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ProfessionalsOfColor (TPOC),Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO),Africa Travel Association (ATA), Travel and Tourism Marketing Association (TTMA), Black Business Association of Los Angeles (BBA) and Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAAC). Herbert and his wife Gloria were the 2002 recipients of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planner's Minority Business Award, the 2005 recipients of the Regional Black Chamber of Commerce of San Fernando Valley's Small Business of the Year Award, the 2007 recipients of Outstanding Entrepreneur Award from the Black Business Association of Los Angeles, the 2008 recipients of California State Salute to Small Business Award, the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award from NAB- HOOD and most recently, the 2010 Small Business Award from the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley & Region. AL HUTCHINSON is vice president of Convention Sales & Marketing for the Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Hutchinson and his staff are responsible for generating direct spending revenue to the City of Virginia Beach by bringing meetings, conventions, pro- f e s s i o n a l tradeshows and spor t s - rel a ted events to the City. Hutchinson and the City of Virginia Beach are proud to welcome guests to the new 500,000-sq. ft. Virginia Beach Convention Center. Fully opened January 2007, the facility features a 31,000-sq. ft. ballroom,150,000-sq. ft.column-free exhib- it hall and over 29,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Hutchinson is an active industry leader locally and nationally having served on numerous committees and boards. In addition, Hutchinson has been a long-time member of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the American Society of Association Executives, the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, the Professional Con-vention Management Association and the International 50 Association of Exhibitions and Events. Hutchinson is a 2008 APEX Award for Distinguished Service recipient, presented by to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their field positively impact- ing the travel and tourism industry. Through his vision, professionalism, and highly regarded reputation, Hutchinson has opened the door to a variety of opportuni- ties and numerous accolades. During his tenure, his team has hosted ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's Convention Center Operations Program and has received a number of awards: Prior to his 2003 appointment as vice president of Convention Sales & Marketing for the Virginia Beach CVB, Hutchinson held various sales positions in the hospitality industry: national sales manager for The Park Hotel, Charlotte, NC; director of Convention Sales for the Visit Pittsburgh; senior sales manager for the Charlotte Convention Center; and sales manager for the Greater Richmond CVB. ANDREW INGRAHAM is the founder and serves as president/CEO of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers, Inc. ( N A B HOOD ) . NABHOOD was formed 2001 to increase the num- ber of African- Americans devel- oping, managing, operating and owning hotels, increase vendor opportunities and executive level posi- tions for minorities, thereby creating wealth within the African-American com- munity. At that time, there was only one African-American franchised hotel in the country. Today there are over 500. Ingrahamis also president of Horizons Marketing Group Intl. Inc., a marketing, government and public relations firmwith special emphases on African-American multicultural tourism and investment strategies. He has over 25 years in the tourism industry, developing specific expertise in multicultural and Caribbean tourism. Because of his knowledge and expertise, he is a constant source for arti- cles and has been featured or quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Black Enterprise, National Public Radio, Hotel Business, BlackMeetings &Tourism Magazine and a host of other publications and media outlets. Horizons created a number of programs for Caribbean desti- nations seeking to access the growing African-American and multicultural tourism & investment market. Andy is a constant speaker at national conferences and meetings speaking on hotel invest- ment and development opportunities. He is responsible for a number of hotel investment conferences and workshops in corroboration with the hotel chains and International Franchise Association. Some accomplishments are: appointed to the National Tourism Advisory Committee for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); appointed to the White House Conference on Tourism; founded and hosted the Annual International African- American Hotel Ownership/Multicultural Tourism Summit & Trade Show; created & designed the first multicultural tourism collateral piece in the State of Florida for Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to attract African- American tourism. ROY JAY hasmade an impressionable footprint in the convention and tourism industry Since 1993. This Portland,Oregon business entrepre- neur is more than just a marketer of convention and tourism products for his city; he has transformed him- self into his own "brand". If you have been in the minori- ty convention and tourism circles for more than five years, then you will undoubtedly have heard his name, read his story or benefited from his business expertise. Known to many as a "team player", he was the architect of minority convention FAM trips dating back nearly two decades ago when he still holds the record for the longest andmost successful FAMtrip ever held to promote minority convention and meeting professionals – 10 days. Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com B l a c k M e e t i n g s & T o u r i s m M a g a z i n e