Black Meetings and Tourism

Jan/Feb 2013

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•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 6:28 AM Page 4 PUBLISHER'S MESSAGE we slowly but surely emerge from the recession and the travel industry begins to rebound, I have one nagging question that continues to concern me. Have we African-Americans in the hospitality/meetings/tourism industry positioned ourselves to benefit from the revenue generated by increased visitation to our communities? Back in May of last year, we launched an initiative designed to specifically address this issue. My Publisher's Message in the May/June 2012 issue expressed it best, so I am reprinting excerpts from it here: "Black Meetings & Tourism magazine (BM&T), in collaboration with Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD), is launching our own initiative – "Stay-ADay…See Our USA," a 36-month program …." The basis of the program is to ask ALL visitors and conference attendees traveling in the As US to add an extra day to their itinerary and: visit an AfricanAmerican cultural and/or heritage site; dine at an Ethnic Eatery; and purchase items from African-American retail stores, artists and craft artisans. Additionally, the program suggests, if possible: book travel/tours with an African-American Travel Agent, Tour Operator; stay at a Black-owned hotel or bed and breakfast; and worship at an African-American Church It is estimated that $367.1 million in revenue would be added to the US economy each day if all international visitors extended their travel experience in this country. Approximately $1.8 billion a day would be generated if all domestic travelers included an additional day in their itineraries. Imagine the economic impact possibilities if a fare share of these dollars found their way into our community. The purpose of "Stay-A-Day…See Our USA" is to help revitalize the overall travel industry, contribute to creating jobs in African-American communities, stimulate the nation's economy, and just as importantly, expose travelers worldwide, to the enormous cultural impact that people of African descent have made in this country. We urge our industry colleagues and fellow travelers to get behind this initiative by contacting their local convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, elected officials, church officials, industry organizations, media and other community leaders and ask for their participation and support. If we are to thrive and not just survive, we travel industry professionals must be proactive, and take bold steps that will create wealth-building opportunities for our community, and not just wait for others to do this for us." The question still remains: have we positioned ourselves to benefit from visitors returning to our destinations in greater numbers, be they domestic or international travelers? What have you done in the last six months to move this initiative forward? If you haven't been working with your CVBs, chambers of commerce, elected officials and other industry movers and shakers to make certain an equitable portion of these visitor dollars end up in our community coffers, then it just won't happen. Don't be a bystander in the very real task of planning your future and that of your community. Don't expect others to create and take advantage of opportunities for you. We must be prepared and willing to do it for ourselves and not depend on anyone outsider of our community, however well intentioned they may be, to do it for us. You must take action to secure your future and that of our community. If you don't know what kind of action to take, shoot us an e-mail and we'll point you in the right direction. Solomon J. Herbert P u b l i s h e r / E d i t o r- I n - C h i e f E-Mail: BMandTMag@aol.com Black Meetings & Tourism is published bi-monthly by SunGlo Enterprises, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207 •Telephone: (818)709-0646/Fax: (818) 709-4753 Copyright 2013 by SunGlo Enterprises. All rights reserved. Single Copies, $6.00 Subscriptions $45.00. Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. •Postmaster send address changes to Black Meetings & Tourism, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207. 4 B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com

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