The Event Logistics & Execution Department of Shepherd & Steward is your professional partner for any gathering in Lafayette—from high-stakes corporate conferences to cherished weddings and milestone social celebrations. We remove the stress of event planning by serving as your single, expert point of contact for local vendors, including venues, lodging, transportation, dining, attractions, entertainment, and travel swag. Backed by Shepherd & Steward’s management expertise and supported by an active membership with Lafayette Travel (LCVC), we handle the logistics, negotiation, and coordination so you don’t have to. Operating under a transparent fee-only fiduciary model, we accept no commissions from vendors, ensuring our sole focus is your success and your best price. Whether you’re organizing for your company or your family, we manage the moving parts so you can focus on what truly matters: your guests and your vision.

We streamline vendor management & event planning into a single, organized, repeatable system that increases your event's success year after year.

Speak with a Concierge

Venues

Choosing the right space is the foundation of a successful event. We leverage our deep local knowledge and official partnership with Lafayette Travel to scout, vet, and secure venues that align with your vision. Whether you need a high-tech corporate meeting room, a historic downtown space, or a large-scale ballroom, we handle the site visits and contract negotiations to ensure the space works for you—not the other way around.

Lodging

Navigating hotel contracts and room blocks is a major administrative burden for "accidental planners." Shepherd & Steward simplifies this process by channeling your group's demand into official, trackable blocks. Because we operate as fiduciaries, we negotiate net rates directly with Lafayette’s premier hotels and rentals. We ensure your guests are housed in comfort and style while maximizing your budget through professional volume-based negotiation.

Food & Beverage

Lafayette is the culinary heart of the South, and your event’s menu should reflect that. We manage the entire Food & Beverage logistics chain, coordinating with hotel catering teams, local restaurants, and boutique snack vendors. Whether you need a streamlined working lunch, a festive celebratory dinner, or curated local snacks for your attendees, we handle the menus, dietary requirements, and delivery schedules to provide a true taste of Lafayette

Transportation

Logistics shouldn't be a bottleneck. Shepherd & Steward manages your guests' movement from the moment they arrive. We coordinate airport transfers, daily shuttle circuits, and executive transport. Beyond the road, we even manage unique Lafayette transport options like swamp boat excursions. By serving as your single point of contact for all transit, we eliminate the stress of disjointed schedules and unreliable vendors.

Entertainment

The right entertainment defines the energy of an event. Leveraging our deep roots in the local scene—including the expertise of DJ TBuf—we secure the best musical talent Lafayette has to offer. From soulful acoustic sets and vibrant Zydeco bands to professional event DJs, we handle the rider requirements, sound logistics, and scheduling. Our fiduciary model ensures you get professional-grade entertainment that matches your event's specific vibe.

Attractions

Give your guests an experience they can’t find anywhere else. We act as your liaison to Lafayette’s major festivals and cultural facilities. We manage the logistics for group tours, festival access, and private social gatherings at local landmarks. By filling your guests’ downtime with authentic Lafayette culture, we ensure your event makes a lasting global impression while supporting our local community assets

Travel Swag

Your guests’ experience starts the moment they arrive. We connect you with Lafayette’s finest local vendors to curate "Travel Swag" and welcome bags that are authentically Acadiana. From locally made spices and crafts to custom-branded souvenirs, we handle the sourcing, assembly, and delivery. This not only delights your guests but also directly supports Lafayette’s small businesses and artisans.

The Shepherd & Steward Difference

We are our client's advocate (The Buyer) with seamless execution. We eliminate the administrative burden of event planning. You write one check; we handle the 15 local vendors. Because we charge a flat management fee, we accept zero commissions from hotels or vendors. We have no financial incentive to push an expensive vendor over a cost-effective one. We work strictly for the client, negotiating net rates on their behalf to ensure they get the best possible event at the best possible price. Because our fee is often offset by the bulk discounts we negotiate, the client gets a flawless event for the same price they would have paid to do the hard work themselves.

Schedule Your 10-Minute Logistical Audit

The Event Logistics + Execution Department of Shepherd & Steward offers two distinct engagement tiers designed to eliminate the "Management Chasm" that often threatens an organization’s primary mission. Both levels are built on a fiduciary standard, meaning zero vendor commissions are accepted to ensure total loyalty to your bottom line.

