The Cook hotel and Conference Center started off as office buildings until 1994, when 5 million dollars were raised to start construction on the two buildings that stand on the edge of campus today.

The center and hotel are dedicated to LSU graduate Lodwrick Cook. He thought it would be important to have a place for alumni to still feel at home while on campus.

“The idea was brought forward by President Ronald Reagan, when he was a guest speaker for graduation,” President and CEO Cliff Vannoy said.

Lod cook has been a focal point for alumni activity such as the annual Alumnus of the Year, Hall of Distinction Gala. As well as networking events where seniors are able to meet alumni from across the United States.

“Most campus hotels are build by a corporation, like the Holiday Inn or Hilton, but The Cook Hotel is the only hotel in the country that is owned and is operated by the alumni association,” Vannoy stated.  

The Cook Hotel raises money from every guest that stays at the hotel, and puts it towards student scholarships and professorships at LSU.

During the year there are also international conference held at the Lod Cook Alumni Center as well as campus wide events such as student orientations.

“One of our traditions is, that on friday nights of home football games the starting team stays with us here at The Cook hotel,” Vannoy said.

Guests and alumni will have the opportunity to talk with the coaches, and players while they walk back and forth from the hotel to the conference center for meetings and briefings right up until the beginning of the games.

Both Alumni and parents are more than welcome to book a room while visiting LSU, in order to gain the full LSU experience.