Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1140472
May 6-8 Meet The Money National Hotel Finance & Invest- ment Conference, Hyatt Regency LAX, Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit www.MeetThe- Money.com. May 8-3 BETEX 2019 Travel Trade Show, Belize. http://www.- betex.bz/ May 8-13 Belize Tourism Expo 20129 Road Show, Placencia, San Ignacio and San Pedro, Belize. For more information call 501-227- 1144 or visit www.betex.bz. May 9-11 Global Travel Marketplace, Diplomat Beach Resort, Hollywood/Fort Lauder- dale, FL. For more information visit https://www.gtmflagship.com/ May 10 Charm City Tourism Awards Banquet & Fundraiser, Forum Caterers, Baltimore, MD. For more information call (443) 983-7974. May 13 10th Annual Industry Day, presented by the National Association of Black Women in Const4ruction (NABWIC) and the District Department of Transport- ation (DDOT), Cardozo Educa- tion Campus, Washington, DC. For more information contact Cheryl Rodgers at (202) 673-7753 or cheryl.rodgers@dc.gov . May 14 10th Annual Industry Day, Cardoza Educational Campus, Washington, DC. For more infor- mation contact Cheryl Rodgers at (202)673-7753 or Cheryl.rodgers@dc.gov . May 15-16 Asia Society Diversity & Marketing Leadership Summit: Powering Global Busin- esses, presented by the Asia Society, New York, NY. For more informa- tion visit https://asiasociety.org/- global-talent-initiatives or email dreid@asiasociety.org. May 16-19 Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) 2019 Confer- ence & Trade Show, the Guest House at Graceland, Memphis, TN. For more information call (866) 901-1259 or visit www.tpocassocia - tion.com. May 17 Latinas in Business Inc. Entrepreneur Empowerment Lunch (EEL) and Latina Entrepreneur of the Month Awards, presented by Latinas in Business Inc., NJ. For more information visit https://latinasinbusiness.us or email Susana@latinasinbusiness.us. May 22-23 3AF 2019 Asian Marketing Summit, presented by Asian American Advertising Fede- ration (3AF), Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit https://- www.3af.org. May 30-June 1 Jamaica Inter- national Exhibition, Montego Bay6 Convention Center, Montego Bay, Jamaica. For more information call (876) 978-7755 or email rdurrant- @jamprocorp.com. June 1-7 Caribbean Marketing Conference, presented by the Carib- bean Tourism Organization, New York, NY. www.onecaribbean.org June 3-7 National Caribbean American Legislative Week, Wash- ington, DC. www.caribbeanameri- canmonth.org June 4 Daphne Muse: Civil Rights History Through Letters forum, Taube Family Auditorium, B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 5 PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Solomon J. Herbert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ EDITOR Gloria Herbert GRAPHIC DESIGN: POP MEDIA GROUP Robert Ingram GRAPHIC ARTIST/WEBMASTER Solomon J. Hebert II FOCUS ON M.I.C.E. EDITOR Matthew Thomas RELIGIOUS REVIEW EDITOR Patrice Kelly TECH NEWS EDITOR William G. Herbert CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rebecca Bernard Edith Billups Victoria Head Brienne Herbert Roy Jay Cheray O'Neal SALES MANAGERS Regina Buggs MARKETING/EDITORIAL Andrew Ingraham O.J. Webb OFFICE MANAGER Dorothy Canty HUMAN RESOURCES Barbara Harper For high quality article reprints of 100 or more, please contact Reprint Management Services at (717)399-1900. The Authority on African-American Conventions & Leisure Travel MAY/JUNE 2019 B l a c k M e e t i n g s To u r i s m COVER STORY • A CONVERSATION WITH LARRY ALEXANDER FEATURES • MEETING AT SEA • HAVE YOUR NEXT MEETING IN THE CITY OF STEEPLES • AIRBNB'S IMPACT ON THE HOTEL INDUSTRY • HARRIS LEE ENTERPRISES: BRINGING POSITIVE CHANGE TO YOUR WORLD • ARE YOU GETTING YOUR FAIR SHARE OF THE RELIGIOUS MEETINGS MARKET? • VIRGINA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION AREA GUIDES MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, OREGON, HAWAII, RHODE ISLAND, SAN ANTONIO, MARYLAND, NEW HAMPSHIRE, BARBADOSI Meeting and incentive planners can keep abreast of discount offers and package deals being offered by visiting Black Meetings & Tourism's website – blackmeetingsandtourism.com – and click- ing on the "Meeting Planner Packages" link. Here you will find many cost saving and often time sensitive deals that can help you bring your meeting in on time and under budget. MEETING PLANNER PACKAGES FOR GREAT SAVINGS COMING IN: JULY/AUGUST 2019 continue on page 28