Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/187632
•pg_3-12__BMT_pg3-58 9/25/13 1:26 AM Page 3 CONTENTS BLACK MEETINGS & TOURISM VOLUME 20, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013 COVER STORY In the aftermath of the George Zimmerman ver56 dict, many have called for a boycott of Florida. Will African-Americans Still Meet & Vacation in Florida? tells the whole story. By Michael Bennett 13 18 22 24 28 FEATURES Confessions of a Hospitality Road Warrior tells how one travel professional copes with isolation, lonliness and the stress of constant travel and being away from family, friends & home. By Michael Bennett There lies a strong connection and affinity between African-Americans and Caribbean peoples. Both group's ancestries are from the Motherland, Africa. We have that kinship ever imbedded in our souls. African-American Guide To Meetings, Incentives And Traveling In The Caribbean is your guide to exploring the region. By Patricia Ann Jordan Event and convention planning is a combination art and science. It's a canvas with a kaleidoscope of possibilities and more moving parts than a Boeing 747. The 411 On Procurement Essentials helps break it down and make it easier to understand and master. By Michael Bennett Evidence suggests businesses, including travel and tourism operations are largely ignoring the AfricanAmerican market. Some don't want to spend marketing dollars on Black consumers. Others simply don't put forth the effort. And still others fall prey to advertising agencies that shun African-American consumers. As a result, they are missing the boat, and big bucks. Would Your Boss Fire You if She Knew You Were Leaving So Much Money on The Table? sheds light on this phenomenon. By Michael Bennett It seems as though the more financial challenges folks encounter, the more need there is to fellowship with family members and renew/strengthen old family ties. This is especially true within the AfricanAmerican market. BM&T's Annual AfricanAmerican Reunions Focus reports on what some destinations are doing to attract this lucrative market. By Patricia Ann Jordan 34 Major regional medical conventions, hemispheric 39 42 53 financial conferences, and international professional gatherings have been held at beachside resorts and venues for years. Meeting at the Beach offers a quick overview of some of the best opportunities for convening near the water. By Solomon J. Herbert II Expanding your business into the very best that it can be is the primary objective of any CEO. In order to have a really effective business, you have to initially have extraordinary people to support your business enterprise. How To Implement A Leadership Development Program shows how to create them in-house. By Velton W. Showell III The African American Guide To Meetings, Incentives And Traveling In The Midwest is a short primer on where to travel in a region steeped in culture, history, adventure, food and fun. By Gordon Hicks It's Been a Long Hard Road, But We're Still Making Progress takes a historical look back at the emergence of Black folks as major players in the meetings/travel/hospitality industry. By Michael Bennett 4 5 6 8 10 11 12 15 26 40 51 52 58 59 DEPARTMENTS Publisher's Message Calendar of Events Newsmakers In The News Hotel Happenings TPOC News Briefs Speaking of People FAM Review – Scottsdale NABHOOD News Local Hero - DeShields Travel Data Caribbean Corner Cruise News From Motherland AREA GUIDES 60 63 Arizona North Carolina 66 68 Birmingham Juneau Miami Aerial view Photo Credit: Miami CVB B M & T ••• September/October 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 3