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37 37 B M & T ••• September/October 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 3 CONTENTS 19 19 VOLUME 32, ISSUE 5, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Newsmakers 12 Hotel Happenings 18 Local Hero 47 Cruise News 52 Alabama 54 Houston 56 South Carolina 58 Arizona 59 North Carolina 63 New Mexico 65 Alaska COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES 28 28 To organize a meeting in the Caribbean is not merely to book a venue in paradise. It is to summon the ancestral tide, to gather in a region where the soil sings in multiple languages and the air carries centuries of rhythm, resistance, and renewal. For planners, incentive organizers, and group travel leaders throughout the Diaspora, the Caribbean is both a familiar fre- quency and a frontier of untapped potential. It's where family reunions feel more like royal returns, corporate retreats find their tempo beside turquoise seas, and cultural exchanges tran- scend agendas. African-American Guide To Meet- ings, Incentives And Traveling In The Caribbean shares some insights on planning a successful meeting in the region. By Zyan Avraham 15 15 There's something intentional, even symphonic, about the way Toronto receives you—a city where migration, mastery, and mouthfeel coalesce. From the moment my Air Canada flight descended over Ontario's lake-brushed skyline, the air suggested not just arrival but participation. This wasn't going to be a routine media trip. This was a ceremony. Oh Canada: A Culinary Calling in Toronto's Cultural Capital reports on this memorable experience. By Zyan Avraham Since June 16, 2025, when Dan Williams started as President & CEO of The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, something electric has been happening in the heart of Alabama's largest city.. A Conversation With Dan Williams tells the whole story. By Toni Walker There is a quiet power in the Midwest. It doesn't shout, but shows up with real infrastructure, unexpected cultural wealth, and the kind of warmth that makes delegates feel at ease and seen. African American Guide to Meetings, Incentives & Traveling in the Midwest offers some excel- lent examples of what the region has to offer. By Zyan Avraham When people think of Texas, their minds often jump to Houston's sprawling metropolis, Dallas' glitz, or Austin's trendy appeal. Yet, tucked away from the usual spotlight is San Antonio, a hidden gem that too many have overlooked. Those who pass it by are miss- ing out on a city that pulses with history, culture, and an undeniable charm. Experience San Antonio: A Hidden Gem For Meeting and Event Planners shares the treasure that this cty has to offer. By Zyan Avraham 26 26 NABHOOD'S 29th Annual Summit: "The Evol- ution Continues: Reflections From The Next Generation Of Hospitality Leaders shares informa- tion about the outstanding program that help prepare students for careers in the hospitality industry. By Greg DeShields & Shawn Murray 21 21 BL ACK MEETINGS & TOURISM LLC Downtown Mobile Alabama Skyline