said Marguerite Knight-Erwin, chair of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism’s Board of Directors. “Through our strategic and innovative marketing strategy we continue to shine a spotlight on our authentic destination and our unapologetically Cajun culture that defines us.”

With the initial success of this partnership, further collaborations are planned between Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism and officials in Nova Scotia to promote the shared cultures.

To learn more about Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, visit https://www.lacajunbayou.com/

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Wins Bid to Host the 2023 Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown

Raceland, Louisiana (November 16, 2022) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, the destination management organization for Lafourche Parish, has successfully won the hosting rights to the 2023 Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown, a competitive roller derby competition made up of teams from across the United States.

The competition will take place at Warren J. Harang Municipal Auditorium on N. Canal Blvd in Thibodaux the weekend of February 24-26, 2023. It is expected to have a notable economic impact to Lafourche Parish with over 250 hotel room nights anticipated, an estimated 900-1,700 meals consumed at local restaurants, and additional visitor spend on trips to local attractions and shops in Lafourche Parish.

The event is hosted as part of a joint effort by Team Louisiana Roller Derby, the state’s all-star roller derby team, and Red Stick Roller Derby Juniors, the youth roller derby team based in Baton Rouge who put out the initial request for proposal to find a host in late August. Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism immediately worked with Warren J. Harang Auditorium, a venue that has hosted previous roller derby events, to submit a bid.

“We are very excited to welcome the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown to Thibodaux” said Ian Wallis, Sales & Marketing Manager at Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. “They have been an excellent group to work with thus far, and we are very thankful for the team at Harang Auditorium for helping us get this competition to Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.”

In addition to Team LA and Red Stick Roller Derby Juniors, it has already been announced that Team Texas, Team Florida, Chicago Roller Derby, and Team Indigenous Rising, a group of skaters from across the United States with an indigenous background, have signed up to compete. Tickets to attend the competition can be purchased starting Friday, December 9th.

“As our local tourism industry continues to recover from a turbulent two years, we are thrilled to work with Team LA Roller Derby to bring their event to Lafourche Parish” said Cody A. Gray, President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism. “Events such as this bring in significant economic impact to our destination and directly support local businesses and jobs.  We look forward to welcoming these visiting teams to Thibodaux to experience our authentic Cajun culture.”

For more information about the Y’Allstars Southern Skate Showdown visit their website linked below. For vendor/sponsorship opportunities, contact Kaitlyn Estes, Tournament Organizer at [email protected].

Y'Allstars Southern Skate Showdown Website 

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Crosses Country Borders for Historic Partnership

Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism Announces Collaboration with Acadian Regions of Nova Scotia

LOUISIANA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION HONORS LOUISIANA’S CAJUN BAYOU TOURISM & PRESIDENT & CEO, CODY A. GRAY, AS 2022 LOUEY AWARD WINNERS

Raceland, LA (Feb. 7, 2022) – The Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) introduced Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism as the winner of the 2022 Louey Award for Convention & Visitors Bureau of the Year (budget from $500,000 - $999,999) during its Annual Meeting last week in Alexandria, LA.

In addition, President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, Cody A. Gray, received the 2022 Louey Award for Rising Star of the Year.

Thibodaux Named One of the Country’s Coolest Small Towns and One of the Best Small Town Food Scenes.

Raceland, Louisiana (December 2, 2021) – Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism acknowledges that Thibodaux is a small town, but we’re pleased to share the news that our parish seat received two BIG national honors last month. In early November, USA Today 10Best announced that Thibodaux offers the #2-ranked Best Small Town Food Scene anywhere in the United States, thanks in great part to our flourishing Cajun Bayou Food Trail.

This was a Reader’s Choice Award contest, in which the website’s readers – averaging about 5 million per month – vote for their favorite nominees in each category. After four weeks, the votes were tallied and the results are in: Thibodaux (officially) has an amazing food scene. Of course, we knew that already … but now millions of potential visitors from around the country know it, too! We couldn’t have done it without everyone who voted for Thibodaux and, more importantly, all the chefs and restaurants that contribute to our unique food culture here in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou.