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B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 Your Orlando experience begins with story: literary, musical, and communal. Eatonville sets the tone, as the legacy of home- grown legend Zora Neale Hurston lives on through the Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts and the annual ZORA! Festival of the Arts and Humanities. Nearby, the Wells'Built Museum of African American History and Culture offers a deeper look at the history of Black travel and perform- ance, introducing you to spaces that once welcomed artists and travelers navigating segregation-era Florida. That sense of connection carries into downtown, where Florida A&M University College of Law adds a contemporary academic presence, and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts offers concerts, touring productions, and com- munity events. In Parramore and surrounding districts, you move through a landscape shaped by history, creativity, and ongoing renewal. For meetings, Orlando easily delivers scale. At the Orange County Convention Center, execute your agenda within one of the largest convention campuses in the country, surrounded by properties such as Hyatt Regency Orlando and Rosen Shingle Creek, where accommodations and event space align seamless- ly. The nearby International Drive district keeps dining, enter- tainment, and nightlife within reach. Beyond the meeting floor, attendees can experience quieter vibes. At Lake Eola Park, skyline views and walking paths offer space to reset, while neighborhoods like Mills 50 District and Milk District bring together local restaurants, music venues, and late-night vibes. Jazz lovers will especially want to sit in at CB's Bistro and Jazz Club and the Phoenix Jazz Club. Whether you are planning a conference, reunion, or incentive trip, Orlando allows you to build something where heritage, creativ- ity, and connection come together. PALM BEACH Palm Beach County invites you to move through history and coastline in the same breath, with the Black Cultural Heritage Trail connecting communities across West Palm Beach and beyond. The trail officially begins at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach, where you can access inter- active maps to guide your visit. The museum itself brings you stories of African American migration, resilience, and local life in Palm Beach County. For meetings, the experience is centered in downtown West Palm Beach at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, within a compact district designed for convenience. Settle into the connected Hilton West Palm Beach or nearby West Palm Beach Marriott, keeping your group within steps of dining, cul- tural venues, and the waterfront. The ease of movement here allows your gatherings to feel cohesive, not segmented. Beyond the meeting floor, Palm Beach County features the Clematis Street Historic Commercial District. It's anchored by the Norton Museum of Art and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, centering an evening in art and music. Soul in the City Jazz Experience presents local artists at the Sunset Lounge. Open-air dining and social spaces along Atlantic Avenue extend the spirit into the street. Nearby, Riviera Beach and Delray Beach showcase Caribbean-influenced flavors and community-centered dining. To see local art up close and per- sonal, take a tour of the CityPlace Arts District or the galleries at Delray Beach's Arts Garage. Between sessions, the landscape itself becomes part of the itinerary. Beaches, waterfront parks, and the Intracoastal Waterway create space for group outings or unstructured time by the water. Back in Delray Beach, Morikari Museum and Japanese Gardens combine cultural exhibits and performances with sculpted tranquility. TALLAHASSEE The presence of Florida A&M University colors your time in Tallahassee, where campus traditions, performance culture, and community pride enhance the surrounding city. You step into that legacy at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum and the John G. Riley House & Museum, with its stories of leadership and local life. Meetings are pro- duced at the nearby Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, keeping your group connected to downtown and the university corri- dor. Settle in at Hotel Duval, where evenings transition easily into live music or neighborhood gatherings. TAMPA Tampa's story begins along the Tampa Bay Black Heritage Trail, where the city's African American history spans neigh- borhoods shaped by entrepreneurship, music and community life. That legacy comes into focus at Tampa's Black History Museum, part of the Tampa Bay Museum Center complex. You Tallahassee Amphitheater Palm Beach Convention Center at Sunset Aerial