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meetings for the destination. The National Urban League recently held its Centennial Midwinter Conference in Fort Lauderdale and will return to the area in June to hold the Centennial Black Executive Exchange Program Leadership Conference. Also, 100 Black Men of America will hold its annual conference in the Fort Lauderdale area this June as well. Meetings to Fort Lauderdale not only benefit the South Florida economy, but the entire State of Florida’s economy. As the state’s number one industry, tourism is responsible for welcoming more than 84 million visitors each year, which results in over $65 billion in taxable sales revenue and employs in excess of 1 million Floridians. For every $1 spent on tourism marketing, VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – generates $58 in tourism spending and $3 in new sales tax collections, paid by visitors, not residents. To learn more about meetings in Florida, please go to meetings.VISITFLORIDA.com. Reporting by Kelli Robinson IT’S A NEW DAY IN DAYTONA BEACH! Although Daytona Beach is best known for its 23 miles of smooth, sandy beaches, in recent years it has become known for its growing inventory of quality hotels as well as meeting and convention facilities. The recently expanded Ocean Center meeting, convention and event complex has opened to rave reviews. The NEW Ocean Center offers 500,000 sq. ft. of interior and exterior space, including large arena, versatile breakout rooms, award win- ning catering, a VIP suite and much more. The expansion heralds the Daytona Beach area as a preferred choice among ocean- front destinations and second tier markets. The Daytona Beach area offers approximately 12,000 hotel rooms, with everything from quaint, upscale inns to larger, busi- ness class meeting resorts. The Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, The Shores Resort & Spa, The Plaza Resort & Spa, and Daytona Beach Resort & Conference Center have under- gone multi-million dollar refurbishment projects. Accommodations in the area never looked better. The Ocean Center and area hotels are all within minutes of the Daytona Beach International Airport, which is served by Delta Air Lines and US Airways. There is direct service from Atlanta and Charlotte and convenient connections from every- where else. For those driving, Daytona Beach is conveniently located at the intersection of Interstate-95 and Interstate-4. The Daytona Beach area features LPGA International with Ocean Center Convention Complex Photo Credit: Roberto A Sanchez its two championship golf courses. The Golf Daytona Beach program includes a dozen courses and even more hotels that offer special rates on golf outings for convention delegates. The USTA Florida Tennis Center is also popular with visitors, with 24 clay hydro-courts and 20 lighted courts. Museum-goers will enjoy the Museum of Arts & Sciences, a Smithsonian affiliate. For the maritime lovers, the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse is one of Florida’s finest nautical museums. The area is teeming with things to see and do. Of course, the beach is at the top of everyone’s list. But other interesting places include the Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory; Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona motorcycle complex; Daytona Flea & Farmers Market; Daytona Lagoon family waterpark; Ocean Walk Village Shoppes; Volusia County Marine Science Center; Volusia Speedway Park and New Smyrna Speedway; go-kart tracks; miniature golf courses; river cruises; The Casements Cultural Arts Center, Peabody Auditorium; the News-Journal Center; Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center; Starlight Dinner Cruises; DeBary Hall Historic Site; Gamble Place at Spruce Creek; Daytona Cubs Minor League Baseball at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; Henry DeLand House; Historic Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse; DeLand Naval Air Station Museum; Ormond Memorial Art Museum; Southeast Museum of Photography; Halifax Historical Museum; Daytona Beach Bandshell concerts; and charming, historic downtown districts in Daytona Beach, DeLand and New Smyrna Beach. So, whether you are meeting on the beach, in the fast lane at Daytona International Speedway or doing a little team build- ing at Daytona 500 Experience, Daytona Beach is the perfect meeting location. With professional meetings and convention staff available to assist you with small meetings, large conventions and everything in between, your next event will be a mem- orable success. For more information contact the Daytona Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, (386) 255-0415 x132 or 42 www.daytonabeachmeetings.com. Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com