For meeting planners, casino resorts can be a winning bet, offering one-stop shopping for lodging, dining, entertainment and conference facilities.
The odds are especially good in the state of Louisiana: The state approved riverboat gaming in 1991, with land-based operations following in 1999.
Today, Louisiana’s casinos hold plenty of aces for planners. With top-notch hospitality and state-of-the-art amenities, these locations provide a winning combination for meetings and events.
Kinder
The largest casino resort in the state, Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder is owned and operated by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. Located in the piney flatlands of Allen Parish, about two hours from Baton Rouge and three hours from both New Orleans and Houston, the resort functions as a standalone destination, with everything a group could need contained on-property. Gambling enthusiasts will find thousands of slot machines and table games, including live poker and bingo, roulette, off-track betting and a sportsbook. The resort has more than 50,000 square feet of meeting space, with a new conference center located next to the golf course that features a ballroom, breakout rooms and event venues.
The resort currently operates three hotels, including the adults-only Grand Hotel and the pet-friendly Inn at Coushatta, as well as an RV park with full hookup pads, its own pool, pickleball courts and one- and two-bedroom chalets. A new eight-story, 204-room hotel is nearing completion and will bring the resort’s total number of guest rooms to more than 1,000.
Multiple dining options include a steakhouse, an Asian restaurant, a food hall located on the casino floor, and two sports bars and grills. A large-scale concert arena hosts nationally touring acts such as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Trace Adkins. During the summer, the Dream Pool complex lures guests with a swim-up bar, splash pad, lazy river and two 40-foot water slides. For golfers, the 18-hole, par 72 championship course of Koasati Pines Golf Club is sure to please.
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge has three casino properties, offering plenty of variety for planners scheduling meetings in the state’s capital. The city’s first land-based casino, The Queen Baton Rouge is within walking distance to Capitol Lake, the Louisiana State Capitol and other downtown destinations. The Queen’s recently renovated meetings and events space features three flexible locations able to accommodate up to 500 guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Mississippi River and provide a desirable backdrop. The Queen has no lodging, but its sister property, Bally’s Baton Rouge, is only 2 miles away on the river, and a shuttle offers convenient transportation between The Queen and the fully renovated 242-room hotel.
The 205-room L’Auberge Baton Rouge boasts a 1,370-seat events center that hosts country music headliners and rock legends, while the outdoor festival grounds, The Lawn, can accommodate up to 3,500 fans. The 13,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom is fully customizable and features state-of-the-art A/V equipment as well as a spacious pre-function area. The hotel’s rooftop pool has cabanas and offers poolside dining and cocktails along with panoramic views.
Shreveport and Bossier City
The combination of Shreveport and Bossier City is a winning pair for meeting planners. Located about 20 miles from the Texas state line and 40 miles from Arkansas, the sister cities straddle the Red River and are a convenient choice in north Louisiana.
Opened one year ago and rebuilt “from the columns up,” the property formerly known as Diamond Jacks in Bossier City is now a luxurious 549-room Curio by Hilton property, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana. The casino resort has undergone a $300 million renovation, ramping up the amenities and constructing an entirely new landside casino with nearly 50,000 square feet of gaming space. Guests will enjoy over 30,000 feet of dining and entertainment options, with 10 new food and beverage concepts including Luk Fu, an open Asian kitchen; The Prime Rib, a sophisticated steakhouse; and Ridotto Grand Cafe, which features decor based on Venice’s historic “Il Ridotto,” which is considered to be Europe’s first casino. A seasonal pool converts into an adults-only space after 6 p.m., and the resort welcomes touring headliners such as 38 Special and JJ Grey & Mofro, while the PBR Cowboy Bar offers live music, watch parties, karaoke and other entertainment.
The 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multipurpose event center offers customizable space that can accommodate up to 1,170 people. The center includes a large ballroom, multiple breakout rooms, expansive pre-function space and an executive boardroom.
Lake Charles
Billing itself as the “Festival Capital of Louisiana,” Lake Charles is close to the midpoint between Houston and Baton Rouge, with three casino resorts that are well suited to meetings and conferences.
Sitting on over 200 landscaped acres on Bayou Contraband and the Calcasieu River, the 26-story, 1,000-room L’Auberge Casino Resort combines luxury with Hill Country-inspired charm. The elegant ballroom can accommodate up to 1,200 guests or be divided into six separate meeting spaces, and an adjacent outdoor terrace can host events with up to 400 people. An expansive catering menu is available, or guests can split up and enjoy the resort’s eight restaurants and bars. During nice weather, guests and the public hang out at Touloulou’s, a family-friendly beach space where the locals often arrive by boat.
The 1,400-person event center hosts big-name acts like Blues Traveler, while the smaller L Bar offers live music every weekend. L’Auberge also has a top-rated spa, and the Tom Fazio-designed Contraband Bayou Golf Course is listed as one of Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Courses.
On the shores of Lake Charles, the Golden Nugget has more than 30,000 square feet of flexible and sophisticated meeting space, including an 18,000-square-foot Grand Event Center that can accommodate 1,895 people and hosts performances by headliners like Styx and comedian Marlon Wayans. A dozen culinary options cater to every taste, and the resort also offers a championship golf course, a lakefront beach and a pool complex with cabanas, firepits, and a pool and lazy river that are heated throughout the year.
The all-new Horseshoe Lake Charles is refreshed with new amenities, gaming offerings, and completely new entertainment and dining experiences. Nestled among cypress trees along the Calcasieu River, the resort has a lakefront hotel tower with 253 newly renovated guest rooms and suites and 3,835 square feet of meeting space overlooking Lake Charles. Dining options include Gordon Ramsay Steak, pan-Asian flavors at 7 Seven Noodle Bar and elevated pub fare at Brew Brothers. Golfers can tee up on the award-winning fairways at the National Golf Club of Louisiana, with 14 lakes, 65 bunkers and some of the area’s most challenging greens.
