Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546515
B M & T ••• September/October 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 4 Convention Center Hotel Washington DC. For more information and to regis- ter visit nabhood.net. The following month, from October 13-15, IMEX America takes place in Las Vegas, NV at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Black Meetings & Tourism will have a booth again at this year's IMEX trade show where we will meet and greet fellow attendees, share our maga- zines and info about our Black America 250 (BA250) initiative, and connect and reconnect with our industry colleagues. This year BM&T will again hold our annual Meet Up for African-American Meeting Planners at a restaurant that is conveniently located near the Conv- ention Center. MGM Resorts Internati- onal will once again sponsor this Meet Up, which includes a full dinner. A formal announcement will be made about the venue in our September e-newsletter. The program includes a presentation by Tony Gladney, Vice President of Diversity at MGM. Both Tony and MGM have been long time supporters of Black Meetings & Tourism. MGM is one of the first lodging industry organizations to have a DEI advisory board back in the day, and Gloria and I were honored to be part of that effort. The bad news is that far too few lead- ers within our industry have yet to learn the lesson that the African-American market is an untapped goldmine with lots of discretionary money which it is not bashful about spending. I have no doubt that this mindset is the direct result of the lack of diversity at senior manage- ment levels and in the boardrooms at DMOs, state departments of tourism, cruise lines, airlines and lodging industry giants that cripples our industry and pre- vents it from reaching its full potential. And finally, let me take this opportuni- ty to thank all of you who sent your con- dolences to Gloria, me and our family at the loss of our dear daughter Angela in August. Your concerns are much appre- ciated. 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. S eptember and October pro- vide a number of opportunities for African-American meeting planners, as well as travel, tourism and hospitality professionals, to gather, net- work, learn and grow. For starters there's the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Congress (ALC55) unfolding in Washington, DC September 16-20, 2026. The much anticipated event offers a series of workshops and other assemblies for your participation. On September 17, the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professio- nals is holding their State of Black Tourism symposium at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Be sure to attend this event and support this vital organization. For more infor- mation and to register visit sobt.- ncbmp.com. Please join the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators & Developers (NABHOOD) on September 19 for a complementary workshop on Hotel Ownership, Investments & Multicultural Tourism at the African American owned Marriott Courtyard/Residence Inn Downtown PUBLISHER'S M E S S A G E Solomon J. Herbert Publisher/Editor-in-Chief BMandTMag@aol.com