Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1468083
N ew O rleans, LA CONTENTS 15 15 17 17 12 12 VOLUME 29, ISSUE 5, MAY/JUNE 2022 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 10 Newsmakers 37 Caribbean Coner 48 Cruise News 50 BVI 51 Illinois 52 Missouri 54 New Jersey 57 Southern California BL ACK MEETINGS & TOURISM COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES A Conversation With Patricia Washington reveals her path to the presidency that began in Phil- adelphia, continued to Washington, DC back to Philadelphia and ultimately to Alexandria, VA. Leaving family and friends she came to Howard University and earned a bachelor of fine arts and a law degree. With an eye toward aesthetic meaning, and substantive structure she worked with various Art Organizations as an attorney for the arts. By Dr. Dennis Rogers The South is well known for its deeply rooted African-American heritage, civil rights history and influential culinary and musical traditions. Think of Birmingham's Civil Rights District, Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood, Mississippi Delta blues, New Orleans jazz, Memphis barbecue joints and South Carolina Low Country cooking. African- American Guide to Meeting, Incentives and Traveling in the South tells the whole story. By Rufus McKinney 44 44 Texas is divided into seven geographic regions withwidely different landscapes. You've got beach- es. You've got rolling hills and canyons. You've got seven different places in one. Explore the different regions and the diverse cities within them to find the perfect destination that suits your group's needs the best. Texas Gold Special Advertis- ing Section is must reading for any planner think- ing about bringing a meeting to the Lone Star State. By Reggie Murphy 40 40 Location, location, location – it's singularly the most important dynamic in real estate, yes even more important than cost. Location also plays an integral role in selecting a meeting or convention destination. Perhaps this explains why destina- tions that feature riverwalks, with all of the excite- ment and activity they generate, are growing in popularity among planners and other travel profes- sionals. Cities With Riverwalks For Activ- ities Beyond Meetings offers a selection of cities with riverwalks that are sure to satisfy. By Buck Samuels Is Diversity, Inclusion, And Parity Still A Priority: Major Industry Organizations Report explores serious social issues that still plague the travel, tourism and meeting arena. By Darlene Donloe 3 B M & T ••• May/June 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com photo credit: PopMedia Group