Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1535167
B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 27 The local culinary scene mirrors the city's dynamism. Southern classics are refined through modern technique— smoked catfish paired with tomato jam, or cornbread cro- quettes infused with thyme and molasses. Meals here aren't simply plated—they unfold like verses, rich with tone and texture. East Point doesn't simply support events—it dignifies them. For planners seeking a location where cultural equity meets logistical ease, this city offers more than convenience— it offers character. It's where programs materialize with pur- pose—and leave a mark. LaGrange LaGrange may be modest in size, but its cultural presence speaks volumes. Positioned between Atlanta and Montgomery, this understated city offers intimate gathering spaces rooted in story and significance. The Legacy Museum on Main features stirring exhibitions that infuse gatherings with historical awareness and regional truth. Scenic byways, restored mansions, and family-run inns cre- ate an atmosphere where strategy feels soulful and conversa- tions settle in like heirlooms—kept, remembered, and passed between generations. The surrounding community brings a spirit of welcome that feels passed down—not arranged. LaGrange is not just a venue—it's a page left open in a liv- ing book, inviting every visitor to listen, contribute, and carry its voice forward. Savannah Savannah's cobblestone streets and historic squares carry tales etched in brick and breeze. This coastal enclave, framed by moss-draped oaks and antebellum facades, offers planners a rare pairing of Southern elegance and modern refinement. The Savannah Convention Center, perched on the edge of the Savannah River, delivers panoramic views and expansive space, just a water taxi away from the walkable downtown. Attendees can move easily between sessions and discovery— between strategy and soul. For gatherings that require atmosphere with meaning, venues like the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center for the Arts offer walls lined with creative intent. Their galleries stimulate not just admiration, but conversation. Sites like the Beach Institute and the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum offer vital context—spaces where African-American contributions are not archived, but hon- ored in voice, vision, and continuity. The city's food scene mirrors its dimension. At The Grey, James Beard Award-winning chef Mashama Bailey crafts Southern dishes with intellectual precision and flavor-for- ward form. Nearby, Black dining collectives offer cuisine that feeds both body and narrative. In Savannah, agendas are not just held—they emerge with feeling. For planners drawn to places where beauty has mem- ory and programming holds meaning, Savannah offers more than a setting—it offers an atmosphere that wafts. KENTUCKY Kentucky doesn't raise its voice—it commands the room through presence, heritage, and architecture that still holds conversation in its bones. For planners, this is a state where conferences can open inside neoclassical domes and wrap up on bourbon terraces beneath string-lit balconies. In Bowling Green, aerospace hubs meet Southern hospi- tality. Frankfort blends policy with porch-front conversation. In Paducah, art districts and UNESCO recognition give meetings a distinctly creative edge. Lexington sets the tone with equestrian elegance and restored manors ready for keynotes or kinship. The Kentucky International Convention Center in down- town Louisville provides scale and polish, while the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage transforms events into cultural conversations. Throughout the state, church-turned-theaters, historic train stations, and Black- owned B&Bs don't just accommodate—they inaugurate. Kentucky is not an afterthought—it's a strategy. This isn't where agendas drive—it's where they land. Lexington Lexington isn't just horse country—it's executive ground with aristocratic bones. Planners will find restored manors Savannah riverfront skyline