Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1537157
24 B M & T ••• July/August 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com sions, performances, or legacy-centered events. Many of these sites are ADA accessible and offer multilingual materi- als to accommodate diverse attendees. Local organizations often offer storytelling integrations, drumming performanc- es, and libation ceremonies to open or close conferences with cultural gravity and integrity. For post-meeting hours, delegates can explore the Old Sacramento Waterfront, dine at Black-owned establishments like Fixins Soul Kitchen, or walk through the Underground Tunnels once used during California's gold-fueled rise. CSR- minded planners can connect with youth literacy programs and Black-led land conservation groups, both of which are active within city limits. WHO YOU GONNA CALL Visit Sacramento – ( 916) 808 -7777 visitsacramento.com/meetings THE PALM BEACHES, FL In The Palm Beaches, elegance is not exclusive. It is expan- sive. This destination, known for its Atlantic coastline and stately resorts, also delivers the logistics, space, and cultural depth planners need to host intentional, high-quality gather- ings. The Palm Beach County Convention Center anchors the meeting landscape with 350,000 square feet of total space, including a 100,000 square foot exhibit hall, a 22,000 square foot ballroom, and 21 breakout rooms. Natural light, onsite culinary services, and LEED Gold certification make the facil- ity as refined as it is functional. A connected parking deck, professional event concierge staff, and preferred vendor pro- gram help streamline logistics for multi-day conventions, trade shows, and regional summits. Connected directly via enclosed walkway is the 400-room Hilton West Palm Beach, which offers an additional 24,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, plus land- scaped event lawns for receptions and evening programs. A few blocks away, The Ben Autograph Collection and Canopy by Hilton provide boutique options with rooftop decks and curated art collections. For larger conferences, luxury group rates are available at historic properties like The Breakers, Eau Palm Beach, and PGA National Resort, all of which main- tain high-capacity ballrooms, full-service spas, and leisure programming for executive-level events and incentive travel. Palm Beach International Airport is located just three miles away and offers nonstop service to more than 30 des- tinations, including key feeder cities in the Northeast and Midwest. On the ground, the city's Brightline high-speed rail connection creates additional access to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando. Walkability around the convention district is strong, with dining, shopping, public art, and off- site venues all within ten minutes on foot. But it is the city's Black heritage, often hidden beneath the manicured image, that deserves a rightful place in the itiner- ary. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in nearby Delray Beach preserves the story of African diasporic migration to South Florida, with archives, programs, and rotating exhibits that deepen attendee understanding of place. The Heritage Gallery at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach offers original artifacts from the area's earliest Black settlers, many of whom worked the land that now holds multimillion-dollar properties. Planners may collaborate with cultural institutions to design heritage programming, commis- sion live storytelling, or open events with ceremonial welcome tributes rooted in West African tradition. After-hours experiences range from private tours at the Norton Museum of Art to networking brunches at Black- owned venues like GainGround Kitchen & Bar and Heart & Soul Park. For groups seeking coastal calm, the area's 47 miles of shoreline, scenic boat charters, and mangrove walk- ways provide intentional rest between high-impact sessions. WHO YOU GONNA CALL Discover The Palm Beaches – (561) 233 -3008 thepalmbeaches.com/meetings PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER