Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1468083
B M & T ••• May/June 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 18 trade shows. The Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) is Alabama's largest convention address, with meeting facilities all on one campus. The BJCC complex campus has 350,000 sq. ft. of convention and exhibition space. The complex includes an 18,000-seat arena and 4,000 seats in two theaters. Two hotels, The Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and Westin Birmingham, are also part of the complex. One of the most convenient and unique features of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex is that it adjoins the 757-room Sheraton Birmingham Hotel. The hotel can accommodate groups from 10 to 1,000. Among the new developments in Birmingham is City Walk BHM. The park, located under the new I-20/59 inter- state, is coming together nicely, giving the north end of the city a more pedestrian friendly feel. The massive 31-acre park will have everything from beer and wine gardens to dog parks. Other plans call for recreational sports space, water features, performance space, markets, and public art. City Walk BHMwill be home to World Games Plaza when the event comes to Birmingham in July. The 10-block park is adjacent to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Birmingham is well known for its prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. A visit to the many edu- cational institutions and museums throughout city gives visi- tors an in-depth look at that important era. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) is a "living institution" which views the lessons of the past as a positive way to chart new directions for the future. BCRI's permanent exhi- bitions are a self-directed journey through the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles. Distinguished as "A Place of Revolution and Reconcilia-tion," historic Kelly Ingram Park serves as a threshold to the Civil Rights District. During the Civil Rights Movement, this public park became the focal point of a grassroots resistance to the inhu- manities of racism and discrimination by law and by custom. A From bass fishing on the Tennessee River to snorkeling off the Gulf Coast, Alabama's outdoor attractions offer plenty of options for pre- and post-convention activities, corporate retreats, incentive travel and family reunion adventures. For those whose interests expand beyond the outdoors into outer space, the city of Huntsville is home to one of Alabama's top visitor attractions: the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Another notable local attraction is the Imhotep Art Gallery, which showcases the works of Black artists. In Mobile, Bellingrath Gardens offers a charming outdoor setting for a special event or leisurely stroll, while history buffs might enjoy touring the National African American Archives & Museum. Montgomery boasts a number of African-American her- itage sites, including the Civil Rights Memorial, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. The Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center is a popular attraction in the city best known for its legendary historically Black university. Another major point of interest is the National Tuskegee Airmen Museum. BIRMINGHAM With world-class attractions, lodging and dining fueling its reputation and 15,000 guest rooms in the greater Birmingham area, the city is a popular, affordable meeting host. Meeting planners enjoy the impressive inventory of convention services offered and have come to expect exceptional service from the CVB Services Staff. Birmingham's unique cultural history gives planners an interesting lineup of venues and sites to hold events ranging from private parties and weddings to larger conferences and Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Exhibit A In a place nicknamed "The Nature State," you'll naturally find plenty of outdoor adventure, from whitewater rafting on the Ouachita River to hunting for precious gems at the world's only public diamond mine. In Pine Bluff, you can book tee time at the Harbor Oaks Golf Course and — if you plan your trip for September — join in the city's popular Smoke on the Water barbecue and music festival. Hot Springs could be the ideal setting for a spa vacation as an incentive trip, with Bath House Row in Hot Springs