Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/79688
Publisher's Message be rolled out at the NABHOOD Conference inMiami on Friday, July 27th. The brainchild of BM&T Associate Publisher/Editor Gloria Herbert, the pro- gram is being sponsored jointly by Black Meetings & Tourism, Travel Professionals of Color and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers. We feel the timing of this ini- tiative, which is the focus of our July/August cover story, could not be bet- ter, since theBrandUSAdeadline for sub- mitting first year proposals is fast approaching (read cover story for more details). The African-American travel and hospi- tality industry professionals must be decidedly proactive if we are to garner a fair share of the annual 200 million Brand USA marketing dollars for our community. It falls on our shoulders to ensure that a portion of these funds that target inbound international travelers finds a way into the coffers of Black- owned businesses that help promote the travel, tourism and meeting industries to this market segment. Additionally, once "Stay-A-Day" is implemented and kicks in, we want our community to be prepared and ready to share in the hundreds of millions of dollars we anticipate will be generated by the initiative. More specifically, we want to make certain that when international visi- tors, as well as domestic travelers, add an extra day onto their itineraries, they will stay at a Black-owned hotel, eat at a Black-owned restaurant, utilize a Black-owned florist, be serviced by a Black-owned transporta- tion company, shop at a Black-owned retail establishment, patronize a Black-owned beauty salon, worship at an African-American church – you get the picture. Black Meetings & Tourism is currently constructing a "Stay-A-DAY' website that will provide information, support and resources for those entrepreneurs and business owners who want to participate in this ini- tiative. The website should go live by the end of August if all goes as planned. In order for this initiative to be successful, there needs to be a coming Stay-A-Day: See OUR USA cam- paign is scheduled to together of various segments of our industry and community, from con- vention & visitors bureaus and Black chambers of commerce, to elected officials, church officials and everything in between. Toward this end, we at BM&T, in consultation with some of our travel/meeting/hospitality partners, have identified the need of a body of industry and community leaders that could help to coordinate, advise and provide support as Stay-A-Day and other initiatives move forward. We as African-Americans can no longer afford to be splintered and disconnected, doing our own thing off by ourselves while other groups unify, support one another and work together for the common good of all in their community. By pulling in the same direction together, we not only stand to accomplish more and reap more benefits for our commu- nity, but for the larger community as well. Each one of you reading this publisher's message will benefit through Stay-A-Day if additional millions of dollars spent by international and domestic travelers were earmarked for your community. So we encour- age you to get behind this initiative and become an advocate for Stay-A- Day. Talk to your local CVB officials, call on your elected officials for support, seek the participation of your Black chamber of commerce (be sure to join if you're not already a member), and engage your pastor at the house of worship you attend. Together, we can make a difference! Stay tuned for more develop- ments as they unfold. Solomon J. Herbert Publisher/Editor-in-Chief E-Mail: BMandTMag@aol.com Black Meetings & Tourism is published bi-monthly by SunGlo Enterprises, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207 •Telephone: (818)709-0646/Fax: (818) 709-4753 Copyright 2012 by SunGlo Enterprises. All rights reserved. Single Copies, $6.00 Subscriptions $45.00. Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. •Postmaster send address changes to Black Meetings & Tourism, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207. 4 Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com