Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1515188
B M & T ••• January/February 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29 was even bigger and better (193 attendees), moving to the fab- ulous Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace. Solomon and Gloria Herbert welcomed guests to the Meet Up, along with Tiara Ruff who served as MC. Remarks were also made by Jason Dunn, executive director of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals, who honored us with his atten- dance. Kudos go to Caesars Entertainment for sponsoring the event (as they have done since its inception a number of years ago), with a special thank you going to Reina Herschdorfer of Caesars for her ongoing generous support of Black Meetings & Tourism and the more than $129 billon market segment that we serve. As a result of the impressive Meet Ups BM&T has held for African-American attendees in years past, event officials asked us to organize a Hosted Buyer Event for Black Planners as a part of IMEX America activities last year. So we put together an outstanding event that was attended by 30 Black planners representing some of the nation's major organizations and corporations. Thank you IMEX America for inviting Black Meetings & Tourism to organize the Hosted Buyer Event, and sponsors like the Bermuda Department of Tourism, the East Point CVB, Visit Jacksonville, and Experience Prince George's for supporting this three-say event. BM&T has already agreed to organize both the Meet Up and Hosted Buyer Event at IMEX America 2024. Black Meetings & Tourism must acknowl- edge the incredible work of its official meeting planner Katrina Ruff and her outstanding Forums Meetings & Events team (including daughter Tiara Ruff and son Rickey Ruff II), who made this all happen. They are simply the best! Stay tuned for details about this year's events at IMEX, and meeting plan- ners be sure to get in touch if you'd like to be a hosted buyer. For more information contact BM&T at www.black- meetingsandtourism.com and (818) 694-7830, or Forums Meetings & Events at https://forums- meetings.com/ and (303) 366-1014.