Conference Venue
NCBDS 39 will be hosted on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus. All conference sessions, meals, and the keynote presentation will be held at the Louisiana Immersive Technology Enterprise (LITE) Center on Thursday February 29th, Friday, March 1st, and in Joel L. Fletcher Hall on Saturday, March 2nd. The closing reception will be a traditional crawfish boil.
Conference Hotels
Holiday Inn Express and Suites - South is located south of Lafayette on Kaliste Saloom Rd. Limited number of Single King Size Rooms, group room rate $139 / night + tax. To book a room call 1 888 HOLIDAY (1 888 465 4329), and use code NCB. Conference will provide limited University Shuttle Service to LITE Center, Fletcher Hall, and evening events. Group rate available until Monday, February 5, 2024, based on availability.
Staybridge Suites Lafayette Airport is located south of Lafayette on Kaliste Saloom road. Limited One Bedroom Suites (king in bedroom, sofa sleeper in living room) $129/night + tax and Studio Suites (1 queen bed, sofa is not a sleeper) $109/night + tax. All rooms have kitchenettes. To book a room use this link or call 1-800-238-8000, and use code NCB. Conference will provide limited University Shuttle Service to LITE Center and events. Room types available are 1st come, 1st served. Fresh renovation on all rooms, some renovation continuing in lobby, free airport shuttle. Group rates available until Friday, February 1, 2024.
Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette/Cajundome is conveniently located across the street from the LITE Center where our Thursday and Friday conference activities will take place. A shuttle will provide transportation to Joel L. Fletcher Hall Saturday during the day, and Sunday morning optional activities. If you plan to stay a shorter time than the reserved block, the group code is ART24. If you have issues getting the page to load, or cannot reserve a room, please email us at ncbds39@louisiana.edu. Room rate $129 / night. This reservation block is filled.
Please be aware due to a Blake Shelton Concert on Thursday, February 29, rooms are difficult to find - please reserve soon.
Disability Accommodation
The conference hosts welcome all visitors to participate in our program, and to enjoy our events through a wide variety of accessible means. The conference hosts are committed to providing the highest quality visit for each attendee. During online registration please make any request for auxiliary aids and services (sign language interpreter, braille material, large print, accessible seating, etc.) needed in order to access the conference location or the conference content. Service animals may be brought on campus property. ADA Information & Campus Access Guide
Lafayette via Airport
Lafayette Regional Airport – American, Delta, and United, service through Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta (4 miles from the conference hotel)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport – connection via rental car, and bus (129 miles)
Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport – connection via rental car, bus (69 miles)
Houston Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport – connection via rental car, bus (220 miles)
Each airport has car rental available, and out-of-town airports are connected to Lafayette through US Interstate 10. Parking is available on campus in Visitor/Paid lots and garages. Parking at the hotel and the LITE Center is free.
Things to do in Lafayette
Cuisine
Love crawfish, shrimp, and crabs? Craving a poboy or a meat and three lunch smothered? How about boudin or fried catfish? And don't forget about jambalaya, gumbo, and etouffee! Outside of traditional Creole and Cajun food, there are also excellent Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American eateries. One weekend can only be an introduction to the many possibilities of Louisiana Cuisine.
We invite you to dine one of our downtown's many excellent restaurants, where we will be organizing dine-arounds. The closing reception will include a crawfish boil (vegetarian, gluten-free, and meals accommodating food allergies and sensitivities will be available)
Music
Live music can be found at nearly every corner of downtown Lafayette. Zydeco, Cajun, Swamp Pop, and Blues are at home here. Make sure to take in some of our venues. You might even learn to dance like a local!
Live Music: Hideaway on Lee and Blue Moon Saloon and other venues will have music offerings on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Night, with regional Zydeco, Cajun, or Swamp Pop artists. The entry charge is between $10 and $15. All are within an easy ride share from the hotel.
Art and Culture
The art and culture of Louisiana has a rich history. Hopefully, you will have the chance to sample some of our cultural centers during your visit.
On campus, our University Archive Acadiana and Creole Culture houses original recordings of many historically significant musicians from the area and associated musical artifacts. The Hilliard Museum, on the University of Louisiana Lafayette campus, presents changing exhibitions and a permanent collection of art.
Maison Creole de Freetown is an African American History Museum located in the Freetown Port-Rico historic district. The neighborhood was established around the time of the Civil War, providing homes for newly freed enslaved peoples and historically freed people of color.
Acadiana Center for the Arts (ACA) is a state-of-the-art music venue and exhibition space in downtown Lafayette. The ACA hosts international and national musicians for performances in its intimate theater, while regional artists display work in its galleries. The ACA is a key partner in the creation of art and in community development across Acadiana.
Vermillionville is a living history museum located on the Bayou Vermilion. Artisans and historians tell the stories of the Creole and Cajun peoples within a historic collection of original Creole and Cajun cottages and other buildings that were saved from demolition.
South east of Lafayette, near New Iberia, adjacent to the Avery Island salt dome is the Tabasco History Museum and Avery Island Rookery. The McIlhenny family is known both for their hot sauce and their long standing preservation of marshland as wildlife refuge.
Nearby towns like Delcambre, Abbeyville (location of the fall Omelette Festival), Opelousas, Eunice, and Mamou (home of Fred's Lounge) provide additional opportunities for exploration.
Nature
North Louisiana, near Louisiana Tech University, is known for the Piney Hills. South Louisiana is known for its Cajun prairie, bayous, and swamps.
The Atchafalaya Basin, roughly 30 miles east of Lafayette, is the largest river swamp in the country. It is a major bird flyway and provides an economically productive habitat for both fish and crawfish. The landscape is composed of bayous, swamps, and hardwood forests. Boat tours and kayaking are popular ways to explore this scenic wonderland.
Near Breaux Bridge, Lake Martin and Cypress Island Preserve provides hiking, birding, and kayaking opportunities.
Want to see wildlife a little closer to the conference? Visit Cypress Lake, adjacent to the ULL Student Union. The lake is home to native fish, turtles, migrating birds, and alligators, all easily seen from an overhead walkway! Yes, you read that correctly - we have alligators on campus!