Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1152980
3 CONTENTS 27 27 VOLUME 26, ISSUE 7, JULI/AUGUST 2019 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 10 Center of Attention 12 Newsmakers 14 Katrina's Corner 40 Caribbean Corner 42 Cruise News 44 Travel Data 46 From The Motherland 47 Barbados 48 Hawaii 50 Maryland 51 Michigan 53 New York City 18 18 B M & T ••• July/August 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES The A Conversation With Larry Alexander follows his journey from a pre-med student in Houston to assuming the role as president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, and the extraordinary efforts he makes to promote Motor City throughout the world. By Dennis B. Rogers, PHD 20 20 29 29 36 36 As one of the world's premier meeting and convention destinations, Las Vegas welcomed 6.5 million business travel- ers in 2018 – a number projected to increase in 2019. MGM Resorts Adds 900k New Reasons To Meet In Las Vegas reports on major developments in its meeting & convention spaces, including new-to-market venues and major expan- sions totaling more than 900,000 sq. ft. on The Strip. A More than two million people stay in an Airbnb every night, making it disruptive force in the travel industry that can't be ignored. What started out as two roommates trying to earn some extra cash to pay their high, San Francisco rent has turned into a travel tech behemoth valued at $38 billion. Airbnb's Impact On The Hotel Industry: Insights From 1000 Travelers Who Use Both tells the whole story. Call the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau (aka Visit Sacramento) and ask for a tour guide or a motorcoach for a tour and you will be referred to Brenda Darcel Harris Lee. Since January of 2018, Brenda has become the first African-American-owned tour operator and DMC in the Sacramento region. Harris Lee Enterprises Making History In Sacramento Area explains why. 22 22 Planners, are you searching for the ideal destination to hold your next spiritual retreat, religious conference, or faith- based event, then Have Your Next Meeting In The 'City Of Steeples' is must reading for you. Milwaukee's versatile convention center, The Wisconsin Center, hosts a number of faith-based conventions throughout the year, and may very well be the perfect fit for your organization's conference. Conferences at sea are an exciting new way of doing busi- ness that is cost efficient and cost effective while producing high participant satisfaction. Meetings at Sea reports on how to blend leisure and business by offering 4 of the 5 top travel activities according to the U.S. Travel Association. 16 16 Smithsonian Regents Name Lonnie Bunch 14th Smithsonian Secretary shares the inspiring story of the first African-American to lead the Smithsonian, the first his- torian elected Secretary, and the first museum director to ascend to Secretary in 74 years. 34 34 This Is Your Perfect Day: Royal Caribbean Opens $250 Million Private Island In The Bahamas, Perfect Day At Cococay tells the story of how one cruise line rede- fines thrill and chill with the tallest waterslide in North America, the Caribbean's largest freshwater pool, highest van- tage point in the Bahamas and More.