Two national motorcoach conventions will be hosted in Shreveport-Bossier for the first time

The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau will host two national motorcoach groups’ annual conferences – the National Association of Motorcoach Operators (NAMO) and South Central Motorcoach Association (SCMA) — in the sister cities for the first time. Both conferences will be held back-to-back at the Shreveport Convention Center, Aug. 14–20, and the itineraries include stops at several attractions and restaurants around Shreveport-Bossier.

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“These conferences are important to our destination and our group-friendly attractions and restaurants, because the motorcoach operators who experience Shreveport-Bossier firsthand are more likely to return and book future group business in our market,” said Erica Howard, tourism sales manager for the tourist bureau.

The South Central Motorcoach Association membership consists of motorcoach owners, operators and associates from Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas. Also bringing representatives from their respective states are the Alabama Motorcoach Association and the Georgia Motorcoach Operators Association. Their annual meeting is expected to attract at least 350 delegates, including motorcoach and group tour operators, motorcoach and travel industry vendors and associates, destination marketing organizations and others.

“We are excited to visit Shreveport-Bossier because of its attractiveness for group travel business, and we appreciate all of the efforts put forth by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau to make this a successful and meaningful meeting for the attendees,” said Jim Pitstick, president of the South Central Motorcoach Association.

Group tours are important to Shreveport-Bossier because they secure advance business, help increase traffic during off-peak times and create a positive economic impact. Based on the tourist bureau’s research, typical attendees on group tours spend on average $1,100 per day on food, accommodations, attractions and amusement and stay 1.87 nights. With each motorcoach’s capacity at approximately 55 people, each group tour has the potential to generate $116,000 in economic impact.