Black Meetings and Tourism

ball championships and the Talladega SuperSpeedway just outside the city. Toronto is so dedicated to sports tourism they have a branch within their CVB with a total focus on this niche market. They are light years ahead of most CVBs in pursuit of this business opportunity. Cashing in on sports tourism has become a super competitive landscape in recent years. The positive economic impact and publicity for destinations with great infrastructure already in place is tremendous and long lasting. For those playing catch-up there's no time like the present. 43 B M & T ••• July/August 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Golf Buddies at play Black skiers hit slopes in Aspen, CO

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• When Black Meetings & Tourism was founded in1993, African-Americans were few and far betweenin the Meetings/Tourism/Hospitality industr y, especiallyat the upper echelons. Black Meetings &Tourism Celebrates 20 Years of Publishingbriefly recaps what we've
• BM&T Tribute Sectionoffers some testimonialsfrom a few of our partners and associates in the industrywith whom we have worked during the last twodecades.
• It's no secret we don't have many elected officials whoadvocate for a level playing field when it comes toAfrican-Americans in the hospitality industry. WhatCan Elected Officials Do to Level The PlayingField? is a short primer on the positive impact elect
• Ernest (Ernie) Wooden, Jr., a long-time senior hospitalityindustry executive and Los Angeles-area residentsince 1999, talks about his work and goals as presidentand CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & ConventionBoard (LA Tourism) in BM&T's Q&A, Part II.By So
• What Happened To All Of The Industry'sDiversity Programs And Why Are They Out OfVogue? explores the waning interest within our industryto champion the cause of inclusion.By Michael Bennett
• Sports Tourism is an estimated $600 billion ayear industry and growing so fast, its proving difficultto quantify with any degree of certainty.Cashing in on Sports Tourism gives it a shot.By Michael Bennett
• Many of your colleagues and friends haveappeared on the pages of Black Meetings &Tourism over the years. Some of them are stillactive in the industry, some have moved on toother pursuits, and sadly, some are no longerwith us. How Many of Them Can YouRecog
• Workplace diversity in hospitality and tourismis a key factor in representing the community as awhole and facilitating cultural exchange on a globallevel. In So Why Should We Care AboutDiversity? industry icon Melvin Tennant offershis views on the subject
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