Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1542608
B M & T ••• January/February 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 4 of sponsorship opportunities for organizations that want to make direct contact with meeting and event planners. The first, the 13th Annual Multicultural & Heritage Tourism Summit & Trade Show, which includes BM&T's Apex Awards pro- gram, takes place July 17-19 in Miami .The sec- ond, BM&T's Meet Up for African-American Planners will be held in Las Vegas on Tuesday October 13 during IMEX America, the largest trade show for the business events industry. Throughout the years we also hold series of Hosted Buyer Events to different destinations. We'd be happy to organize one for you. Hosted Buyer Events are business opportunities where meeting and event designers can expand their repertoire of event locations, venues and experi- ences. It is widely known that an event designer is more likely to select a venue for events in which he/she has had positive experiences. BM&T will identify and vet a group of 10-15 event designers for your event. We will contact your destination partners on the supplier side to notify them of the opportunity you are providing and work with them to design and develop a powerful experience in your city. Our event plan- ning team is experienced at creating very unique itineraries. They include destinations that involve the locals and experiences that the guests don't typically have access to on their own. Private les- sons and experiences germane to the locale are routinely included. Our events are designed to create memorable experiences and a buzz that is sure to be carried forward. And last but not least, we are sadly moving forward after the unexpected passing of my (and Gloria's) dear son Solomon II about a year ago. He was being groomed to take over the publica- tion upon our eventual retirement. He was such an integral part of BM&T, and we really miss hm. We thank him for his dedication to us and all of his hard work. And thank the many of you who expressed your condolences at our loss. We will keep you informed as things develop and let you know when we have made decisions about the future. One thing is for certain. BM&T will con- tinue to serve our community! Black Meetings & Tourism is published bi-monthly by Black Meetings & Tourism LCC, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207 • Telephone: (818) 694-7830 • Copyright 2026 by Black Meetings & Tourism LCC. All rights reserved. Single Copies, $6.00 Subscriptions $45.00. Postage Paid at Pasadena, CA. •Postmaster send address changes to Black Meetings & Tourism, 20840 Chase St., Winnetka, CA 91306-1207. As we enter 2026, let us take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! We at Black Meetings & Tourism are more committed than ever to support our segment of the industry and provide a platform for African-American planners, hospitality professionals, leisure travel specialists and all of our allies to explore, discuss and report on issues of relevance to the meet- ings, incentives and travel industry. One of the most important parts of our mission is to acknowledge and recognize those individuals that look like us who are making contributions to this industry. For that reason we are asking our readers to send us a 500-word bio and high resolu- tion head shot that we can share with our audience and let them know about the good work you are doing. We are also open to your story ideas and suggestions. So if there are some new developments at your destination, convention center, hotel, airline or cruise line, please make sure we get a press release and images. We want to continu- ing reporting on these advancements to our readership. During the new year we have a number PUBLISHER'S M E S S A G E Solomon J. Herbert Publisher/Editor-in-Chief E-Mail: BMandTMag@aol.com