Turn Up the Heat for Tammany Taste of Summer! by Christina Cooper
IN 2018, THE ST. TAMMANY PARISH Tourist Commission launched a month-long celebration of the culinary scene on the Northshore, Tammany Taste of Summer, to drive visitors to St. Tammany Parish and to encourage residents to support local restaurants during the traditionally sluggish month of August. Now returning for its fourth year, Tammany Taste of Summer has proven successful for participating tourism-related businesses, and its return is eagerly anticipated by Northshore visitors and residents. Modeled after New Orleans & Company’s successful COOLinary campaign, Tammany Taste of Summer always offered delicious deals on great prix fixe meals and discounted room rates, but the program was expanded in 2020 to offer Northshore attractions the opportunity to participate with their own deals, creating a complete travel experience for visitors, and with the goal in mind of helping as many St. Tammany Parish tourism-supported small businesses as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We look forward every year to this—and will ALWAYS participate and be so grateful for all you do to promote local business here in St. Tammany,” enthused Brandi Najolia, co-owner of Café Lynn 30
Inside Northside
Restaurant & Catering, when asked if she would participate in Tammany Taste of Summer again. Donna O’Daniels, president and CEO of the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission, says, “Research has shown us that 25 percent of our St. Tammany Parish restaurant revenue comes from visitors, and we know that August is an extremely difficult month in the hospitality industry. Our ultimate goal is to help our tourism partners increase revenue. We’re dedicated to investing in our community and supporting our Northshore small businesses that contribute so much to our quality of life.” Through Tammany Taste of Summer, both locals and regional travelers are encouraged to discover and support places to eat, stay and play on Louisiana’s Northshore. This is accomplished with significant advertising in an extensive multi-media campaign provided by the St. Tammany Tourist Commission to promote participating businesses and their deals. In 2020, complimentary advertising via radio, television, Smart TV, Spotify, Pandora, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Banner Ads, Google Keyword Search, and local and regional print publications drove traffic to TammanyTaste.com, where
photos courtesy: LOUISIANANORTHSHORE.COM
Culinary celebration returns for fourth year.