You’ve heard of Southern hospitality. Add some Cajun seasoning to that and you are on your way to discovering West Baton Rouge’s secret sauce.
Everything here is unique. Warm welcomes are nice, but they’re nothing compared to West Baton Rouge rolling out the red carpet. We all love a good restaurant, but few compare to our destination’s down-home fare. And, most of all, everyone loves to be treated like royalty, but wait until you see the services the convention and visitors bureau provides.
You’ll feel right at home here. West Baton Rouge’s history and culture shine through all we do. There’s no better experience than the one you and your group will experience here.
Family-friendly enough for famous festivals and professional enough for board meetings and large business gatherings, West Baton Rouge hits that sweet spot planners are looking for when creating experiences their attendees will always remember.
Learn how you can kick it up a notch here.
West Baton Rouge Conference Center
One of the newest and most modern meeting facilities in the Baton Rouge area, this state-of-the-art venue is conveniently located on Interstate 10. It is the very definition of big-city amenities meeting small-town prices.
Professional and experienced staff cater to your group’s needs throughout an event. Start the morning off right with complimentary “Louisiana state" Community Coffee—just a taste of what West Baton Rouge can brew up for you.
Banquet and conference rooms can easily be configured for intimate groups of up to 50—perhaps the size of an in-person group at your hybrid event?—or for large gatherings reaching 299 attendees. The elegance continues through the on-site catering service (no one will complain about the convention food here) and our event planning and support staff monitoring every last detail.
The audiovisual equipment is second to none. Throw in free high-speed internet and web conferencing capabilities, and this is a venue for today’s time—fully capable of hosting large in-person meetings and hybrid events.
Plus, for a break, attendees can take a refreshing walk along the half-mile trail on the campus grounds. The conference center is also within walking distance of several hotels along I-10.
Explore History
There is no duplicating West Baton Rouge’s history and culture. Embrace our deep roots with itineraries exploring your group’s surroundings.
Journey to Plantation Country North to gain a better understanding of where we’ve been as a country while enjoying some beautiful properties. Rosedown Plantation, Myrtles Plantation and Greenwood Plantation are historic homes with distinct legends—if only the ghosts could talk at Myrtles. These grounds are emblematic of the antebellum and served as the backdrop for many films. Attendees will enjoy the beauty and elegance these excursions provide while gaining a true sense of place.
Pay respects to past generations with a group stop at Scott Cemetery, hallowed grounds dating back to the 1850s, where some of the region’s important African Americans are buried.
West Baton Rouge Museum tells the story of sugar agriculture from the Civil War through the Civil Rights era. The 4-acre campus includes seven historic structures detailing life and struggles through different American eras. The museum is located within the parish's old Greek Revival-style courthouse and showcases a 22-foot working sugar mill model resembling those used in the early 1900s. Customized tours will resume once the pandemic passes.
Natural Wonders
Mother Nature did right by West Baton Rouge. In this new climate of events, take advantage of beautiful sights like Mississippi Riverfront 
Overlook. The development includes a pedestrian promenade with special architectural paving, a gazebo, viewing benches and more. It is a natural for allowing attendees to maintain social distancing while still enjoying themselves immensely during a reception or off-site activity.
Another idea is a morning 5K or organized bike ride to take advantage of the trails. Attendees can follow the mighty Mississippi River along the West Baton Rouge Heritage Trailway, including the DeSoto Levee Top Trail. The 5-mile path from Brusly to Addis is an ideal break from addictive phone checking. The surroundings are so gorgeous, this can be a worthwhile moment for self-reflection, or use the surroundings to inspire conversations among attendees for better ways to do business in the future.
Off to the Races
Get your delegates back on track with a day or night at State Capitol Raceway. Any event there is a true experience, filled with the thrill of the crowd and noise of cars drag racing. Attendees will be talking about this excursion for years to come.
Home Cooking
There’s never a bad day for a po’boy or Creole cooking. Our many restaurants exude the very culture and hospitality that make West Baton Rouge a marvelous host. Cou-Yon’s is famous for its Texas-style barbecue and smoked meats that can feed an army of hungry attendees. Two food trucks are available in addition to its Port Allen brick-and-mortar home. Bergeron’s, Court Street Cafe and DC’s Grill are among the other unique options that provide a distinctive taste to any meeting.
There’s Always a Reason to Celebrate
West Baton Rouge is so full of life in part because of the lively festivals that inject so much joy into the community.
Kite Fest Louisiane’ is known as one of the best events in the Southeast. Each May, the skies are filled with magical kites till sundown, when fireworks mark the occasion. Sugar Fest is as sweet as an event can be in the fall. Plan around this grand party so attendees can experience living history demonstrations, food, mule-driven grinding, music, a cakewalk and more. You don’t have to be of a certain age to enjoy the Oldies But Goodies Fest, which features live music and dancing, an antique car show, hula hoop and jitterbug contests, and a poker run during a remarkable two days of festivities. And nobody celebrates the holidays quite like we do, whether it be Mardi Gras parades, Fourth Fest, Veterans on Parade or the Westside Christmas Fest.
While many of the festivities took a pause in 2020, we can’t wait to bring them back with you in attendance this year. Whether your event intersects with one of these festivals or not, there’s no escaping the spirit and care our community puts into showing its guests a good time.
The Price Is Right
Come on down here for affordable, family-friendly lodging that includes national brands and local establishments. The prices might be friendly for your budget, but that hardly compares to the kindness and care your attendees will receive. All of the hotels are easily accessible off I-10, the first sign of the convenience we offer.
Location, Location, Location
There’s no escaping that West Baton Rouge is in such a desirable location. The parish is minutes from Baton Rouge, home of Louisiana State University (geaux Tigers!), and less than an hour from New Orleans and Lafayette and Louisiana's Cajun country. This is a region with filled with spirit, personality and some of the best food you’ll ever try.
West Baton Rouge is "On the River, On the Way" to the best experience that South Louisiana has to offer.
-Guest Blog - Brought to you by the West Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Office of Tourism from Connect Meetings