Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1194291
3 CONTENTS 26 26 VOLUME 26, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 12 Newsmakers 34 Caribbean Corner 36 Cruise News 38 Travel Data 41 From The Motherland 42 Alabama 45 Massachusetts 47 Nevada 48 North Carolina 51 South Carolina 53 USVI 28 28 B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES A Conversation With Leslie Whitlow Graves reports on her efforts to market Prince George's County, Maryland since assuming the helm of Experience Prince George's as executive director in June of 2019. Patrice A. Kelly 17 17 29 29 15 15 The goal of today's convention centers is to provide the same comforting, hospitable yet professional attention that is offered in the hotel setting. Centers are achieving this by undergoing drastic upgrades and renovations such as larger and more stylish looking facilities, enhanced food and bev- erage services, and updated cutting-edge technology for meetings and conferences, among other things. BM&T's annual Convention Center Review offers few venue possibilities for planners to consider when organizing their next small or mega event. By Solomon J. Herbert Throughout the world, extreme racism, nationalism, anti- Semitism and other ethnic and religious biases are sustained by an antiquated notion that the human family can be ranked by physical characteristics and ascribed traits. Ending Racism: RXRacial Healing is the Powerful Antidote for Bigotry explores this troubling phenomenon and offers some possible solutions. By Dr. Gail C. Christopher photo credit: Ritu Jethani Meetings and vacations can get expensive, so you'd think it would make sense to choose the cheaper travel option when possible. However, when selecting a budget airline, you might actually end up paying the same price or even more than a major airline, according to Is Your Budget Airline Flight Actually Cheaper? 31 31 Whether or not you realize it, brand is tremendously important to every aspect of your business. A well-crafted and well-executed brand strategy can cut through the noise of a million messages, articulate your promise to the cus- tomer, set you apart from the competition, scale your busi- ness, and establish yourself as a leader in the space. Eleven Brand Mistakes Companies Regularly Make tells the whole story. By Lindsay Pedersen MGM Resort & Casino Fountain in Oxon Hill, Maryland All work and no play? That's not how meetings are done in Milwaukee. In fact, the City of Festivals has a bash nearly every week, and everyone's invited! If this whets your appetite for more, then There's No Party Like A Milwaukee Party is must reading. 13 13 Apex Awards Presented In Miami reports on this much-anticipated annual event presented by Black meetings & Tourism that recognizes individuals who have made out- standing contributions in their particular fields of endeavor that have positively impacted the travel industry.. 10 10 The Welcome banner for the 2019 Power Networking Conference (PNC) in Houston, ushered over 1,000 atten- dees into a magic carpet ride of workshops, exhibitor pre- sentations, Power talks, networking practice sessions, gour- met meal award ceremonies, late night coaching and net- working sessions and a jubilant Wakanda experience closing. PNC 2019 – More Than I Imagined shares the experi- ence of attending this iconic event. By Charlotte Sista C. Farrell