EatLafayette is back for a 16th year, but on a different schedule for 2020.
The campaign wll begin June 22 and continue through September 13. The Lafayette Travel program is designed to support locally-owned restaurants.
A lot of things are different this year, especially in the restaurant industry. In response to the pandemic, Lafayette Travel will be waving registration fees for EatLafayette participants this year and opening submissions to all locally-owned restaurants in Lafayette Parish.
"This campaign has always been about independently owned local restaurants —these restaurants are our cultural identifiers with cuisine and a vibe that is only found in Lafayette. The news is not exaggerating, and every local restaurant needs your help. We’re coming back one by one, and we’re going to need you too,” says Ken Veron, Chair of EatLafayette’s Advisory Board.
All restaurants that have participated in past campaigns will automatically be included for this year. For those restaurants who have not participated, EatLafayette defines a locally owned restaurant as one that started in Lafayette Parish. Restaurants who meet that criteria can register at EatLafayette.com/Registration.
Lafayette Travel thanks the sponsors and media partners who supported the initiative in the past and those who have signed on for this year. With registration fees waived this year, they're also seeking new sponsors who are looking for ways to support the community through this unprecedented time.
“The tourism sector has been severely impacted with revenues lost as high as 70% and we know that many other sectors are struggling as well. However, we’ve also seen that there are businesses that have not been as affected and we hope unconventional, even unexpected, new partnerships will develop from this," says Ben Berthelot, President and CEO of Lafayette Travel.
Interested businesses are invited to contact Lafayette Travel to explore partnership opportunities.
Typically a summer campaign, EatLafayette pivoted in early March to focus on takeout options in response to the new needs of the industry. EatLafayette To Go provides information with constant updates listing takeout options in the parish.
As the official campaign kicks off next month, expect to see more detailed information on all dining options, capacity, delivery options, and the return of dining by district, organizers say. They also promise some fun interactive initiatives to better engage the community to eat locally.
Lafayette Travel is pleased to announce that EatLafayette's partnership with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board will continue this year. The Taste of EatLafayette and the Louisiana Seafood Cook-off, a major event that has usually kicked off the campaign, has been rescheduled to August 25. More details will be released at a later date.
