Experience Ruston Celebrates Louey Award and Additional Achievements
The Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) announced Experience Ruston as the recipient of the prestigious Tourism Campaign of the Year Award at its Annual Meeting in Lafayette, La on Thursday, January 22.
This year, the LTA celebrated excellence in the Louisiana tourism industry by presenting 21 “Louey Awards” to outstanding individuals and organizations. These awards honor those who have made significant contributions to promoting and enhancing Louisiana's vibrant tourism landscape.
Experience Ruston received the Tourism Campaign of the Year (budget up to $29,999) for its “Small Markets Can Pull Big Strings” campaign. This campaign targeted meeting and event planners, showcasing Ruston’s appeal as a premier destination for small meetings and conferences. By leaning into what makes Ruston distinct—authentic hospitality, creative problem-solving, and strong local partnerships—Experience Ruston effectively reframed the perception of a small market into a compelling advantage.
“We’re truly honored to receive this recognition from the Louisiana Travel Association,” said Tori Davis, Director of Marketing and Communications at Experience Ruston. “At its core, this campaign celebrated the thing that makes Ruston so special – our warm community that always shows up when called on and pulls out all the stops to make Ruston shine.”
In addition to receiving the Louey Award, Experience Ruston also celebrated the graduation of Tori Davis, Director of Marketing and Communications, and Anna Graney, Destination Services Coordinator, from the Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy (LTLA) at the Association’s 2026 Annual Meeting.
The twenty-six members of the LTLA class spent all of 2025 developing their leadership skills while learning from seasoned professionals across the tourism industry. The goal of the program is to equip each class with knowledge and skills that will enrich their tourism-related organizations, thereby strengthening the state-wide tourism industry.
Another notable moment during the LTA Annual Meeting was the installation of Experience Ruston’s President & CEO Amanda Carrier as a new board member of the Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) Board of Directors.
“Our executive committee and board of directors play a crucial role in meeting the needs of our members and ensuring we achieve our goals of providing top-notch educational and marketing opportunities while advocating on behalf of the industry,” said Chris Landry, LTA president and CEO. “We are thrilled to begin another year with this exceptional group of industry leaders representing the entire state.”
For more information on LTA, the Louey Awards, and LTLA, visit www.louisianatravelassociation.org.
About the Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau (Experience Ruston)
The Ruston Lincoln Convention & Visitors Bureau is a destination marketing organization that works to create, preserve and enhance a variety of quality visitor experiences through the promotion of Lincoln Parish. For more information, visit www.experienceruston.com.
About the Louisiana Travel Association
The Louisiana Travel Association (LTA) is the statewide trade organization dedicated to leading and strengthening Louisiana’s tourism industry through advocacy, education, and promotion. In 2024, tourism generated $2 billion for the state and remains the fourth-largest employer. For more information, visit LouisianaTravelAssociation.org.