Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/592242
9 B M & T ••• July/August 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ly remodeled and all within steps of America's Center. In addition to the room boom, the historic Mayfair Hotel was transformed into the Magnolia Hotel St. Louis last summer while exciting transformations continue this summer with the rebranding and renovation of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand into the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel and major renovations to the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Convention Center (formerly the historic Lennox Hotel) and the Holiday Inn St. Louis Downtown – Convention Center. LET THERE BE LANTERNS Running from May 23 to August 23, 2015, the Missouri Botanical Garden http://www.missouribotanicalgarden-.org/will play host to an international exhibition of 22 lighted works of art from Zigong, China when it debuts "Lantern Festival: Magic Reimagined." Following critical acclaim and rave reviews from visitors during the 2012 festival, the Garden has commissioned new sets crafted from silk and steel from around the world the opportunity to see an event rarely stated outside of Asia. CityArchRiver 2015, Happy Birthday, Arch An ongoing project designed to connect, enhance and trans- form the Gateway Arch grounds and surroundings, several com- ponents of the multi-million dollar CityArchRiver 2015 project http://www.cityarchriver.org/ will be complete when the nation and region celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gateway Arch this fall. Scheduled to complete in 2017, CityArchRiver will connect the Arch to the central business district of downtown St. Louis while allowing pedestrians to walk from the Old Courthouse to hotels and the America's Center Convention Complex. Also undergoing exciting improvements as part of the renovation project are the Museum of Westward Expansion and the Old Courthouse. A National Museum of Note Scheduled to open later this year, the National Blues Museum will include more than 16,000 sq. ft. of highly inter- active technology and artifact-driven exhibits, a theatre, spe- cial event space and classrooms. The Museum will explore and preserve the historic significance of the Blues as the founda- tion of American music and celebrate the musicians who both created and advance the art form. http://www.nationalblues- museum.org/ Eyes on IKEA All eyes are on IKEA http://www.ikea.com/ as locals and vis- itors eagerly await the opening of a store this fall in the heart of Midtown St. Louis. The world's leading home furnishing retail- er, IKEA St. Louis will feature nearly 10,000 exclusively designed items and a 450-seat restaurant. The addition of IKEA St. Louis, along with a two premium outlets, major malls, depart- ment stores, and an abundance of neighborhood shops and bou- tiques, solidifies St. Louis a shopping mecca of the Midwest. SPELMAN COLLEGE WOMEN OF COLOR CONFERENCE INSPIRES ATTEN- DEES TO EXCEL IN THE DIGITAL ERA Digital communication and innovative game-changing strategies were common threads at the 11th Annual Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference, held May 13-14, in Atlanta. The conference concluded after a two-day discussion on "New School Leaders in the Digital Era." Attendees partici- pated in interactive workshops that discussed technology's rel- evance and ways to thrive in the information age. Popular con- ference topics included: What it Takes to Balance and Thrive in the Digital Era, Civic Engagement in the Digital Era and Expanding Opportunities in the Digital Era as an Entrepreneur. "This year's conference was a success," said Dr. Jane Smith, Ed.D., executive director of the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement at Spelman. "The ultimate goal of the conference is to connect women of color from different demographics and backgrounds. Digital trendsetters were able to share strategies on how to use the digital era to combat the injustices of the world and remain at the forefront of technology." The conference ended with a tribute to Spelman President Dr. Beverly Tatum, as she prepares to retire from Spelman. Tatum was honored with a special presentation from 13 Spelman students highlighting her achievements and accom- plishments earned during her tenure as president.