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B M & T ••• January/February 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 24 With over 2,000 pieces, Bronze Kingdom represents an important spectrum of African bronze, beaded, and wood sculptures from all over the continent including Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal, and The Democratic Republic of The Congo. If you are fortunate enough o be meeting in Orlando dur- ing late January, be sure to block out time to experience the annual Zora Neal Hurston Festival in nearby Eatonville. First presented in 1990, ZORA!™ is a multi-day, multi-disci- plinary, intergenerational event composed of public talks, museum exhibitions, theatrical productions, arts education programming, and a 3-day Outdoor Festival of the Arts. The event takes place primarily in Eatonville, Florida (10 miles north of Orlando) and throughout Orange County. This year the festival takes place January 26-February 3. Few destinations are as traveler-friendly as Orlando. Orlando International Airport provides nonstop service from more than 100 cities around the world. For more information contact Visit Orlando at (800) 643- 0482 or www.visitorlando.com MIAMI "Why bring my meeting or event to Greater Miami and the Beaches?" one might ask. Where would one begin is the question. The weather and atmosphere are perfect. Nowhere else on earth will you find a combi- nation of cosmopolitan Miami conference facilities and tropical splendor. In short, this unique destination can only be described as "Tropicool, "which means Miami meetings are the ultimate choice for your next meet- ing. After all, Miami has been attracting some of the most prestigious association and corporate meetings, conventions and trade shows from around the globe. This puts you in very good company indeed. With its plethora attractions and entertainment options, Miami is also famous for being fam- ily friendly. The magnificent Miami Beach Conven- tion Center, a 1.4-million sq. ft., LEED certi- fied facility, is a meeting planner's dream come true. Its 500,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art renovated and versatile exhibit space, featuring four massive halls, is set against a backdrop of stunning beaches, fine dining, art, shopping, luxury rooms and an abundance of glorious sunshine. Not to mention a state-of-the-art 60,000-sq. ft. grand ballroom, 20,000-sq. ft. glass rooftop junior ballroom, and the reimagined indoor/outdoor pub- lic spaces. That's a win-win for planners and delegates. Another option, the Miami Airport Convention Center (MACC) is located adjacent to Miami International Airport, adjoining the Doubletree Hotel and the Miami International Merchandise Mart. Minutes from Downtown Miami, the MACC features 172,000 sq. ft. of high-tech meeting, conference and trade show space, including a 29,000- sq. ft. social catering ballroom (second largest in the region) and 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibition and function space. With a great location, dynamic meeting space and professional, attentive service, the MACC has the flexibility to host everything from trade shows and social functions to conventions and conferences. South Beach has been called the American Riviera and an Art Deco Playground. Yet there's more than fine white sand and colorful buildings to South Beach's fantasyland of exuberant Deco architecture. South Beach offers an eclec- tic mix of world-class boutiques, galleries and stores. It's also a culinary hot spot for everything from gourmet to casual beachside cuisine. At night, South Beach comes alive with crowds ready to go out and have a world-class evening out. No trip to Miami would be complete without exploring some of the area's rich cultural heritage. At the top of your list should be a stroll down the streets of Historic Overtown, where you can explore the legendary Lyric Theater, visit the Black Archives, enjoy artistic murals, savor some of the best soul food in Miami, stop by a farmer's market, and if your timing is right, kick up your heels at one of the many music and art festivals that unfold there on a regular basis. Steeped in the complex and rich cultural histories of the Afro-Caribbean immigrants who brought life to its area, Little Haiti, another must see, has evolved into a colorful beacon in Miami's arts communities. Throughout the years, small businesses like celebrated record stores, kitsch bars, and authentic eateries have eased into the neighborhood, creating their own particular patchwork within the already distinct Little Haiti. For more information contact the Greater Miami & The beaches CVB at (800) 933-8448 or miamiandbeaches.com. Aerial shot of downtown Miami at night