Service Level 1: Strategic Procurement

The "Budget Protector" Model

This tier is engineered for organizations with an existing team that needs an expert fiscal advocate to stop "leaks" in their event supply chain. We provide the technical oversight necessary to transform a disorganized vendor history into a competitive asset.

Service Level 2: Full Event Execution

The "Management Bridge" Model

This is a turnkey, end-to-end solution for organizations that require a dedicated Logistics Architect to lead their event lifecycle while building a permanent digital infrastructure for future continuity.

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Bridge the Gap Between Logistics and Mission.

Every year your team loses hundreds of hours to the same logistical hurdles. Let’s build your Master Event Infrastructure today. Schedule a 30-minute discovery session to audit your current event lifecycle and receive a tailored Statement of Work designed to turn your event logistics into a permanent institutional asset.

Schedule Your FREE Infrastructure Audit

"Budget Protector"

Strategic Procurement

$ 0.00 No upfront Cost

Expert Fiscal Advocacy: We audit your event history, source competitive bids, and secure preferred rates that are typically inaccessible to individual organizations.
Compliance Management: We handle the "Technical Debt" of vendor compliance, managing W-9s, insurance certificates, and contract disputes.
Performance-Based Pricing: This service is Success-Based with no upfront cost; we utilize a 50/50 split of the savings we negotiate on your behalf.
Measurable Financial Recovery: We typically identify $1,500–$3,000 in waste for mid-sized events and $5,000–$10,000 for major events, while reducing annual administrative "Technical Debt" costs by 15–20%.

Secure Preferred Rates

"Management Bridge"

Full Event Execution

$1,500 Monthly Average

Comprehensive Lifecycle Management: We handle every operational detail, from securing municipal permits and site mapping to managing on-site load-in and execution.
Built-in Budget Protection: This tier includes the full Strategic Procurement audit, ensuring every dollar spent is optimized through vetted local vendor networks.
Infrastructure Development: Beyond the event day, we provide a "Living Event Document" that serves as a permanent intellectual asset for your organization’s future success.
Investment Structure: This level operates on a Monthly Retainer + Savings Split, providing your leadership with year-round administrative continuity and predictable budgeting.

Build Your Event Infrastructure

Lafayette, Louisiana

Where Culture Meets Coordination

"At the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country, Lafayette stands as a world-class destination frequently recognized for its unparalleled culinary scene and cultural vibrancy. As the 'Happiest City in America,' it requires a high standard of coordination to match the expectations of visitors who come for our genuine heritage and 'Best Food City' reputation.

Shepherd & Steward aligns its operations with the standards set by Lafayette Travel, the accredited leader in parish tourism since 1974. While they provide the global leadership to bring visitors to our region, S&S provides the boots-on-the-ground execution to ensure those visitors experience the very best of our lodging, dining, and entertainment. Our goal is to protect the unique identity of Lafayette by managing the moving parts of every event with precision."

Find an Event, Restaurant, or Something To Do

BUY LOCAL!

We support our local business (The Suppliers) by acting as an outsourced, commission-free sales force. We bring complex group bookings to the local vendors that complement the in-house sales team and exceed client expectations.

Become A Preffered Vendor

Culturally Rich, Affordable, and Friendly

Culture

Known as the heart of Acadiana, it has a deep-rooted, festive culture, with frequent festivals, live music, and a strong sense of community.

Food

Frequently called the "Best Food City in the USA" for its authentic Cajun and Creole dishes.

Atmosphere

Described as a welcoming, family-friendly, and, at times, close-knit, almost small-town environment.

Welcome!

99.999% of all people in Lafayette will sit with anyone and have a beer with them, and invite them to join the family for great food

We are Inbound (The City)

We keep local budgets in Lafayette by making inbound logistics with Swamp Tours as attractive and easy to book as a Caribbean cruise. Many locals have not been to any of our attractions recently, or at all! We support the city's economic drive, creating jobs, funding infrastructure and public services, and promoting and enhancing our city’s global image.

Stop Exporting Your Budget—Let’s Plan Your Lafayette Experience

Visitors Guide

Allons is the official tourism publication of Lafayette Travel. Sharing the food, music, culture, & history of Cajun & Creole Country.

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