Latest news with #LouisianaOfficeofTourism
Axios
03-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Michelin may have dinged Virginia's food scene, docs suggest
The $120,000 a year Michelin wanted to charge Virginia to be in its forthcoming Southern restaurant guide was steeply discounted compared with what other Southern states are paying. Why it matters: Virginia's rate may have been a statement on the state's restaurant scene's lack of "maturity," suggest records from the Louisiana Office of Tourism obtained by Axios New Orleans. The big picture: As we reported in April, Virginia opted out of being included in the Michelin Guide to the South largely due to the price tag. The state tourism office would've had to pay $120,000 a year for three years to be included. Yes, but: Six other Southern states opted in — to the tune of $1.65 million a year in a three-year contract, Axios New Orleans' Chelsea Brasted reports. That includes an annual $350,000 each from Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. And $125,000 annually each from Mississippi and Alabama. Zoom in: Why the different amounts? Michelin tells Axios in a statement that the state rates were set by Travel South USA, a regional marketing agency that contracted with Michelin to bring the guide to the South. Travel South USA then subcontracted with tourism agencies across each of the states, including city partners, to pool the funds and hammer out the details. Travel South USA didn't return Axios' request for comment on the rates. Behind the scenes: A slide included in the trove of Michelin documents and emails about expanding to the South may offer a clue. It shows a map of states across the South in varying shades of blue. The colors emphasize each state's " culinary maturity," according to an email from Michelin. That's a key standard for determining whether the guide enters a market, The New York Times reported. Notably, Michelin has Virginia in a medium shade of blue — lighter than the dark blue for Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee — suggesting the group views the state's restaurant scene as not yet fully mature. The intrigue: Michelin didn't comment on Virginia's medium-blue shade or its view of the state's scene, but its anonymous chief inspector for the Michelin Guide North America did offer some insight into what makes a scene culinarily mature. "Destinations that prove worthy of establishing a Guide have a high-quality culinary scene along with a density of restaurants," per a statement from the chief inspector. Specifically, when inspectors go out, they're "looking for restaurants that embody the five universal criteria," which are, according to the inspector: Quality products. Harmony of flavors. Mastery of cooking techniques. Voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine. Consistency between each visit (each restaurant is inspected several times a year) and through the menu as a whole. Plus, according to the inspector, Michelin won't enter into partner conversations if it doesn't think a dining scene — in this case a state — has "the gastronomy maturity to warrant further exploration." The bottom line: It appears Virginia's discounted rate may have come with a side of shade.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Dustin Poirier to close UFC career with Max Holloway trilogy title fight
Louisiana native Dustin Poirier is locked for a UFC BMF title fight in his home state to conclude his career, as New Orleans will host Poirier's battle with title-holder Max Holloway to highlight the July 19 card at the Smoothie King Center. This will be the third battle between the lightweight combatants, the 36-year-old Poirier, who hails from Lafayette, La., taking the first two contests. Both fighters are coming off losses in title fights, however. Poirier (30-9) submitted to Islam Makhachev last June, while the 33-year-old Holloway (26-8) lost in knockout fashion to Ilia Topuria in October. "For Dustin Poirier to be able to finish his remarkable UFC career in New Orleans is special," UFC executive vice president Peter Dropick said in a news release. "Thank you to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, New Orleans & Company and Smoothie King Center for helping us make this happen. "It's been 10 years since we've held an event in New Orleans, we know the fans are ready for us to be back!" The Octagon will also play host to ranked middleweights No 10 Marvin Vettori (19-8-1) and No. 11 Brendan Allen (24-7), who will do battle for the first time in an official capacity at UFC 318. The two were slated to fight at UFC Vegas 90 last April, though Vettori pulled out. A few months later, the pair squared off (unofficially) in a brawl at a Florida casino. Their ranked billing remains hotly anticipated. The rest of the lineup includes newly announced fights between Kyler Phillips (12-3) and Vinicius Oliveira (22-3) at the bantamweight level, Jimmy Crute (12-4-2) facing Marcin Prachnio (17-8) in light heavyweight and Carli Judice (4-2) battling Nicolle Caliari (8-3) at women's fly. Other fights include: --No. 7 Amanda Ribas vs. No. 10 Tabatha Ricci in strawweight --Neil Magny vs. Gunnar Nelson in welterweight --Adam Fuitt vs. Islam Dulatov in welterweight --Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira in middleweight --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sabine Parish tourism legend wins Louisiana Rural Tourism Legacy Award
SABINE PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—The Louisiana Office of Tourism announced that a tourism champion in Sabine Parish was honored with an award. Linda Curtis Sparks received the second-annual Lt. Governor's Rural Tourism Legacy Award to recognize her as a leader in rural tourism development. Sparks is the former director of the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and formerly served as director of the Sabine River Authority. 'Linda has been a tremendous force within the tourism industry. She began her tourism career in the late 1980s when she oversaw the development of the Toledo Bend Reservoir. She worked tirelessly to develop Toledo Bend as a Sportsman's Paradise top bass fishing destination in the United States,' said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. 'While we have so many deserving individuals of this award, Linda was selected as the 2025 recipient because of her dedication and commitment to attracting visitors off the beaten path.' Bill expanding ticket writing power of Louisiana park rangers advances Her career has spanned several decades and she is currently developing the Zwolle Museum on the Bend. Sparks has also received multiple awards and recognition in the tourism industry, including the Will Mangham Tourism Lifetime Achievement Award, Economic Development Person of the Year, Rural Tourism Award of the Year, and she is an inductee into the Sabine Hall of Fame. 'Tourism is one of the most powerful economic tools we use to uplift rural communities. It tells our story, brings people together, and creates opportunity where it is needed most. My advice to anyone working to improve their community is simple – be resilient, have patience, persevere, and have faith. Great things take time,' said Linda Sparks. The Louisiana Rural Tourism Legacy Award recognizes individuals who have retired from the Louisiana travel and tourism industry but continue to work to enhance their community for visitors. Nomination criteria include: Individual has retired from the Louisiana travel and tourism industry Individual made significant contributions to the rural travel and tourism industry Individual served in a rural business, convention & visitors center, tourist commission or other tourism-related entity Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
