Black Meetings and Tourism

B M & T ••• July/August 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 54 D E T R O I T AREA GUIDES 'MOTOR CITY'…A TOWN ON THE RISE BY SOLOMON J. HERBERT II Detroit is a city on the upturn; a city ready for what's next. It's a complete-pack- age destination that can make any confer- ence, convention or meeting a success. Planners might wonder, "Why Detroit? 'The Motor City' is only a 90-minute flight from 60% of the U.S. population which means conference attendees will have easy access to getting where they have to go PLUS there are more than 40,000 competitively priced hotel rooms in metro Detroit so lodging for these attendees won't be a hassle. Detroit is a big city with small town friendliness. Discover some of the best cultural attractions, entertain- ment, and dining in America. In The Motor City there are many changes taking place for the sake of the city's survival. Constant upgrades and business deals are being made daily to support these positive goals. Detroit's hospitable meeting venues serve as a platform where many of the country's greatest events are held, creating jobs and pumping revenue into this city on the rise. The full-service 2.4 million-sq. ft. Cobo Convention Center, with five exhib- it halls, and 130 meeting rooms is the centerpiece of downtown Detroit's Civic Center and serves as Detroit's top meet- ing venue. The Cobo Center also boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America. With 40,000 competitively priced hotel rooms, a meeting in Detroit provides a full menu of accommodations from luxury to boutique hotels and charming inns. Major hotel brands like DoubleTree, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Westin and three top-of-the-line casino hotels — are all just minutes away from Cobo Center on Detroit's international riverfront. Within the neighboring dis- tricts you can choose from a host of other notable brand hotels and unique lodging options. CVB President Larry Alexander and his team stand ready to assist you in bringing your meeting or conference to Detroit. Be sure to give the Bureau a call. For historic Detroit attractions, visit the elegant homes of the auto barons including Dodge and Ford, or explore the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, the birth- place of the Model T. The Henry Ford Museum, considered by some to be America's greatest history attraction, offers a tour of the Ford Rouge Factory that showcases environmental innovation and industrial production. Tour the Automotive Hall of Fame with in-depth visual and interactive exhibits about auto- motive history, its leaders and innovators. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the only one of its kind in the country. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) for an edgier arts experience. Performing arts offerings include Broadway shows, headliner entertainers, opera, and dance. Conference attendees can learn about Detroit's role in the Underground Railroad as part of the African-American tour. Because of the city's strong African- American heritage, The D was designat- ed the first authenticated African American Heritage Destination in the world by the Travel Professionals of Color. This suggested itinerary includes a stop at the Motown Historical Museum — Hitsville USA, to listen to the original sounds of Motown and see where it all began. Planning a meeting in Detroit places you close to you and your attendees — only a 90-minute flight from 60 percent of the nation's population. Being that Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) serves as a major hub for Delta Airlines, you can take advantage of dis- counted airfare for your conferences and conventions meeting in The D. Cobo Convention Center Photo Credit: Detorit Metro CVB • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Detroit Marriott At The Renaissance 1,298 MGM Grand Detroit 401 Greektown Casino-Hotel 400 Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Riverfront 367 Courtyard Marriott – Downtown Detroit 260 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Cobo Center total exhibit space 700,000 sq. ft. largest ballroom 40,000 sq. ft. meeting rooms 80+ WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Detroit Metro CVB (888) CALL-DTW (225-5389) www.meetdetroit.com Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce (313) 309-3316 LARRY ALEXANDER

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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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