Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1515188
B M & T ••• January/February 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 3 CONTENTS 30 30 28 28 23 23 36 36 13 13 18 18 VOLUME 31, ISSUE 1, JANUARY/DECEMBER 2024 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Hotel Happenings 10 Newsmakers 16 BA 250 42 Cruise News 44 Caribbean Corner 47 Travel Data 48 Connecticut 50 Delaware 51 Dominican Republic 52 Jamaica 53 Nebraska 54 Pennsylvania COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES Taking The Family: Travel For Business and Please offers some suggestions for destinations that not only have great meeting spaces, but also provide family friendly and fun environments for travelers of all ages. By Solomon J. Herbert II There's something magical, almost majestic about New York State in the fall and nothing compares to visiting at the start of the golden autumn season, in the month commemorating the deeply rooted histo- ry of the Underground Railroad in Auburn NY, cho- sen home of 50 years for Civil War hero, philanthro- pist, political activist, entrepreneur, humanitarian and our very own Auntie, Harriet Tubman Davis. History's Hometown: A Glance at Auburn, NY's Rich African-American Legacy tells the story. By Sister Moutique Ayodele-El If there were an extraordinarily compelling moment in time for African-Americans to tell their own stories, more than ever, it is NOW! On July 4, 2026, something phenomenal will occur in our coun- try and we are all positioned to be a significant part of it. On that day, the U.S.A. will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence the Semiquincentennial. This month's cover story – Telling The Stories of a Nation – gets the ball rolling. By Gloria and Solomon Herbert If you are a Meeting Planner the pressure is always on to creatively situate clients in the best possible position for success at their event. There is an assortment of considerations involved. One of the most prominent factors is COST. This economy has been volatile as of late and planning these events must be strategically coordinated, down to the loca- tion. Second Tier: Top Choice offers some options for planners on a tight budget who still want the top of the line for their clients. By Buck Sanders BL ACK MEETING & TOURISM LLC BM&T IMEX Events a Big Hit reports that Black Meetings & Tourism had another successful experience last year during IMEX America, which unfolded at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas dur- ing October. As we do each year, we had a BM&T booth on the trade show floor to distribute magazines as well as interact with meeting planners, travel agents, DMO reps and other attendees. By Solomon J. Herbert Grounds of the Whitney Plantation photo credit: PopMedia Group/Ing Being in nature, a place you feel safe, can lower your blood pressure and stress hor- mone levels. Likewise, spending time at the beach can lessen anxiety and nervous system arousal, which is what makes you feel stressed and anxious. It lifts your mood. Meeting at the Beach takes a look at several beachfront properties that Meeting Planners and leisure travelers alike can explore as possibilities for that next special event. By Solomon J. Herbert II