Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1125304
3 CONTENTS 18 18 VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3, 2019 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 10 Hotel Happenings 12 Newsmakers 34 Caribbean Corner 36 Cruise News 38 Travel Data 40 Anguilla 42 Georgia 44 Minnesota 45 Indiana 46 Mississippi 48 Washington, DC 20 20 B M & T ••• March/Apri 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES In 2015, Ernest Wooden Jr. was listed amongst the presti- gious EBONY® Magazine's Power 100 list. This honor was to salute him for remarkable achievements as one of the most influential African-Americans in the United States. For the past several years, he has notably led Los Angeles, one of the world's most diverse destinations, in the area of tourism. A Conversation With Ernest Wooden Jr. tells the whole story. By Victoria Head 13 13 27 27 There are many reasons why a planner will take a closer look at a destinationthey may have once passed over for a meeting or conference. For example, when South Carolina finally resolved their Confederate Flag issue, planners who had previously participated in a boycott of the state added the charming city of Columbia back onto their rotation list of potential meeting sites. Some may feel that because a des- tination is not considered top tier, it doesn't offer a first class meeting experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. BM&T offers you six possibilities here to prove our point in Emerging Markets to Watch. By Rufus McKinney Picture your group gathering at a meeting venue overlooking a mountain or ocean view, or a state-of-the- art convention center recognized for its green design. Your evening opening reception might be set in a grand old theater or an art museum with a dazzling contem- porary design by a world-renowned architect. A morn- ing group tour could take you to a local African- American museum and restaurant; a historical site depicting how Native Americans, early settlers or cow- boys once lived; or a spectacular natural landmark. Learn all about this and more in the African- American Guide To Meeting, Incentives And Traveling In The West. By. Rufus McKinney Photo Credit: odessa4 Location is one of the biggest factors in selecting a meeting destination; choosing the right destination is as important as the meeting itself. As a locale that boasts beautiful beaches, world-famous attractions, warm weather and easy air accessi- bility, Florida is no stranger to hosting large groups. Meeting In The Sunshine State Top Of Mind For Many Planners reports on the value and excitement Florida offers to meeting planners and meeting attendees. By Cletus Ramsey Downtown Los Angeles