Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/187632
•pg_42-55__BMT_pg3-58 9/25/13 12:28 AM Page 55 1992 Super Bowl from Phoenix and moved it to Pasadena. As part of his coverage, Herbert interviewed the president and CEO of the local CVB. The CVB president admitted the boycott was hurting the travel and tourism market in Arizona and hoped for a quick resolution. As any good journalist would, Herbert included some quotes in his story, only to have his publisher remove the comments claiming the boycott was old news and no one wanted to read that story. "That was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back," says Herbert. He realized it was time for us to tell our story and not rely on others. In 1990, Herbert and his business partner launched The Black Convention. It wasn't long before Herbert decided he needed to strike out on his own. Just three years later Black Meetings and Tourism was born. A year after that Herbert was joined by his wife, associate/publisher and editor Gloria M. Herbert, and as they say in show business, the rest is history. GLORIA M. HERBERT Early in the evolution of The Black Convention, former Atlanta mayor and Civil Rights icon Andrew Young provided a huge boost to Black-owned businesses throughout our industry. Young became aware that the Atlanta CVB was not spending any money with African-Americans or the AfricanAmerican market. Young gave the CVB an ultimatum – they had to clean up their act and correct the imbalance, or lose their bed tax revenue. The Atlanta CVB quickly got with the program. Today, Atlanta is one of the most diverse organizations in our industry. Young provided a template for other cities and elected officials to correct this stubborn lack of parity across all sectors of travel, tourism and hospitality. A few years later the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD) was formed. NABHOOD, which recently held their 17th annual summit in Miami, is one of the most successful organizations in our industry. At the time of its founding one could count the number of Blackowned hotels on one hand; today there are more than 500. ANDY INGRAHAM Back in 1998, current NABHOOD president Andy Ingraham and Solomon Herbert brought together a group of tourism professionals with the idea of forming an association to increase Black hotel ownership. The group further decided the industry did not have a good record of inclusion in top executive positions nor was their business being done with minority vendors. After much discussion, NABHOOD was incorporated in 2001. NABHOOD held their first board meeting at former Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts defensive end Donnell Thompson's Sleep Inn, in Peachtree City outside of Atlanta. Thompson was the group's first chairman and Ingraham became president. Ingraham immediately formed a strategic alliance with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and created a NABHOOD board seat for their chairman. This has proven to be one of the more successful alliances in industry history. NABHOOD, under Ingraham's leadership continues to blaze a trail, as all the major hotel brands have become NABHOOD partners. Ingraham frequently presents to political leaders both at home and abroad as he pushes NABHOOD to greater and greater heights. In the coming issues we will interview industry pioneers; pioneers such as Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey whose parent's founded the first Black-owned travel agency in Atlanta in 1955. HendersonBailey opened the Maryland offices of Henderson Travel Services in 1984. Charlotte Haymore and Betty Jones, co-founders of Travel Professionals of Color. Now in their 11th year, this organization has quickly become a leader in African-American travel and tourism. Norma Pratt, president and CEO of Rodgers Travel operates one of the largest travel agencies in the United States. Rodgers Travel, originally co-owned by her father, is over 60 years old and is a multi-million dollar operation. And finally, as BM&T celebrates their first 20 years, I would be remiss in my reporting if I didn't acknowledge the contributions the Herbert's have made to our industry. While the Herbert's shun the spotlight and remain humble as regards to their impact on our industry, I don't feel so constrained. Lack of diversity was, and continues to be an issue in travel/tourism and hospitality. By focusing attention on diversity BM&T has improved the plight of many Black professionals who truly love an industry that hasn't always been so welcoming. BM&T has, and continues to be a catalyst for advancement and change. The Herbert's sit on the board of advisors or directors of almost every organization listed in this story and several others. They have worked closely with industry leaders, governments and the NAACP to foster a better understanding of issues facing Black travel and tourism professionals and provide possible solutions. Many of us in this industry, this writer included, would not be where we are today without Solomon and Gloria Herbert. Their steadfast devotion to the industry as a whole, and the AfricanAmerican community specifically should never be underestimated. Launching and running a successful business even in good times is difficult, but the Herbert's have shown class, grace and dignity despite all the economic ups and downs we as an industry have endured over the past 20 years. Congratulations to BM&T and may your next 20 years bring you the joy, happiness and prosperity you so richly deserve. B M & T ••• September/October 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 55