Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1515188
B M & T ••• January/February 2024 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 7 the most is that through this partnership we will be able to – directly or indirectly—share what we've learned over the past five years to help over 700 destinations worldwide become more inclusive." "Accessibility is a key component of our social inclusion strategy, and we look forward to working with TravelAbility as our official accessibility advisor. They have the expertise, the network, and the passion to help our 700+ members cre- ate more inclusive destinations for all travelers," said Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International. The Accessibility Playbook will be available for purchase online at the D e s t i n a t i o n s I n t e r n a t i o n a l website in 2024. To learn more about this partnership or the Accessibility Playbook, contact Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Diversity Officer at shyderhock@destination- sinternational.org or Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of TravelAbility at jake@travelabili- ty.net. ABOUT DESTINATIONS INTERNATIONAL: Destinations International is the world's largest resource for official destination organi- zations, convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) and tourism boards. With more than 6,000 mem- bers and partners from over 600 destinations, the association represents a powerful forward- thinking and collaborative community around the world. For more information, visit www.destinationsinter- national.org. ABOUT TRAVELABILITY: Travel Ability provides thought leadership in accessible travel to improve the lives of people at ALL abilities and ALL ages, and aims to inspire and educate the travel industry to provide accessible experiences to help people with disabilities enjoy travel as much as everyone else. For more information, visitwww.travelability.net. NOLA PICKLE FEST PRESENTED BY b1BANKRETURNS TO NEW ORLEANS AUGUST 8 – 11, 2024 Annual Event Continues To Serve As A Major Fundraiser For The Brees Dream Foundation Brittany and Drew Brees announced recently that The NOLA Pickle Fest presented by b1BANK will return to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center August 8- 11, 2024. The Breeses and the staff of the Brees Dream Foundation are working closely with local tourism leaders at the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and New Orleans & Company, in addition to national partner JOOLA, to organ- ize and grow the annual event. "Brittany and I are excited to welcome the NOLA Pickle Fest back to New Orleans in August of 2024," said Drew Brees. "This year's event was a huge success, and we were overwhelmed with gratitude by the participation and support from not just the local community but all over the country. We look forward to continuing this new tradition and its impact on the mission of the Brees Dream Foundation." "We are excited to continue our sponsorship of the NOLA Pickle Fest," said Chris Keene, Southeast Louisiana Regional President, b1BANK. "Last year's event was a big success; we're eager to build on that momentum and increase the positive impact the event will have in our local communities through the work of the Brees Foundation." The NOLA Pickle Fest presented by b1BANK is a unique, festival-style pickleball tournament benefiting the Brees Dream Foundation, which aims to improve the quality of life for cancer patients and provide care, edu- cation and opportunities for children and families in need. The 2023 inaugural event featured 25 PickleRoll surfaced courts and attracted players from 22 states for three days of pickleball play, live music and celebrity exhibition matches featuring Drew Brees, John McEnroe and MLP pickleball players, Irina Tereschenko and Thomas Wilson.