Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544721
B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 3 CONTENTS 15 15 VOLUME 33, ISSUE 3,MAY/JUNE 2026 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 In The News 8 Newsmakers 10 Hotel Happenings 13 Local Hero 14 Pacesetters 52 Cruise News 54 Caribbean Corner 56 Atlantic City 58 BVI 59 Chicago 60 Denver 62 Missouri 64 Southern California COVER STORY FEATURES DEPARTMENT AREA GUIDES 26 26 The annual U.S. Black leisure travel market was recently val- ued at $145 billion, while African-American meeting groups spend an average of more than $2 million a year on their events, with 7% spending upwards of $5 million. Are You Behind The Curve In Your Efforts To Target The Ethnic Market? explores whether or not you are getting your fair share. By Sonya Stinson 29 29 The South doesn't simply welcome you, it remembers you. It reveals itself as a splace where heritage, history, and homecom- ing move together, where every journey carries a sense of return, whether personal or shared. Here, gatherings take on a different tone. They begin with an agenda but quickly expand beyond it into neighborhoods rich with story, onto riverfronts and coast- lines, and into spaces where the past and present meet in quiet, powerful ways. Meetings, Incentives & Traveling in the South goes into detail.. By Patrice Kelly In the heart of Richmond, Rita D. McClenny is steering Virginia's tourism industry toward a brighter future. As president and CEO of the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) for 14 years, McClenny is passionate about show- casing the state's rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. A Conversation With Rita McClenny profiles this industry icon. By Darlene Donloe In the professional world, there is a sacred rhythm to how we come together. For our community, a meeting isn't just a line item on a spreadsheet; it's a homecoming, a networking sanctuary, and a catalyst for collective progress. Cut Meeting Costs Without Cutting Corners examines ways to keep the budget in check and still deliver excellence. By Cheray O'Neal 12 12 In the grand ballroom of the hospitality industry, the music has shifted. For years, the rhythm was one of progress—a steady beat of commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) that promised to finally pull back the curtain for professionals of color. But today, a different wind is blowing. In a political climate where the very acronym "DEI" has become a lightning rod, and legislative "rollbacks" dominate the headlines, many are asking: Is the dream being deferred, or is the industry doubling down? Is Diversity & Inclusion Still A Priority? Major Industry Organizations Report reports on industry trends. By Cheray O'Neal 17 17 19 19 BL ACK MEETINGS & TOURISM LLC It begins with a sense of scale: the sky, the skyline, the way Texas seems to open up the moment you arrive. Sunlight glints off downtown towers, spills across walka- ble streets, and settles into spaces designed for gathering. There is movement, but it never feels rushed, just a steady, confident pace. Texas Gold Special Section tells the whole story. By Patrice Kelly Augusta, georgia river walk by the Savannah river