SHREVEPORT, La. — The Shreveport Downtown Development Authority and Visit Shreveport-Bossier are launching a new initiative designed to connect conference attendees with downtown businesses while increasing economic activity in the district.
The “Show Me Your Badge” program allows visitors attending conferences, events and meetings to receive discounts or special offers at participating businesses by presenting their event badge. The initiative is intended to drive foot traffic to local restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues.
The program will debut March 26-29 alongside the 94th South Central Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., which is expected to bring nearly 6,000 attendees to the Shreveport-Bossier area.
“Downtown Shreveport plays a critical role in shaping visitors’ experiences when they come to our city,” said Cedric B. Glover, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. “The Show Me Your Badge program creates a direct connection between conference attendees and our downtown businesses. It’s a welcoming gesture that highlights downtown while helping our community benefit from the thousands of visitors in our district.”
Visit Shreveport-Bossier, the region’s destination marketing organization, works to attract conventions, sporting events and tourism to the area. The organization said the program aligns with broader efforts to enhance the visitor experience and encourage exploration beyond event venues.
“A goal of Visit Shreveport-Bossier’s Destination Master Plan is to develop a unified Convention Center District to provide a dynamic meeting and convention attendee experience,” said Stacy Brown, president and CEO of Visit Shreveport-Bossier. “Programs like Show Me Your Badge help extend the visitor experience beyond the convention center and into the heart of downtown, allowing our guests to discover the incredible businesses, food, and culture that make our community special.”
Organizers said the program is open to downtown businesses at no cost. Participating businesses can offer discounts, special menu items, retail promotions or other incentives and will be featured in promotional materials and on the program’s website.
Officials said the initiative is designed to support local businesses as Shreveport-Bossier continues to attract large-scale events, particularly during the spring and summer conference season.