Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/5950
31 Black Meetings & Tourism December 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com I n one of biggest downturns in the economy in over four decades, people need to be more aware of the behind- the-scenes deals that are going on that will affect your job, lifestyle, finances and future. The answer is not sitting around watching Dancing with the Stars or spending time watching Sports Center on the week- end. Especially for people of color, now is the most important time for you to become involved in the direction of your per- sonal, family and community future. While we are hearing that more and more people are going back to college to further their education, there are an equal number of people that are walking around with bache- lor and higher degrees from some of the most prestigious institutions, looking for work. Big business calls it corporate downsizing. Others simply refer to it as a complete lay off. And where are the unions in the middle of all of this? The big barking dog that was demanding more and more and more from employers now is also feeling the real pinch. Less mem- bers means less union dues while a mass of jobs are exiting the United States for foreign countries where people will work for as little as one twentieth of what Americans were getting paid. The point to this entire article is to hope that readers will be jumpstarted into becoming more involved in the directions of their communities, employers, government and financial issues. To put it bluntly, if you are not at the table, that means that you are possibly the appetizer. You will be eaten up! In the convention and tourism industry alone, over the past three years there has been a big shake up in personnel, staffing and direction. Hotels and CVBs are running in dif- ferent directions trying to bring more customers to their des- tinations. The days of spending thousands of dollars in over- seas markets are basically at a standstill for most cities. The need to concentrate on specialty and niche markets takes front stage in first, second and third tier markets like never before. CVBs, hotels and other destination marketing operations that are not at the table to have serious conversations and involvements about ethnic minority marketing are being left at the starting gate. While most cities, (including Las Vegas) are facing an economic crunch, it takes real leadership to think outside the box and make sure that your organization has a real, (not superficial) presence with ethnic minority meeting planners and organizations that are making decisions to spend literally millions of dollars for their future confer- ences, conventions, board meetings and other training events. I happened to be in a city for a national convention ear- lier this year. The group was prestigious African-American men and women from all over the country. As many of my colleagues carefully looked around, there was no presence of a welcome or involvement from the convention bureau, hotel or any other major player. "What are we doing here? said one of the attendees. Neither the Mayor nor the head of the convention bureau thought enough to even attend open- ing reception. Instead they simply either sent a letter, proclamation or local representative with a canned apology. What the absent officials failed to recognize is that most of the attendees actually are members or have some type of affiliation with at least four other organizations. Several sit on site selection committees that could have benefited the host city. Here are a few tips... continue to advertise, become more visible, don't settle for "kibbles and bits." It's strange how money can suddenly appear for their projects but not yours or your customers. BRAND YOURSELF! – Are you an asset or a liability to your employer or organization? Speak up about employment inequities; remember Mother always told us that a closed mouth will not get fed. Go back to your pro- motional marketing toolbox and figure out why the competi- tors are getting more business than you are. Perhaps you need to get rid of that same old tired ad agency that you think has been doing you a favor or your support team is not support- ing YOU. Roy Jay is President of the Alliance of African American Meeting Professionals, President of the African American Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Alliance of Minority Chambers. He can be reached at (503) 231-2571 or by email to: BlackChamber@-USA.NET IF YOU ARE NOT AT THE TABLE... THAT MEANS YOU ARE POSSIBLY THE APPETIZER! By Roy Jay