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ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2011WORLD CONGRESS Senegal to Host ATA’s 36th Annual Congress inMay 2011 TheAfrica TravelAssociation (ATA) is pleased to announce that theMinistry ofTourismandHandicrafts,Liaisonwith the Private Sector and Small Businesses of the Republic of Senegal will host the 36thAnnualATAWorldCongress in the capital Dakar from May 25 to May 29, 2011.ATAhas longstanding tieswith the West African nation, where it held its Eco and Cultural Symposiumin 1992. ATA’s signature event in Africa pro- vides a unique networking, learning and agenda-shaping platform for hundreds of travel professionals in Africa, includ- ingAfrican tourismministers and indus- try experts representing tourism boards, travel agencies and tour operators, ground operator companies, airlines, and hotels.Many participants fromthe travel trademedia and the corporate,non-prof- it and academic sectors are also expected to attend along with leaders of the AfricanDiaspora. AFRICA TRAVEL trends and nichemarkets,airlines access- ing Africa, and accommodations. The Congress also offers professional devel- opment opportunities and networking events, including receptions and gala din- ners.Delegates will also participate in a Destination Africa Marketplace, and explore Senegal and its sites duringHost Country tours. Pre and post congress trips are also available. ATA’s Young Professionals Program, representing travel, tourism and hospi- tality students and young professionals fromNorthAmerica andAfrica,will also participate in the event. MOUNTMERU HOTEL REOPENS IN ARUSHA, TANZANIA AS A LUXURY PROPERTY TOMEET DEMANDS OF TANZANIA’ S BOOMING TOURISM For more information visit www.- AfricaTravelAssociation.org. H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, presi- dent ofTanzania, officially reopened the Mount Meru Hotel as a five-star luxury hotel on December 17, 2010, inArusha, Tanzania’s safari capital and gateway to the North. The festive opening included fine cuisine, entertain- ment and fireworks. The new 178-room Mount Meru Hotel offers a stunning panorama of Mount Meru, Tanzania’s sec- ond highest peak after Kilimanjaro, and 37 acres of beautiful gar- dens. The luxury prop- erty features four presi- dential suites, four restaurants, golf course, large outdoor swim- ming pool, spa, confer- The eventwill address timely industry topics such as public-private partnership, branding and marketing, emerging 44 ence facilities and a business center. Dr.AloyceK. Nzuki,managing direc- tor, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) says, “The opening of the Mt. Meru Hotel comes at an excellent time because the demand for high end hotels, especially with conference center facili- ties, has increased. Mainly in Arusha, which attracts many international con- ferences because of the Arusha International Conference Center, there has been a dire need for a large luxury property thatwouldmeet the criteria for regional and overseas delegates.” Mount Meru hotel has a 300-seat conference centerwith a 24-seat boardroomand two small conference rooms. MountMeru sits on the eastern edge of theGreatRiftValley inArusha, a hub for people visiting Africa’s most sought after attractions such as Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the famous Serengeti, home to the “great wildebeest migration” that was named the New 7th Wonder of the World by USA Today and ABC TV’s Good MorningAmerica. The Arusha Gemstone Exhibition, scheduled for May 2011, will be the next major international event to be held at the new Mount Meru hotel. This Expo will bring gemstone dealers from around the world to Arusha, where the rare gemstone, Tanzanite, can be found. For more information, visit http://- www.mountmeruhotel.com. Black Meetings & Tourism January/February 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com