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B M & T ••• March/April 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 57 MINNEAPOLIS ENTICES PLANNERS BACK WITH AN ARRAY OF INCENTIVES BY RUFUS MCKINNEY Meet Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Convention Center and their hotel part- ners are excited to welcome meeting planners and your attendees back to Minneapolis. As they continue to navigate the uncertain road ahead, they are offer- ing the following incentives in the hopes you will feel confident booking future events in Minneapolis. Discover the destination that's been on every Meeting Planner's list to check- out for their next meeting. Over 160 direct flights, amazing meeting spaces, 9,000+ hotel rooms downtown, a city lit- erally surrounded by nature, and a vibrant compact city with so much more to do once the workday is over. For small meetings, the Minneapolis Convention Center is offering a 20% dis- count off of rent and AV equipment, while area hotels are discounting banquet menus by 10%, offering five VIP room upgrades as well as attendee discounts at hotel outlets. For larger meetings, Meet Minneapolis is offering $8.00 per actualized room night payable to your group. They will also provide two round- trip Delta Airlines vouchers to be used for pre-planning or for the event itself, while hotel partners will offer 3% rebate to final billing, 10% off banquet menus and 10 VIP room upgrades. The Minneapolis Convention Center will also kick in a 20% discount off of rent and AV equipment. And mind you, there are even more incen- tives than those listed here. Give Meet Minneapolis a call for more details about these offers. The Minneapolis Convention Center is fully equipped with proper equipment, size and staff to accommodate meetings, weddings, banquets and social events of any magnitude. The venue is equipped with a 3,400 fixed-seat auditorium, 475,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 87 meet- ing rooms, a 28,000-sq. ft. ballroom and a 55,000-sq. ft. ballroom to be exact. The Minneapolis Convention (MCC) is close to the sports, art, music, theater, festi- vals, food and beer that make Minneapolis a vibrant city. Minneapolis has 9,000 centrally locat- ed hotel rooms downtown of varying price points and types, with more than 4,500 of those connected to the Minneapolis Convention Center. Even if one hotel can't hold your whole delega- tion, it's guaranteed that your attendees won't be more than a quick walk away from headquarters. Meet Minneapolis President & CEO Melvin Tennant and his team stand ready to assist you in making your conference or other event in the city a memo- rable one. While in Minneapolis be sure to explore some of the his- toric African- American sites and see what influences have been made to the city by people of color. The Lena O. Smith House, located at 3905 5th Avenue South has been desig- nated as a historic landmark. Lena O. Smith, born in 1855, was the first African-American woman licensed to practice law in the state of Minnesota. Smith was also the first president of the NAACP, and a founder of the Minneapolis Urban League. One of Smith's high-profile cases was featured during the tour — she was the attorney representing Arthur and Edith Lee. For those attendees looking to delve into a little gaming Minneapolis has got you covered. Mystic Lake Casino and Hotel in the southwestern suburb of Prior Lake (35-minunte drive from downtown Minneapolis) is a major Minnesota attrac- tion and has no shortage of activities and eating options. The casino, naturally, is at the center of these enticements, featur- ing slot machines, blackjack, bingo and pulltabs. Voted "Best Airport in America," the (MSP) Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport is a centrally-located travel hub revered for its ease of check-in, security, and amenities. AREA GUIDES M I N N E A P O L I S • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Minneapolis Marriott City Center 585 Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, the Depot 335 DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis – Roseville 256 Radisson Blu Mall of America – Bloomington 500 Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West 243 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Minneapolis Convention Center Total Exhibit Space: 475,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms: 87 Largest Ballroom 55,000 sq. ft WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Meet Minneapolis (888) 676-MPLS www.minneapolis.org Minneapolis Convention Center photo credit: M inneapolis C.C. Melvin Tennant