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imy unconventiona meetins Meetings play differently in Austin. We balance hard work with plenty of downtime and an urban setting with a laid- back attitude. We also offer a state-of-the-art convention center, world-class art collections and museums, multiple entertainment districts, nearly 200 live music venues and 5,000 hotel rooms. All in our safe, walkable downtown AUSTINTEXAS.ORG/MEETAUSTIN OR 1 - 800 - 926 - 2282 EXT. 7269 - THE LIVE MUSIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD . ® Black Meetings & Tourism April/May 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 41 scious meeting planners. Ford Park fea- tures an Arena and Exhibit Hall with 83,000 sq. ft. of space, nine meeting rooms and 11,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space. The Beaumont Civic Center Complex is located in the heart of Beaumont's thriving downtown and offers 42,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. Beaumont is BIG on service. Whether it's providing special personal touches or sending out local media to profile a meeting, the small town hospitality and citywide gratitude consistently impress clients. For fun, Beaumont offers a charming downtown entertainment and cultural district. The city boasts 19 museums and a sprawling shopping district along with fantastic dining options such as delicious Cajun dishes and famous Texas BBQ. Located only 90 miles east of Houston on I-10 and within a five-hour drive of New Orleans, Beaumont gets a gold star for accessibility! Beaumont offers accommodating facilities, unmatched accessibility and hey, Beaumont is down-right friendly! With so many exciting things happening in this Gulf Coast city, it's no wonder why planners are gushing about Beaumont, the original Texas Boom-town! Get more info at (866) 822-0245 or www.beaumontcvb.com. DALLAS The Dallas Convention Center (DCC) propelled Dallas to eighth- ranked North American convention and tradeshow host city with major meetings such as Mary Kay, Inc., American Heart Association, National Baptist Convention, Black Enterprise and National Minority Supplier Development Council. The center totals more than 1 million sq. ft., of which over 700,000 is contiguous exhibit space The Dallas City Council has recog- nized the need for an attached conven- tion center hotel as a means to increase bookings and keep meeting and conven- Rendering of Dallas new International_Airport Photo Credit: Dallas CVB