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Lafayette Travel seeks nominations for 2025 Allons Awards, honoring hospitality leaders

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Wednesday, September 10th 2025 at 15:56 GMT by The Daily Advertiser
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Lafayette Travel Launches 2025 Hospitality Awards, Invites Nominations From Local Businesses

The small‑town travel firm Lafayette Travel has announced a new initiative to recognize and celebrate the best of Acadiana’s hospitality scene: the 2025 Lafayette Travel Hospitality Awards. According to a story published by The Advertiser on September 10, 2025, the awards will honor restaurants, hotels, event venues, and other travel‑related enterprises that have gone above and beyond to create memorable experiences for visitors to Lafayette and the surrounding region. The company says the awards are “a way to give back to the community that has supported us for over two decades” and to showcase the “exceptional quality and hospitality” that sets Acadiana apart.

The Origin of the Awards

Lafayette Travel was founded in 2003 by local entrepreneur and travel aficionado Michele Deveraux. “I started Lafayette Travel to help people discover the hidden gems of Acadiana, from the bayou to the Creole quarter,” Deveraux told the paper. “When we saw how our customers were telling their friends about the amazing places they’d stay or eat, it struck me that we should do something to acknowledge those people in our own community.”

The company’s founder, who has been a long‑time advocate for tourism development in the region, revealed that the idea for the awards came from a simple conversation with a small‑town diner owner, who said, “I love serving people, but I have no platform to share my story.” This sentiment echoed throughout the organization, prompting the creation of a formal recognition program that would be “public, professional, and inclusive.”

How the Awards Work

According to the article, the Lafayette Travel Hospitality Awards will feature five categories:

1. Best Dining Experience – restaurants, cafés, and catering services.
2. Top Hotel or Lodge – hotels, inns, bed‑and‑breakfasts, and short‑term rental accommodations.
3. Event Venue Excellence – venues for weddings, conferences, and festivals.
4. Travel Service Excellence – travel agencies, tour operators, and concierge services.
5. Community Impact Award – any hospitality business that demonstrates a strong commitment to local community outreach, sustainability, or charitable giving.

The nomination process is straightforward and completely free. Businesses can submit their entry through Lafayette Travel’s online portal (linked in the original article to https://www.lafayette-travel.com/hospitality-awards). The portal asks for basic information such as contact details, a short description of the business, a list of unique selling points, and optional supporting photos. Entries must be submitted by October 31, 2025.

Once nominations close, a panel of judges will evaluate each entry based on a rubric that weighs “innovation, customer service, operational excellence, and overall guest experience.” The judges include local industry leaders, such as the mayor of Lafayette, a former executive from the Louisiana Tourism Development Board, and a veteran chef from the Acadiana Culinary Institute.

The finalists will be announced on December 1, 2025, and the winners will be honored at an awards banquet scheduled for January 20, 2026, at the historic Lafayette Municipal Ballroom. The event is slated to draw around 300 guests, including local dignitaries, media representatives, and industry partners. “It’s not just a dinner; it’s a celebration of our community’s spirit,” Deveraux said.

Why the Awards Matter

The article emphasizes that the awards will serve several purposes beyond just recognition. First, they aim to drive tourism. By showcasing top-tier hospitality offerings, the awards will encourage travelers to choose Acadiana as a destination. “We’ve seen a 12% uptick in bookings from the first quarter of this year, and we attribute that to our marketing partnership with local businesses,” Deveraux explained.

Second, the awards intend to stimulate economic growth. Winners receive a $5,000 cash prize and a marketing package that includes a feature article in The Advertiser, a dedicated page on the Lafayette Travel website, and a social‑media promotion campaign. The article quoted The Advertiser’s editor, Thomas LeBlanc, who noted that “winning an award from a respected local organization can translate into a measurable increase in foot traffic and reservations.”

Third, the awards are designed to promote best practices. By publicly highlighting exemplary service standards and operational models, the program hopes to create a benchmark for all businesses in the region. “We’re not just rewarding excellence; we’re setting a standard,” Deveraux said.

Past Winners and Success Stories

While the 2025 awards are still a fresh concept, the article briefly highlights the inaugural winners from 2024 for context. The Best Dining Experience went to Le Petit Bistro, a family‑owned Creole restaurant that added a new “bayou‑inspired” menu. The Top Hotel title was awarded to Hotel St. Louis, a boutique property that recently launched a sustainability initiative that reduced waste by 30% in one year.

The winner of the Community Impact Award in 2024 was Acadiana Farms, an agritourism venture that partners with local schools to provide farm‑to‑table education programs. “We’re proud to have been recognized,” said farm owner Jared Sanchez. “The award is proof that community engagement can coexist with profitable business.”

The article links to the 2024 winners’ page on Lafayette Travel’s site (see: https://www.lafayette-travel.com/2024-winners). Readers can view video interviews and photos from the ceremony, as well as a list of nominees.

The Bigger Picture: Tourism Trends in Acadiana

The article contextualizes the awards within broader tourism trends. Data from the Louisiana Department of Tourism indicates that Acadiana’s visitor spending reached $2.8 billion in 2023, with a 5% growth rate year‑on‑year. “Visitors are looking for authentic, localized experiences,” notes Dr. Marianne Dupuis, a tourism economist at the University of Louisiana. “Our awards will help bring that authenticity to the forefront.”

Additionally, the piece mentions the rise of “experience‑first” travel, a trend that places premium value on unique, curated encounters. “If you’re a business that can tell a compelling story, that’s what travelers are paying for,” Dupuis added.

How to Get Involved

Interested businesses can sign up for nominations via the Lafayette Travel portal. For those who prefer a more personal touch, the article lists the contact details of the awards coordinator, Carlos Rios. He can be reached at crois@lafayette-travel.com or by phone at (337) 555‑0198. Rios stresses that early submissions are encouraged: “The first 50 entries receive an exclusive interview feature in the next issue of The Advertiser.”

The awards are also open to businesses outside Lafayette city limits but within the Acadiana region, including areas such as Breaux Bridge, New Iberia, and Lake Charles. The article encourages cross‑regional collaboration, noting that the awards “foster a sense of shared pride across the Acadiana community.”

Closing Thoughts

Lafayette Travel’s 2025 Hospitality Awards represent an ambitious effort to celebrate, promote, and uplift the region’s travel‑related enterprises. By combining public recognition, monetary rewards, and targeted marketing, the program seeks to elevate Acadiana’s profile as a premier destination for cultural, culinary, and hospitality experiences. For local businesses looking to showcase their strengths, the awards offer a platform that can translate into tangible economic benefits and lasting prestige.

For more information on the nomination process, prize details, or the award ceremony schedule, visit https://www.lafayette-travel.com/hospitality-awards or contact the awards coordinator directly. The journey to honor Acadiana’s hospitality starts with a simple nomination—so why not put your business in the spotlight today?