Visit Lake Charles Announces Two Promotions

Visit Lake Charles (Louisiana) has named Eric Zartler as the senior vice president of sports and Taylor Beard Stanley as the vice president of sales.

“The dedicated focus that Eric will have for sports tourism and diversifying the types of sporting events that we can attract to Southwest Louisiana will greatly enhance the competitive edge for the area,” said Kyle Edmiston, president/CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “Equally, Taylor will be able to fully concentrate on moving the sales team toward reaching goals for meetings, conventions and the global marketplace,”

Zartler has been key to Lake Charles’ sports destination marketing and management over the past 15 years. Under his leadership, the destination has landed the 2021 Louisiana USSSA Hall of Honor and the 2020 Louisiana Travel Association Event of the Year for the USA Boxing National Championships & Olympic Trials. He was awarded the 2016 Distinguished Service Award by the Louisiana High School Coaches Association, the 2012 Louisiana High School Athletic Association Super Sport Award, and 2012 Thrive Magazine’s 13 Thriving Thirty Somethings.

Zarlter is a Certified Destination Management Executive, Travel Marketing Professional, and he graduated from the Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy and Destinations International Sales Academy. He was also the founding chair and has served multiple terms as chair for Team Louisiana.

Stanley has worked to promote Southwest Louisiana for the past six years, earning her Tourism Marketing Certification in 2022. She was named as a U.S. Travel Emerging Leader in 2022. She graduated from Leadership SWLA in 2021, was named as a Destinations International 30 under 30, and recognized as Louisiana Travel Rising Star of the Year in 2020, and is a graduate of the Louisiana Tourism Leadership Academy. She is also a board member for the Louisiana Society of Association Executives, Fusion Five, and serves on the leadership councils for Destinations International 30 Under 30 and Leadership Southwest Louisiana Alumni.