Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1094854
3 CONTENTS 13 13 VOLUME 26, ISSUE 1, 2019 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 10 Newsmakers 30 Caribbean Corner 32 Cruise News 34 Travel Data 35 Dominican Republic 36 Jamaica 37 Louisiana 39 Omaha 40 Pennsylvania 15 15 B M & T ••• January/February 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES Karin Aaron was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey and recalls growing up years after the 1960s rebellion. Her family owned a thriving business in the city but quickly watched how neighborhoods deteriorated, property values fell and many began moving out of the city. In her current position as President/CEO of the Greater Newark CVB, she's playing a crucial role in changing all that. A Conversation With Karin Aaron tells the whole story. By Victoria Head 12 12 25 25 27 27 Caucus Connects The Future To The Past tells the story of 20 local area high school students studying hospital- ity and tourism from Ballou Senior High School and Maya Angelou Public Charter High School who had the chance to listen to the career journeys taken by industry elite at Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine presents: "Building Diversity in the Travel Industry" Mentoring Program Kick Off at the Washington Plaza Hotel on Friday, September 14, 2018 held during the 48th Annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference. Dr. Erinn D. Tucker Are You Behind The Curve In Your Efforts To Target The African-American Travel Market? is a wake up call for marketers who are simply not up to speed in their efforts to penetrate one of the fastest growing and most lucrative markets in the travel/tourism/meetings industry. By Gloria & Solomon Herbert Photo Credit:Lukas Gojda Looking to infuse new life and energy into your meetings? Why not try something different? Spa Meetings might be just the right fit for your group. Planners know all too well how stressful and time con- suming pulling together a successful conference can be. Participating in such gatherings can also be stressful for attendees as well. Spa resorts provide the perfect set- ting to hold a productive business meeting, with the ever-present incentive of that luxurious spa experience awaiting attendees at the end of the meeting day. Spa Meetings: Mixing Business With R&R offer plan- ners a few possible spa resorts to consider for their next meeting. By Cletus Ramsey Blended travel – combing business and leisure trips with the family has gained momentum in recent years. According to one survey, 77 percent took family or a significant other on their last business trip, and 47 percent do it a majority of the time. The numbers are even higher in the African- American market segment, where travel with families to everything from conference to family reunions has been a mainstay. Taking The Family: Travel For Business And Pleasure reports on several destinations that are decidedly family friendly. By Buck Samuels Spa aromatic candles