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F O R T H W O R T H B M & T ••• May/June 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 44 !2%! '5)$%3 PLANNERS ARE STARTING TO LOOK "WHERE THE WEST BEGINS" TO HOLD THE NEXT BIG MEETING! BY REGGIE MURPHY A famously walkable downtown, easy access to DFW International Airport, world-class convention facilities like the Will Rogers Memorial Center and the Fort Worth Convention Center, the true Texas experience of the Stockyards National Historic District and a wide range of contemporary dining options make Fort Worth an easy choice for your next meeting. Plus, with more than 230 days of sunshine a year and thriving sports and live music scenes, your atten- dees will find ample opportunities to enjoy themselves. Within walking distance of thousands of downtown Fort Worth hotel rooms, a variety of delicious restaurants and fabu- lous shopping, and offering more than 250,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, nearly 60,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and an impressive 28,160-sq. ft. ball- room, the Fort Worth Convention Center is the perfect venue for your next event. When you stay in downtown Fort Worth, you'll have the finest urban play- ground in Texas at your feet. Sample the best that downtown has to offer, from exceptional restaurants and unique shops to world-class performances. From the Omni Fort Worth adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center to the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in the heart of Sundance Square, there is a vari- ety of outstanding choices for your down- town stay. Many of these hotels also offer extensive meeting facilities. Fort Worth has a proud place among America's most progressive cities. Each year, diverse communities come together for multicultural events that celebrate the city's rich heritage. Also there are gal- leries and museums representing the gradually changing architecture of the city over the years of its existence and how multiple cultures played a role in this transformation. One of Fort Worth's prized cultural centers is the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall Of Fame. The primary objective of the muse- um is to offer the conference attendee a true and complete historical perspective of the people and activities that built the unique culture of the American West. The NMWHM features the work of artists who documented the people and events of the time through journals and photo- graphs and other historical items. Some of the stories you will learn about include Bass Reeves, legendary African- American U.S. Deputy Marshal in Texas and the Indian Territory and master of dis- guise; Bose Ikard, friend and trusted associate of Texas Ranger and rancher Charles Goodnight; the Buffalo Soldiers; Quanah Parker; Sitting Bull; Kicking Bird; and many others. The Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society is proud to announce the opening of the Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum in the historic Boone House. The newly restored house is a valuable asset to the city of Fort Worth as a venue for future exhibitions highlighting African-American culture and also as a space in which the local com- munity can gather to celebrate shared heritage. In addition, the Boone House will serve as a research facility, maintain- ing the Society's extensive historical records. Conference attendees are also encouraged to visit this historic site if time permits. Downtown Fort Worth is only 17.5 miles from the fourth-busiest airport in the world, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the best gateway into the Americas. With 149 direct domestic con- nections, you can reach any major city in the U.S. in less than four hours. DFW Airport has a $31.6 billion impact on the region and is investing $2.3 billion in upgrades and renovation. • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Omni Ft. Worth Hotel 614 Sheraton Ft. Worth Hotel & Spa 429 Hilton Ft. Worth 294 DFW Airport Marriott South 291 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Fort Worth Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 235,226 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 41 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Fort Worth CVB (800) 433-5747 www.fortworth.com Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce (817) 871-6538 Fort Worth Cattle Drive Photo Credit: Fort Worth CVB