Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1436811
3 CONTENTS 18 18 16 16 20 20 14 14 VOLUME 28, ISSUE 11, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 9 Hotel Happenings 6 In The News 12 Newsmakers 26 Caribbean Corner 36 Cruise News 39 Travel Data 40 Louisiana 42 Milwaukee 44 Nevada 46 Northern California 47 Tennessee 49 Trinidad & Tobago B M & T ••• November/December 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES Shanitra Finley is right where she is supposed to be doing exactly what she is supposed to do. For 23 years, Finley has worked at Mississippi's Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), seven of them as its executive director. Read about her impressive career in Shanitra Finley Leads The Way at Yazoo County CVB. By Darlene Donloe Opening Doors to New Opportunities In The Travel Industry reports on the major diversity problem that exists in the tours & attractions industry here in North America and what one organi By Mitch Bach 24 24 Visit Baltimore, the official destination sales and marketing organization for Baltimore, has announced its new Warm Welcome program to foster an inclusive environment for all visitors. Visit Baltimore Launches Warm Welcome Program To Support Diverse Travelers explains how the bureau will make every effort to estab- lish Baltimore as a top destination for all people, regardless of race, gender identity, nationa- lity, ethnicity, disability and more. 28 28 Grand Venues For Great Events offers a few suggestions for that unique venue to hold your next meeting or conference where you can find just the right mix of location, ambiance and func- tion space, along with those all-important dates and rates, for a successful event! 32 32 With New York coming back to life, there could not be a more appropriate opportunity to offer NYC & Company Invites New Yorkers and Visitors to Rediscover Times Square, The Crossroads Of The World, as Broadway Reopens Black Meetings & Tourism was honored to once again recognize industry movers and shakers who have made outstanding contributions in their particular fields of endeavor to positively impact travel and tourism. This year's awardees include Darren Green, Dzidra Junior, Fred Dixon, Leslie Whitlow Graves, Leorne Edwards, Patricia Washington and Twila Jones. Black Meetings & Tourism Apex Awards Virtual Again This Year provides the details. It's a magical story that began 50 years ago. That's when Orlando's Walt Disney World opened its wondrous gates to invite the public to "Be Our Guest" at its popular theme park. Disney Meetings and Events Highlights New Meetings Products tells the whole story. By Darlene Donloe Yazoo City, Mississippi welcome photo credit: c5media