Spring-Summer 2024 Visitor Guide

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    Who We Are

    The St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission is a public, quasi-governmental agency created on Nov. 18, 1976. The commission is governed by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the St. Tammany Parish Council and Parish President. In other destinations, our organization may be called a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) or Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

    Our Vision:

    The vision of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission is to establish St. Tammany Parish as a premier travel destination.

    Our Mission:

    To market and promote St. Tammany Parish as a highly desirable destination for visitors and thereby increase the economic impact of tourism on the area.

    The Northshore is for Everyone

    As an organization founded with the vision to establish St. Tammany Parish as a premier travel destination, Visit The Northshore is committed to promoting a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for everyone, and believe everyone should have equal opportunities and access to services, regardless of racial/ethnic background, ability, neurodiversity, body size, language, socioeconomic status, citizenship, land of origin, faith, religious, and/or spiritual affiliation, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age or marital status.

    Visit The Northshore is dedicated to welcoming individuals and groups of all backgrounds and abilities in its internal and external approaches to sales, marketing, communications, media relations, administration, recruitment, and community engagement.

    We’ve made strides, and we’re committed to keep improving.

    We are committed to listening, learning and growing to ensure that we’re contributing to a community that’s safe, welcoming and representative of all locals and visitors. To help visitors discover the joy of everyday life in St. Tammany Parish, we seek out a diverse mix of industry partners, vendors and photography subjects who are representative of the diversity in our local communities to tell stories that resonate.

    We aim to create opportunities for advancement in a diverse hospitality industry and are committed to broadening awareness internally to make a more fulfilling place to work while enhancing engagement with those who visit. Each member of our team has completed diversity training and certification by Travel Unity, a group that works with organizations in the world of travel to broaden their social inclusion efforts. We have established a guest blogger program that is inclusive of more voices. All senior leadership positions are held by women, and we are working with industry groups on ways to diversify our board and committees.

          

    Official St. Tammany Parish Visitor Center

    The office is located in Mandeville on Highway 59 just north of Interstate 12 (Exit 65). Stop by to pick up a visitor guide, brochures, and information about attractions across Louisiana. Be sure to stretch your legs on the surrounding boardwalk; the center was erected over a native swamp filled with trees, bushes, and plants native to Southeast Louisiana.

    St. Tammany Parish Tourist & Convention Commission
    68099 Highway 59
    Mandeville, LA 70471
    The Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-4:30 p.m.

    Local: 985-892-0520
    Toll-free: 800-634-9443
    Fax: 985-892-1441
    Contact Us

     
    Team Members
     

    Donna O'Daniels - President and CEO

    Rae Shipley - Executive Assistant

    Devan Richoux, CPA - Vice President, Finance and Administration

    Katie Guasco - Chief Marketing Officer

    Tanya Leader - Vice President, Sales

    Zondra White Jones - Senior Sales Manager

    Roberta Carrow Jackson - Multimedia Content Manager

    Sarah Hill - Marketing Manager

    Erica Glory - Communications Manager

    Louise Lovich, CTS - Visitor Services Specialist

    Visitor Services: Certified Travel Specialists
    Christy Paulsell, Annette Shurtz, Sheila Nolinske

     

    Board of Directors
     

    Marlaine Peachey - Commission Chairman

     Patti Ellish - Commission Vice-Chair             Alex Carollo - Commission Secretary/Treasurer

             Barry Bagert - Commissioner              Melissa Ruddick  - Commissioner              Mark Myers - Commissioner           

    Katherine Diemont Domingue - Commissioner 

    Industry & Recognition

    Visit The Northshore is fully accredited by the globally recognized Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). In 2023 we received Level One Certification from Travel Unity, a charitable non-profit focused on increasing diversity in the world of travel. We are a member of the Travel Unity Alliance, the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations focused on travel and economic development. Our staff is affiliated with numerous service, community development and travel industry organizations.

    DMAP Seal         Travel Unity Alliance Bronze Member Badge       Certified By Travel Unity Level One Badge

    We have been recognized with top awards from industry organizations, among them:

    • Southeast Tourism Society - Covers a 14-state region and represents hundreds of destination marketing organizations

      • 2019 Shining Example Award, Best Marketing Award >$500K

      • 2018 Shining Example Award, Tourism Office of the Year

    • Louisiana Travel Association

      • 2023 Louey Awards, Marion "Butch" Fox Advocacy Award - Donna O'Daniels, President/CEO and Rising Star of the Year - Erica Glory, Communications Manager

      • 2022 Louey Award, Outstanding CVB/Tourist Commission of the Year, Budget of $1 Million and Above

      • 2019 Louey Award, Outstanding CVB/Tourist Commission of the Year, Budget of $1 Million and Above

      • 2018 Louey Award, Tourism Campaign/Promotion of the Year

      • 2016 Louey Award, Tourism Campaign/Promotion of the Year

      • 2011 CVB/Tourist Commission of the Year, Budget from $750,000 and Higher

    • North American Travel Journalists Association

      • 2023 Gold Award, Visitors' Guide

      • 2020 Bronze Award, Visitors' Guide

    • City-County Communications & Marketing Association

      • 1st Place, National Savvy Award, Social Media Marketing

      • 2012 2nd Place/Silver Circle Award, Most Innovative Marketing for social media efforts in the Train of Hope Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts for New Jersey (joint award)

    • Sports Events Media Group

      • 2018 Readers' Choice Award

    How We Are Funded

    A three percent hotel occupancy tax funds the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission. We also receive 25% of the four percent state sales tax levied on lodging. Our organization does not receive any funding from St. Tammany Parish resident taxes.

    Current Sexual Harassment Policy
     

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