Meet in Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s Capital

Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s Capital City, just an hour from New Orleans and an easy flight from major hubs like Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Washington D.C., and Atlanta through Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. Home to two major university systems, the city brings an energized, welcoming atmosphere that makes planners and attendees feel at home from the moment they arrive.

At the center of it all is the Raising Cane’s River Center, a 200,000-square-foot convention complex on the banks of the Mississippi River. With an exhibition hall, ballroom, arena, theater, and breakout meeting rooms, the space flexes to fit conferences, trade shows, galas, or general sessions. Downtown’s walkability keeps groups connected to nearby hotels, restaurants, and attractions, so meetings stay on schedule while still leaving room to explore on foot.

Baton Rouge does group dining differently. Sharing a meal is part of every gathering here, and that shows up in everything from casual dine-arounds to custom off-site events. Add in a second line to move attendees between venues, live bands, stilt walkers, or even a photo op with a baby gator, and meetings come with built-in energy that feels authentic, not staged.

Once the agenda wraps, there’s plenty to fill the time. Attendees can tour the Old State Capitol or USS Kidd Veterans Museum, catch live blues that spills into the streets, or grab a bite at Michelin-recognized Elsie’s Plate & Pie. The city’s affordability, complimentary hotel parking, and hassle-free airport experience make it easy for planners to stretch their budget and for attendees to bring family along.

With new energy downtown from additions like Bally’s Baton Rouge Casino and Hotel, and a dedicated destination sales team working behind the scenes, Baton Rouge is ready to help planners bring their vision to life.