Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1545782
B M & T ••• July/August 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 54 MICHIGAN AREA GUIDES Black art collections. In July, the city hosts the African World Festival, a three-day celebration of the Diaspora. When the hunger hits, SavannahBlue is the spot for "Northern Soul" and deep-flavor dishes like Georgian clay-pot chicken. The Block on Woodward keeps it sharp with private sections for 50-person power lunches. For a cultural immersion over dinner, Fixins Soul Kitchen in the historic Paradise Valley and Yum Village feed the soul and the crowd. If you want the local legends, Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles and Beans & Cornbread never miss. Detroit is battle- tested for major conventions, with local businesses ready to support your needs and facilities owned by the community. GRAND RAPIDS Grand Rapids is built for the hustle. The Amway Grand Plaza delivers 42 individual meeting rooms and 47,120 square feet of space that flows directly into DeVos Place. Between the 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 32,000 square feet you can shape as needed, you have the floor plan to run sev- eral different sessions at once without los- ing a single person in the hallways. The layout keeps your team focused and on schedule under one roof. The facility is linked to 1,200 hotel rooms via climate- controlled skywalks, so your group stays warm even when the Michigan winter is doing its thing. You can house your people at the JW Marriott Grand Rapids (331 rooms) or the Amway Grand Plaza (656 rooms), a historic fixture that gives your group a sense of place the moment they check in. For a venue with a heartbeat, Muse GR is a Black-owned art space perfect for mixers of 150 guests. The Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives (GRAAMA) is another soulful choice for a reception. Planners can issue pre-paid corporate vouchers that put con- vention dollars directly into the hands of the 100+ Black-owned businesses at the BIPOC Night Market, which has confirmed dates for June 23 and August 4, 2026. You don't have to go far to find the soul of the city; GRAAMA and the market are right around the corner from the city's top kitchens. For the final banquet, Forty Acres Fresh Market and Daddy Pete's BBQ have the room and the muscle to feed your entire crowd at once without losing the fla- vor. Grand Rapids leads through its Skywalk Connectivity and the massive footprint of its venues. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Experience Grand Rapids (616) 258-7388 www.experiencegr.com LANSING Lansing is an easy win for any planner looking for a highly accessible, low-friction business destination. Because of its cen- tral location, the city acts as a central crossroads for decision-makers, making it a natural gathering point for large-scale professional summits. The Lansing Center carries the downtown district just off the river with 125,000 square feet of total space, including a 27,000-square-foot ball- room that fits 1,500 guests. You can house your attendees at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lansing, which has 256 rooms and con- nects to the convention hall via a covered bridge, or at the Crowne Plaza Lansing, which adds another 211 rooms nearby. Lansing's layout works for you; you can walk between the halls and major business landmarks in ten minutes, cut- ting the shuttle bills out of your budget. For a space with a modern soul, The Venue by Eleven 11 provides 4,000 square feet of open room that works for whatever session you're running and a private rooftop for mixers. It has an open-catering policy that lets you bring in Gregory's Soul Food to feed your group right. Networking happens at 517 Coffee Company or the Jollof Afro- Caribbean Lounge, where live music keeps the rhythm of the city alive. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Choose Lansing – (517) 487-0077 www.lansing.org • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center: 1,328 JW Marriott Detroit Water Square: 601 Motor City Casino Hotel: 400 MGM Grand Detroit: 400 EXHIBITION FACILITIES The Huntington Place Total Facility Space: 1,225,000 gross sq. ft. Total Exhibition Space: 300,000 sq. ft. Total Meeting Space: 85,000 sq. ft. Largest Hall: 300,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms: 50 Multifunctional Ballroom: 36,672 sq. ft. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Detroit – (800) 338-7648 visitdetorit.com DeVos Place Connvention Center