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B M & T ••• January/February 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 3 CONTENTS 15 15 VOLUME 33, ISSUE 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Newsmakers 10 Hotel Happenings 12 TBA 250 14 Local Hero 44 Pacesetter 45 Cruise News 47 Caribbean Corner 49 Connecticut 51 Delaware 52 Dominican Republic 53 Fort Worth 54 Greensboro 55 Nebraska 56 Pennsylvania 57 Wisconsin COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES 28 28 Greg DeShields Consulting LLC (GDC) is excited to collaborate with the National Coalition of| Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) for the 42nd Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon. Bridging Academia and Industry reports on the conference and this year's theme Empower. Innovate. Act. By Greg DeShields and Shawn Andre Murray 36 36 There's something about meeting at the beach that naturally shifts the way you move through a meeting day. The steady rhythm of the waves, the warmth of the sun, and the openness of the hori- zon create a well-balanced atmosphere that helps you, and your attendees, breathe a little easier. Meeting At The Beach offers a few suggestions. By Patrice A. Kelley 20 20 In the American hospitality industry, diversity has long been both a reality and a contradiction. The workforce itself is a tapestry of backgrounds: people of color — par- ticularly Black, Latino, and Asian workers — have histori- cally powered the front lines of hospitality and women make up more than half of all employees. Yet leadership tells a different story. Despite decades of progress in rhet- oric, the upper echelons of the industry still skew over- whelmingly White and male. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion In U.S. Hospitality: A Reflection On The Present — And A Vision For The Future. explores this phenomenon. By Toni Walker In the world of sports tourism, there's a special breed of professionals who have a passion that goes beyond mere words. George A. Cooley II, who has been a Destination Sports Expert for Experience Prince George's County since the Fall of 2023, is one such individual. A Conversation With George A. Cooley tells the whole story. By Darlene Donloe A conventional conference room may be functional, but not memorable. However, theme parks working with resort convention facilities create opportunities to craft meetings that people remember. Do Meetings At Theme Parks Really Work? takes a look at several popular parks and what they offer for meetings and conventions. By Patrice A. Kelley 24 24 A 1920s hotel located near some of the most iconic sites of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. A casino resort built in the '60s with an opulent, Greco-Roman style. An 1894 passenger rail terminal-turned-hotel that has pre- served its Art Deco charm. If the walls of these and other historic hotels could talk, they would surely have many fas- cinating stories to tell. Historic Hotels For That Memorable Meeting examines the possibilities. By Sonya Stinson 18 18 4th Annual Women In Tourism And Hospitality National Conference Honors Industry Trailblazers And Inspires The Next Generation reports on this much anticipated San Diego event. 17 17 BL ACK MEETINGS & TOURISM LLC Sculpture of arm protrudes from the sand in front of the Capital Wheel at National Harbor, Prince George's County, Maryland photo credit: By Jerryregis