Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/875351
3 CONTENTS COVER STORY 24 24 VOLUME 24, ISSUE 1, 2017 FEATURES African-Americans more than any other group seek out heritage tourism opportunities on vacation or added to an itinerary when attending a conference. In one study, over 69% of African-Americans surveyed reported visiting a her- itage site or museum and/or attending a cultural event during their last travel experience. For many African-Americans, her- itage tourism is an emotional journey that brings laughter, tears, knowledge, pride, and yes dreams and possibilities. Historic Cities For A Cultural Meeting Experience puts it all into perspective.. By Buck Samuels Choosing the right venue for your meeting or conference is a crucial step in the planning process. Select a destination or facility that doesn't resonate with your target audience and you very well may put a damper on attendance, no mat- ter how spectacular your scheduled program may be. Meetings Love Golf Resorts is must reading for planners who are challenged to pick a venue that has the amenities that will boost attendance, while at the same time taking care that these same features that attract delegates will not also detract from the business at hand. By Rufus McKinney The CityArchRiver project is transforming the Gateway Arch experience by better connecting the Gateway Arch complex, riverfront and downtown St. Louis for visitors and residents alike. CityArchRiver, Reshaping St. Louis' Iconic Monument provides an update on this exciting development. 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 10 TPOC New Briefs 12 Newsmakers 14 Caribbean Corner 20 Katrina's Corner 22 Travel Data 30 Cruise New 32 From The Motherland 33 Dominican Republic 34 Pennsylvania 36 Jamaica 37 Wilmington 16 16 13 13 A R E A G U I D E S D E P A R T M E N T S Copyright: Wangkun Jia Norfolk city skyline from the Elizabeth River B L A C K M E E T I N G S & T O U R I S M B M & T ••• January/February 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com