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B M & T ••• September/October 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 22 every year, too, attracting celebrated artists from a variety of genres. Located downtown, Huntington Place is one of the premier convention venues in Detroit. As the 17th largest con- vention center in the U.S., it has over 2.4 million sq. ft. of meeting space and a range of new developments on the way. Huntington Place also just finished a $279 million renovation, which has more than doubled the use of the facility. This includes the revamped, 40,000-sq. ft. Grand Riverview Ballroom and a wealth of technology updates. Huntington Place is equipped with five exhibit halls, eight banquet rooms and over 100 meeting rooms. It even features an open- air terrace overlooking the Detroit River and the skyline of Windsor, Ontario The renovation also features 45,000 feet of outdoor flex space. This includes the new terrace called Huntington Place Square, which will offer an outside reception area for events. It's expected to host biergartens, outdoor fitness events, art fairs, corporate game events and movie viewings. Detroit is divided into five distinct districts, perfect for planning your travel, tourism, meeting and conventions needs. Visitors to Detroit can enjoy three pro-sports teams, upscale casinos, theaters, a thriving arts district and live enter- tainment sure to keep you up all night. Downtown is home to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and The Carr Center, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the African and African-American cul- tural arts tradition. MINNESOTA The Land of 10,000 Lakes is easily one of the best out- door recreation areas in America. Jet skiing, fishing, boat- ing, canoeing, paddleboat riding on the Mighty Mississippi and biking doesn't begin to tell the story of this outdoor wonderland. Try your hand a snowshoeing and snowmo- biling, ice skating and skiing – it is all here for the taking. Nickelodeon Universe in Bloomington is the country's largest indoor amusement park featuring 30 rides on seven acres. The park is located inside Mall of the America. Bloomington is also home to the 14,000-acre Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. St. Paul, Minnesota's capital city features the Saint Paul RiverCentre. It's the city's premiere convention, enter- tainment and events center. The 250,000-sq. ft. River- Centre hosts meetings, tradeshows, galas and intimate gatherings. The RiverCentre is connected to the 5,500-seat Roy Wilkins Auditorium as well as the 18,000 seat Xcel Energy Center. MINNEAPOLIS Forget what you think you know about Minnesota. Minneapolis is proof that it's a place that welcomes the world and celebrates diversity. The children in Minneapolis public schools speak more than 100 languages, and locals are proud to be home to the largest Somali and Hmong populations in the U.S. It's a progressive city that cultivates and sup- ports diverse businesses, and embraces art, cuisine and entertainment from around the globe. Minneapolis is home to African-American pioneers and leading arts groups. From the three-time Grammy-award-winning Sounds of Blackness and the renowned Penumbra Theatre Company, to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder newspaper (still going strong after 80 years in print), it's a city where African-Americans excel and keep making history. And the Minneapolis Convention Center is more than just an events facility - it's a relationship building. Its' the perfect place to connect with people, build lasting relationships, and experience the city that's shattering stereotypes.