Black Meetings and Tourism

March / April 2021

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B M & T ••• March/April 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 In 2019, pre Covid-19, 12 million visitors experienced Memphis, TN. As a midsize convention city, Memphis over delivers. The warmth of the citizenry is only surpassed by the professionalism of the Convention and Visitors Bureau Staff. Milton "Memphis" Howry, III and President Kevin Kane, CEO of Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau know how to roll out the red car- pet for groups 100 to 20,000. The aggressive COVID-19 cleanliness initiative positions them as an early bounce back destination of choice for meetings and conventions. Memphis, TN has 3,326 hotel rooms downtown and 24,658 in the Memphis MSA. Venues abound, and the iconic Pyramid Pro Bass Hotel is an experience to behold. It has cavernous rooms with excellent acoustics. The suites are an outdoorsman's paradise. Each suite has a fireplace, Jacuzzi, and screened in front porch makes for cozy rooms. The meet- ing rooms have personalities ranging from the standard board meeting, sit down dinners that accommodate 200 to underwater sea themes, and a top of the roof Lookout at the Pyramid, which over- looks the Mississippi River and a 360 degree view of Memphis. The newly renovated Memphis Renasant Convention Center is the newest star in Memphis. It is among one of the first cobranded Convention Centers in the nation. It has 300,000 total sq. ft., which includes a 118,000- sq. ft. column-free exhibit hall, the largest in the region, that can sub-divide into three spaces: 28,000- sq. ft. ballroom, 18,000-sq. ft. sec- ondary hall/ballroom respectively. In addition there are 46 meeting/break- out rooms and a 2,100-seat, connect- ed theater. The visual presentation is stunning as well. Floor-to-ceiling windows bringing in natural light and views of downtown Memphis and the Mississippi River. Eye candy includes luxury finishes, camera secured underground parking and net- working perks, like portable coffee bars and free wi-fi in public areas. There is con- nectivity with the 600-room Sheraton Memphis Downtown, with an additional 300 rooms planned for the near future. The public concourse on Main Street offers easy access to the vintage trolley system and Memphis' walkable downtown The newly renovated loading dock accommodates 4 tractor trailer trucks simultaneously, is a meeting planners dream for efficient loading. The back of the house is accessible from multiple points, and the 30 meeting rooms can be configured in a bespoke manner to fit the needs of the gathering. There is a perch that provides a bird's eye view, and the integrated art from renowned local artists is a feast for the senses. Additional venues can be found throughout Memphis. The Graceland complex has multiple rooms that recent- ly accommodated the Miss Teen USA MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE OFFERS GREAT SPACES, EXCELLENT FOOD, AND SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY By Dennis Rogers, PHD

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