Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/44484
CONTENTS COVER STORY 42 It's the place where you'll find the nation's largest African- American cultural museum and its oldest Black theater, a land where civil rights history was made and a revolutionary Black music sound was born. It's the home ofAmerica's largest shop- ping mall and the largest musical festival on the planet. African-American Guide to Meeting, Incentives & Trav- eling in the Midwest tells the whole story about this and much more. By Sonya Stinson FEATURES 28 25 Largest African-American Conventions continues to be one of BM&T's popular annual feature stories. Not only because it provides information for destinations and venues mining for new meeting business, but also because it's tangible evidence that the African-American market segment is robust and growing! By Michael Bennett 38 BLACK MEETINGS & TOURISM VOLUME 18, ISSUE 9, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 DEPARTMENTS 4 Publisher's Message 5 Calendar of Events 6 Newsmakers 8 In The News January 26, 2011 launched another milestone at Disney with the inaugural journey of the 4,000-passenger Disney Dream. Disney Magic Charts New Course follows Disney's entry into the cruising arena in 1998 to the coming of its latest two spectacular ocean-going vessels. By Michael Bennett 49 10 Museum Notes 11 Speaking of People 12 Hotel Happenings 14 Site Review #1 – Ravella Lake Las Vegas 16 Association News 18 Fam Report – Miami 19 Pacesetters – Terry Wells 20 Meeting the Needs of Your Meeting 24 Site Review #2 – St. Kitts 26 Caribbean Corner 27 From the Motherland 41 Conference Report – ATA 52 NABHOOD News DMAI Sets Goal of More Diversity reports the venera- ble organization's pending roll out of two new initiatives aimed at fostering greater diversity in the industry's workforce. By Sonya Stinson 54 It seems that despite our turbulent economy, some Black fam- ilies and associates are choosing to keep that commitment of coming together "at regular intervals" no matter what. Even when money is tight and expenses are cut,many tend to focus on things that are important in life, such as family and maintaining friendships. BM&T's Annual Reunions Focus explores this phenomenon. By Mary Bleier Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Milwaukee RiverWalk 3 58 Birmingham 60 South Carolina 63 North Carolina 66 Phoenix 68 Virgin Islands AREA GUIDES Photo Credit: Milwaukee CVB.