Black Meetings and Tourism

Nov/Dec 2012

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ICI•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 1/22/13 1:13 AM Page 11 TPOC NEWS BRIEFS Greetings TPOC Members, It has been a great year, even with the many challenges we've all faced.  We especially want to continue to pray for the families of the members we lost this year, Joan Lewis and James Edwards certainly will be missed. Charlotte and I truly thank each and every one of you for your participation this year. As you know, we started the organization 10 years ago, and boy has it been a journey!  From our humble beginnings, we've come a long way and have grown tremendously but in life the journey often takes you in various directions and we felt it time for a change.  So during this past conference new officers were elected. As mentioned previously, at the close of the 2013 conference the newly elected officers will take the helm of this great organization. Brenda Bryant, president; Carolyn White, vice president; Lalita Witt, secretary; Glen Shumate, treasurer; Beverly Bentley, assistant treasurer; Mary Brantley, program chairperson; Dedra Jenkins, meeting planner; Yvonne Barnes, membership at large and Leatrice Bagley, sergeant at arms. I am confident they will do a wonderful job, ensuring TPOC moves forward and never backwards. WOW! Three great events in one remarkable week.  The TPOC conference, which is normally held in April or May moves to July in 2013 to coincide with Trinidad & Tobago's inspiring Emancipation Celebration. Also, we've added our Friends & Family Heritage Tour which is packed with lots of special events and TPOC extras.  Back in October I sent out a tentative schedule of the up coming conference.  As a refresher and to make sure you add next year's conference to your 2013 travel budget, here's an update.  The 11th Annual Conference and Trade Show will convene in Trinidad and Tobago, July 28 through August 5, 2013. The conference rate of $299.00 for members and $349.00 for non members includes: all conference materials, most meals, pre conference tour, transportation from Trinidad to Tobago, and transfers to the Tobago Hotel. The Hyatt Regency Trinidad is the conference host hotel and in Tobago the Magdalene Grand Resort will serve as the host hotel.  The conference rate for these hotels is $210.00 a night including tax based on single or double occupancy.  The links to book your room at these hotels will be added to our web site shortly. While in Trinidad and Tobago here is the current conference schedule:  Sunday, July 28 – Pre conference heritage tour. (Will begin around 1:00 p.m.)  Most flights into Trinidad arrive late in the evening, so in order to take part in the pre conference tour scheduled for Sunday; agents must fly into Port of Spain on Saturday. Remember Caribbean Airlines is offering a 10% discount off of all level G class and up.  The booking code is POSTPOCSSA13. This information will also be added to the web site shortly. Monday, July 29 – Our official opening, with CLIA classes, plus CTA & CTC testing in the morning with workshops and general assembly after lunch.   Tuesday, July 30 – Full day of workshops and this year, a Heritage Summit.  The Heritage Summit will be comprised of various vendors and tour operators coming together to discuss their product and what they have to offer in the way of Heritage tourism.  The day's activities will end around 5:00 p.m. Pan Am Festival this evening – optional for conference participates. Wednesday, July 31 – Workshops in the morning, Trade Show in the afternoon. That evening, the African-Caribbean Concert – optional for conference participates. Thursday, August 1 – Emancipation Celebration Day – optional  for conference participates.  Betty Jones, Wayn Hamilton (representing Minister Percy Paris of the Nova Scotia Ministry of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism) and Charlotte Haymore at 2012 Conference. Friday, August 2 – Everyone will leave for Tobago via express ferry. The conference will resume  with workshops in the afternoon. Later that evening, dinner sponsored by Tobago House of Assembly (THA). Saturday, August 3 – A free day with closing gala that evening sponsored by host of the 2014 Conference.   Sunday, August 4 – Agents may leave or stay for the festivities of "Sunday School" that evening. Emancipation Celebration Package – Includes the optional activities mentioned above.  Can be purchased for an additional cost of $149.00 per person. Package also includes transportation to these functions and can be purchased online. As for the Friends and Family Heritage Tour – The dates for our Friends & Family Heritage Tour are July 30th through August 5th, 2013. We are asking each of you to bring as many people as possible.  Our goal is to have at least 300 guests join us during this time. All registration for guest attending the Friends & Family Heritage Tour (Land Only) must be booked through Home Office. All airfare must be booked through individual agency.  The Travel Institute offers an online class to become a Tobago Specialist; this will enable you to have a very good understanding of the island and its people.   Charlotte, Cliff, Colin, HenriAnn and I would like to thank each of you from the bottom of our hearts for your support these last 10 years. God bless each of you and may the feelings of love and peace be with you during Christmas and throughout the New Year. Merry Christmas! Betty Jones Vice President B M & T ••• November/December 2012 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 11

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