Shreveport, LA

Key Highlights

Hotels	52
Total Sleeping Rooms	13,192
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	9,016
Committable Meeting Rooms*	21
Largest Exhibit Space	95,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	95,006 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $125
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $39
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $258
*Maximum for a single hotel

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Shreveport, LA Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to our Shreveport meeting planning guide – a city guide for meeting planning in Shreveport, LA. The sister cities of Shreveport-Bossier are collectively known as “Louisiana's Other Side," blending Cajun attitude and Texas spirit. Nestled in the northwest corner as they are amid the borders of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Mississippi, Shreveport event venues, combined with the entertainment and event spaces in Bossier City, can offer affordability, variety and proximity to the region known as Ark-La-Tex.

Approximately 250,000 people passed through the gates at Shreveport Regional Airport in 2009. A small hub served by 5 airlines, Shreveport Regional has more than 62 scheduled arriving and departing flights per day. In addition to direct destinations, travelers can connect to nearly 250 other domestic and international destinations through one-stop service. Interstates 20 and 49 also provide drive-in accessibility from the surrounding states, including Dallas – just 2.5 hours away.

The Red River flows between Shreveport and Bossier City. Five Las Vegas-style casinos pepper both sides of the riverfront, creating one of the largest gaming destinations in the South. Luxury hotel accommodations and big-name entertainers are found at each of the 24-hour riverboat casinos.

Chief among Shreveport meeting facilities, the 350,000-square-foot Shreveport Convention Center is the second-largest convention center in Louisiana. The connected 313-room Hilton Shreveport Hotel offers planners the option to book their convention center and headquarter hotel under one Hilton contract.

Alternatively, located off Interstate 20 and I-220, the Bossier Civic Center Complex offers 24,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and seating for 3,000. Larger groups can be accommodated in a stand-up reception and there are upstairs meeting rooms.

Prime shopping and fine-dining attractions in Shreveport are located along Line Avenue and southeast Shreveport. The Red River District, a riverfront entertainment enclave, located one-half mile from the convention center, offers after-hours entertainment. Or stroll over to the Bossier City venue Louisiana Boardwalk, a unique riverfront shopping, dining and entertainment destination that includes a 128-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.

Shreveport-Bossier offers a many meeting facilities. After-hours entertainment awaits groups at Harrah's Louisiana Downs, where attendees can meet in a private event space while enjoying top-quality Thoroughbred racing. At Shreveport's Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center groups can dine, take in an IMAX movie, and explore its one-of-a-kind space center. Broadway and off-Broadway shows are held at the historic Strand Theatre, which also offers private receptions in its elegant foyer.

When it comes to meeting facilities, Shreveport-Bossier offers a central location, affordability and quality with various facilities - including more than 9,000 hotel rooms and numerous unique, alternative meeting sites, capable of hosting events of all sizes.

About Shreveport, LA / Additional Info

The Shreveport-Bossier area's population exceeds 350,000 as the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Louisiana. Shreveport is known as the commercial and cultural center of the Ark-La-Tex, the convergence of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The Shreveport side of the Red River was founded in 1839. The city was named for Captain Henry Miller Shreve responsible, for clearing the river of a 100-mile logjam and opening it to commerce. On the opposite bank, Bossier City began in 1840s as a small trading post. As in most riverside cities, the Red River was the epicenter of trade and continues to be so even today. Exported commodities to much of the Midwest included timber, oil and cotton. In the early 1900s, Caddo Parish, the seat of government, was the center of the oil and gas industry, which fueled the city's economy until the 1980s recession.

Today, the Red River continues to be the heart and soul of Shreveport-Bossier. The cities have transitioned to a hospitality economy, centered on the arrival of riverboat gambling in the mid-1990s. This prompted revitalization of the downtown and riverfront areas, including lighting of the Texas Street Bridge with neon lights. Presently, five casinos and one racetrack bank on the riverfront adding to the flurry of activity.

