Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/646776
35 B M & T ••• January/February 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com theatres, and art galleries. Everyone likes to eat, and Macon offers remarkable options of cui- sine to tempt any palate. What we have found is that our visitors are diverse because Macon offers such a diverse array of attractions, cui- sine, history and culture. I don't think we have seen significant local impact from the terrorist attacks, but I think everyone is now more cautious and aware in their travel planning and when traveling. J. JOHN OROS, JR., PRESIDENT/CEO, GREATER BIRMINGHAM CVB The "Birmingham vibe" is mentioned time and again by visitors coming here for business and pleasure. One of the primary reasons is the extraordinary food scene in Birmingham. This year, the food giant Zagat named Birmingham the #1 Next Hot Food City – and with good reason. The city is loaded with chef-owned dining rooms serv- ing beautiful, fresh, Southern-influenced cui- sine with the ir own personal touches. More appeal is found in some of the best public golf on earth, along with shopping in hundreds of boutique stores and dozens of trendy malls around the area. Along with its current appeal, the city's his- toric importance cannot be overstated. Birmingham is the city that changed the world. Our role in America's Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s is documented in places such as the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, historic Kelly Ingram Park, and at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, site of the fatal 1963 bombing that placed the interna- tional spotlight on Birmingham and was a turning point in race relations. All these sites are of tremendous interest to our visitors. Our cultivation of all markets is essentially the same because people of all ethnicities appreciate a good meeting host. Racially and ethnically diverse meetings seem to gravitate to Birmingham naturally. Perhaps it's because of our rich history, or maybe it's our affordable rates in lodging and meeting facilities. We do cater to specific markets through informa- tional pieces such as our newly published African-American Treasures brochure. But it is consistently good servicing from a racially diverse staff that seems to have the most posi- tive impact on meeting planners of all cultural traditions. While our thoughts and prayers go out the victims of these unthinkable attacks, we don't dwell on hypothetical scenarios. We have faith in local and national homeland security agencies and believe our most beneficial focus is on continuing to serve, entertain and assist visitors from around the world. The attacks appear to have had little or no impact on visi- tation to Birmingham. AL HUTCHINSON, PRESIDENT/CEO, VISIT MOBILE I believe planners and the delegates they represent are looking for new destinations with a variety of unique and interesting options for meetings and conventions and Mobile definitely fits that bill. Our convention hotels are located in our historic downtown just steps from restaurants, shops, museums and other entertainment. Mobilians are born to celebrate and we welcome groups to town with our soulful spirit ed hospitality – you'll definitely feel the energy and magic that has come to define our diverse historic town located right on Mobile Bay just an hour north of the Gulf of Mexico. Besides advertising through channels like this one, we have a national senior sales man- ager who is dedicated to the multi-cultural market. She attends trade shows, hosts site inspections and makes sales calls around the country targeting the African-American mar- ket and often calls upon African-American elected officials and hospitality partners to join her. We have had no direct impact from the recent terrorism attacks. We work closely with our convention center security team and city officials to remain vigilant. The safety of our residents and visitors is of utmost concern. ERNEST WOODEN, PRESIDENT/CEO, LOS ANGELES TOURISM & CONVENTION BOARD There couldn't be a better time to discov- er Los Angeles. Los Angeles is one of the world's most dynamic cities, one that is constantly evolving and offering new, exciting experiences to our visitors. We are a safe, welcoming city offering a thriving culture scene, multicultural experi- ences and world-class amenities with a broad transportation network. At L.A. Tourism, we value the African- American market enormously and are work- ing diligently to grow this segment, al ong with all other ethnically diverse and inclusive mar- kets. We want to ensure Los Angeles is the first destination of choice on any traveler's U.S. itinerary. With its rich cultural heritage and attrac- tions, Los Angeles draws 2.8 million African- American domestic visitors every year. Among major U.S. urban visitor destinations, L.A. is currently ranked #6 for African- Americans. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with our Parisian brothers and sisters as well as everyone else affected by this terrible tragedy. We do not expect an impact on tourism in the Los Angeles area as a result of this unfortunate event. The safe- ty of our community and all visitors is a primary concern and we know that our hospitality partners, who regularly host countless tourists from around the globe, echo that sentiment. Los Angeles remains one of the safest large U.S. cities and welcomes more than 44 million visi- tors per year. We work diligently with our local and federal partners to keep Los Angeles safe for all of our guests