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BY PENELPE BLAIR Las Vegas will be the destination for the National Tour "Today's Strategies that Build Tomorrow's Leaders of African Descent," will be the theme discussed at the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) convention. The 39th annual convention will be held at the Ernest N.Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA from November 16-20, 2011. More than 6,000 partic- ipants from around the country are expected to attend visiting over 250 exhibits. Keynote speakers include: Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., Nikki Giovanni and Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark, NJ to name a few. Past con- ventions have been held in Fort Worth, TX (2010), Indianapolis, IN (2009) and Atlanta, GA (2008). Upcoming destinations include: Nashville, TN (2012), Detroit, MI (2013) and Kansas, MO (2014). Their next open convention date is 2017. Visit www.nabse.org for more information. Association (NTA) annual convention taking place December 5-9, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. TheVegas stripwill be the backdrop tomore than 1,600 atten- dees comprised of tour operators, tour packagers, tour suppli- ers as well as destination marketing organizations. Past con- vention destinations have included: Montreal, QC (2010), Reno, NV (2009) and Pittsburgh, PA (2008). NTA will be shifting to a new model and sharing co-location destinations with the UnitedMotorcoachAssociation. As NTA prepares for their upcoming changes there will not be a convention in 2012.Their next convention is slated for 2013 inOrlando, FL. Other convention destinations include: Los Angeles, CA (2014), and New Orleans, LA (2015). Their next open con- ference date is 2016. Learn more at www.ntaonline.com. The United States Tour Operators Association's annual The National Association of Black Storytellers will host their 29th annual convention at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel inAtlanta,GA from November 9- 13, 2011. The city will welcome over 400 attendees who will gather to support and promote the history, heritage and culture of theAfricanAmerican experience depicted through oral tradition. Members of the association are dedicated to preserving and passing on "the folklore, leg- ends, myths, fables and mores of Africans, their descen- dants and ancestors." The association has hosted previ- ous conventions in Minneapolis,MN (2010), Little Rock, AR (2009) and Cincinnati, OH (2008). Their 2012 annu- al convention will be held in Baltimore, MD and 2013 is their next open convention date. Go to www.nabsinc.org to learn more. conference and marketplace will take place at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club and Spa in Marco Island, FL from December 11-13, 2011. The beau- tiful island will host over 650 attendees who are com- prised of some of the top names in travel.The association reports that their member companies are responsible for the majority of tours and vacation packages sold by trav- el agents in the U.S. In addition, they move over 11 mil- lion passengers annually and account for an annual sales volume of 9 billion. Past conference destinations have included: New Orleans, LA (2010), Banff, Alberta, Canada (2009) and Palm Desert, CA (2008). The 2012 conference will take place in Big Island, Hawaii. Their next open conference date is 2013. Visit www.ustoa.com to learn more. Email your upcoming events to info@blackmeet- ingsandtourism.com. 16 Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com