Shreveport, LA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Central Time (CT)
Convention Center(s):

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 1,672

Airport(s):

Shreveport Regional Airport

Destination Type(s):

Gaming Destination

Special Event Venues
10
Population
570,000
Restaurants
129
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
8.60%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Shreveport, LA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Dallas, TX	187 mi	3 hrs	55 min	USD $349+
Lake Charles, LA	220 mi	3 hr 39 min	40 min	USD $618+
New Orleans, LA	278 mi	5 hr 21 min	3 hr 42 min	USD $361+

Shreveport, LA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	56	61	69	77	83	90	93	93	88	79	67	59
Avg. Low (°F)	36	39	46	54	62	70	73	72	66	55	45	38
Rec. High (°F)	85	89	92	94	99	101	106	107	105	97	88	84
Rec. Low (°F)	3	2	20	31	42	52	58	53	42	28	16	5
Rainfall (in)	4.1	4.0	3.7	4.6	5.1	4.1	3.6	2.5	3.1	3.7	4.1	4.2

Shreveport and Bossier City enjoy a subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and mild winters. Rainfall is plentiful with annual average precipitation nearly 47 inches, ranging from average 3 inches in August to more than 5 inches in May. Spring and summer months get severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, damaging winds and tornadoes occur in the area.

Avoid the muggy late spring and summer. Fall and winter will be comfortable in the day, but nights can be cold. The best time to visit is when the best events occur, such as Mardi Gras in February when the city really comes alive.

Meeting Planning in Shreveport, LA

Shreveport Convention Center

Just 10 minutes from the airport, the Shreveport Convention Center is a state-of-the art facility with a two-story design, allowing simultaneous hosting of several events and groups. Managed by SMG, it is the largest convention center in north Louisiana and second largest in the state.

The 350,000-square-foot center features a 95,000-square-foot, column-free exhibit hall, divisible by three with a 30-foot ceiling height located on the ground floor. There are 11 loading docks with drive-in access, and taking advantage of the views is the pre-function space. Smaller events might consider booking the second floor's 18,200 square feet of ballroom space, divisible into four with 26-foot ceiling height and 10 additional breakout rooms within 16,000 square feet. Adding to the convenience is a four-story parking garage with 800-car capacity. High-speed connectivity is available throughout the center. Full-service catering is also available with a versatile menu, and the center features a large, full-service kitchen within the facility. The convention center is complemented by the convenience of 313 sleeping rooms in the adjacent Hilton Shreveport Hotel.

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Other Convention Centers in Shreveport, LA

Name	Address	Total Meeting Space
Bossier Civic Center	620 Benton Road P.O. Box 5337 Bossier City, Louisiana 71111-5337	35,000 Sq. Ft.

Shreveport, LA Meeting Venue Spotlight

CenturyLink Center

2000 CenturyTel Center Drive
Bossier City, LA
Total Meeting Space - 100,000 Sq. Ft.

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Shreveport, LA Airport Information

Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV)

Approximate taxi fare: $17 USD

The award-winning Shreveport Regional Airport (SHV) is located on the western edge of Shreveport. Home to 62 based aircraft; SHV is the largest airport in the Ark-La-Tex with scheduled non-stop service to seven destinations and serves nearly all major cargo airlines. It has two runways, the longest is 8,351 feet. Approximately 250,000 passengers passed through its gates in 2009.

In 1999, SHV's $30-million expansion/renovation project was unveiled. The expansion included the addition of a 66,000-square-foot terminal on the eastern side of the concourses. The new facility allowed consolidation of airlines ticket counters and rental cars into one operation and centralized the baggage claim operations. The SAA continues to fine tune the new facility and make improvements on passenger service.

Airlines serving Shreveport Regional

American Eagle Airlines/American Connection

Allegiant Airlines
Continental Express Airlines

Delta Air Lines/ASA and Northwest Airlink Airlines

Shreveport, LA Public Transportation

SporTran

Shreveport-Bossier City is home to one of the oldest public transportation systems in the South, operating 125 years with only one interruption in the late 1950s. SporTran provides public transportation with a fleet of over 50 modern buses and lift vans, including an experimental hybrid bus placed in service in 2005. SporTran's 16 routes reach the vast majority of Shreveport-Bossier City's shopping, educational and medical facilities.

Shuttles

The majority of hotels and casinos offer complimentary airport shuttles. Larger groups can secure shuttle services through providers that accommodate groups of any size.

Rental Cars

Six on-site rental car companies operate at Shreveport International Airport. Counters for Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty are located in the southern end of the new terminal building.

Taxis

Taxis and limo service is available outside the baggage claim area on the Terminal Lower Level. Fares are approximately $17.00 from the airport to Shreveport or Bossier City.