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B M & T ••• November/December 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 37 a combined 486 rooms. Upon reopening, updated amenities at Frenchman's Reef will include three oceanfront pools, 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, 3,500 sq. ft. of spa, and 2,000 sq. ft. of casino space in addition to retail shopping. A total of six restaurant and lounges will offer guests plenty of indoor or outdoor seating and a vari- ety of food and beverage options. Noni Beach is connected to Frenchman's Reef by a walking path and is located on a full quarter mile of pristine beachfront property. It will also have its own oceanfront pool, 3,000 sq. ft. of event space, and four restaurant and lounge spaces. When the meetings are over for the day and business is out of the way, it's time to indulge in the pleasures of the destination, like the 18- hole championship golf courses on St. Croix and St. Thomas. Adventurous colleagues can experience the thrill of yacht racing, hop aboard a wave runner, dive unfathomable depths, swim with the Caribbean's only sea lions or feel the warm trade winds on horseback. For more stress-free options, indulge in signature spa treatments, lounge on the deck of a catamaran or revel in the unmistakable splen- dor of our awesome beaches. Remember to carve out some time for a shopping excursion. With a $1,600 duty-free allowance per person and discounts of 20-40% on coveted items, you can take home something for everyone on your gift list. The Bahamas has great weather, beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and the friendliest people on earth and boasts a rich culture, legacy and historical ties that bind African-Americans and Bahamians together. This tropical island nation is comprised of 16 islands, with Nassau & Paradise Island, consisting of two islands – New Providence and Paradise Island – often considered the gateway to The Bahamas. P{lanners will find an array of properties from which to choose, every- thing from the 1,800-room Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, to the Atlantis Paradise Island, boasting 2,814 rooms and over 500,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space, making it the largest conference space in the Caribbean. When it comes to meeting and event planning, location matters. Jamaica has always done well with the Incentive market, and since the addition of The Montego Bay Convention Centre , this Caribbean gem can host even bigger conferences from around the world. The conven- tion center features a total of 139,302 sq. ft. of indoor event spaces (meeting, exhibition and ballroom) and outdoor event spaces including the 17,000-sq. ft. Ocean View Terrace and the 25,000 sq. ft. courtyard. Jamaica with its diverse terrain is a welcome delight for meeting groups, with lush mountains, cascading waterfalls and centuries old plantations rich with history and intrigue. Providing a satisfying meet- ings experience is of paramount importance to all involved in Jamaica's tourism industry. While the Montego Bay Convention Centre may be one of the region's most spectacular meeting spaces, it is by no means the only one. Along with many resort properties and even smaller inns that can accommodate small to midsize meetings, there are some notable Caribbean venues for large groups. The Puerto Rico Convention Center, with 600,000 sq. ft. of space, accommodates groups of up to 10,000. The Barcelo Bavaro Beach Resort & Convention in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic offers 24 meeting rooms and space for up to 5,000, plus amenities like a spa, a casino, a disco and an 18-hole golf course. Barbados' largest meeting facility is the 164,000-sq. ft. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, situated just 10 minutes from capital city, Bridgetown, and 15 minutes from the airport. The center offers meeting space for up to 1,200, 70,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a garden theatre and four dining rooms with tropical garden views that accommodate up to 600. Each Caribbean destination offers a host of attractions for visitors to explore its unique history, arts and architecture. Some of the top events and attractions showcase the island's vibrant and diverse musical heritage. Jamaica is home to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, a required stop for any visitor interested in the life of the Reggae legend, and the Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival is held each year in Montego Bay. Quelbe, the official traditional music of the Virgin Islands, can be described as a "scratch band sound," according to the website of the USVI Department of Tourism. The music was invented by enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations where drum beat- ing and dancing were forbidden by Danish law. The ingenious musicians formed percussion bands with homemade bamboo flutes, Snorklering with the Starfish on St, John Annaberg Ruins, St. John Nassau Paradise, Island Bahamas