Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/646776
ELLIOTT FERGUSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, DESTINATION DC 2016 will be an exceptional year for the African-American market in Washington, DC. The city is alive with neighborhood redevelopment projects, streamlined trans- portation options, new restaurants, more nightlife, and a host of world-class retail. There is a hotel boom too. Among the places set to open in the coming year, is The Watergate Hotel, subject to a $120M reno- vation. It sits on the waterfront in Foggy Bottom, next door to the Kennedy Center and within walking distance of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the final Smithsonian Institution museum to open on the National Mall. This museum will tell the story of African- Americans from the diaspora to present day. Its collection includes slave shackles, Louis Arm-strong's trumpet as well as monumen - tal objects like Jim Crow-era railway car and an Angola prison tower. The opening cele- brations, date to be released, should be an experience for generations to share. If fami- lies are unable to attend the official cere- monies, the museum remains a testament, a place of sharing, learning and endurance adjacent to the Washington Monument. Our on-going DC Cool campaign high- lights the familiar Washingto n, DC: the monuments and memorials as well as the lesser knows independent businesses and the creatives who keep the capital an exciting place to visit and promote. We're continuing to emphasize diversity in our print and viral campaigns, hosting FAMs and working with the Smithsonian Institution to telegraph their next chapter of national storytelling. Washington, DC is a city practiced at maintaining its momentum as it hosts high visibility events. We remember the lessons of 9/11 and continue to respond to the con- cerns of national and local law enforcement and share their messaging with our mem- bers and visitors. KATHLEEN M. RATCLIFFE, PRESIDENT, ST. LOUIS CVC St. Louis is a place where history and imag- ination collide, and the result is a destination like no other. If you haven't been to St. Louis lately, you truly are missing a gem. In the heart of our revitalized downtown, a vibrant new hospitality district continues to grow. More than $5 billion has been invested in develop- ment across the region, and more exciting projects, like the National Blues Museum (opening April 2016) are on the way. No matter the time of year, there is some- thing for everyone. With some of the finest hotels, restaurants, museums and entertain- ment venues you' ll find, St. Louis is a great choice for your next meeting, group event or family get-away! St. Louis as a multi-cultural destination, which celebrates the numerous races and nationalities that help create the diverse cul- tural landscape of our community. Explore St. Louis actively markets to African- American visitors in Midwestern cities during the key travel seasons to make them aware of the attraction s, venues and must see events taking place in a nearby city. Additionally, we are proud to host many conventions of primarily African-American delegates, like Church of God in Christ, the National Baptist Convention and the National Urban League. The safety of our visitors is our top priori- ty. We work closely with law enforcement agencies and our hospitality industry partners to ensure the safety of guests to our region. RONNIE BURT , PRESIDENT/CEO, VISIT KC Kansas City's key advantages include its central location, overall affordability and vibrant cultural scene. More than 55 million Americans can get to Kansas City in less than a day's drive, and flying is even easier, as Kansas City is just a three-hour flight from either coast. What's more is that $6.5 billion has been poured into our downtown recent- ly, redefining the convention and visitor expe- rience. We've always been very aggressive in this market, and we've enjoyed great success as a result. As we elevate our multicultural market- ing strategies and enhance our messaging platforms in 2016, I believe we'll only grow stronger in this area. Kansas City is a diverse, welcoming city and we're eager to show that to the world. We haven't seen an impact on visitation to Kansas City as a re sult of the attacks, but we are still taking precautions and continuing to work closely with our partners at the City and Kansas City Police Department to monitor the situation. Keeping Kansas City a safe and vibrant city is of utmost importance to us. WANDA COLLIER –WILSON, PRESIDENT/CEO, JACKSON CVB Jackson, Mississippi is the perfect choice when considering a unique location for trav- el. Meeting planners will find the central location in the Southeast is easily accessible by plane, train or excellent interstate driving on I-55 and I-20. With over 5,000 hotel rooms in Jackson, planners will have no problem securing adequate room blocks in affordable hotel properties. The Jackson Convention Center Complex offers over 300,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and is eager to work with groups. The hundreds of annual festivals and events held in Jackson provide year round entertainment for meet- ing delegates and traveling individuals to 33 B M & T ••• January/February 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ,