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5 B M & T ••• September/October 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com September 2-5 2015 Annual Pan African Global Trade & Investment Conference, Galen Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Visit panafricanglobaltradeconfer- ence.com for more information. September 3-4 22nd Annual Black Enterprise Golf & Tennis Challenge, PGA National Resort, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. For registration and full schedule information, visit www.black- enterprise.com/gt. September 9-10 Convention Sales Professionals International (CSPI) 2015Annual Conference and General Meeting, Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel, Washington, DC. For addition- al information on Conference registra- tion or sponsorship opportunities visit: www.cspionline.org. September 16 PR Week Confer- ence, New York, NY. prweek.com/us/- conference2015 September 16-17 Predict: CEIR's Annual Exhibition Industry Outlook Conference, Chicago, IL. For addition- al information, visit www.ceir.org. September 17 Small Business Expo, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA. (212) 404-2345 September 18-19 LGBT Business Expo, Merida, Mexico. For more infor- mation about the LGBT Confex please visit: http://www.lgbtconfex.com/ September 25-26 APTA National Forum 2015, The Boulders Resort, Carefree, AZ. Please contact Valerie Sewell to confirm your room reserva- tion from our room block at events@apta.biz or (720) 283-4179. October 3 The Jefferson City Multicultural Fall Festival, downtown Jefferson City, MO. For more informa- tion visit https://www.facebook.com- /events/300363230087738/. October 5-9 2015 FCCA Conference & Trade Show, Cozumel, Mexico. To register and/or learn more, please visit http://www.regonline.- com/fccacozumel. October 8 Small Business Expo, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. (212) 404-2345 October 27-30 Home Based Travel Agent Forum, Tampa Conven- tion Center, Tampa, FL. Register at www.TampaTraveel-Show.com. December 10 Small Business Expo, Atlanta Convention Center, Atlanta, GA. (212) 404-2345 January 3-13 American Library Association (ALA) Midwinter Meeting, Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Boston, MA. (617) 954-2168 April 20-30 Travel Professional of Color (TPOC) 2016 Conference, aboard Carnival Miracle, sailing out of Long Beach. For more information contact Betty Jones at (303) 750-0283 or by email jonesd env@aol.com. May 8-12 2017 Humane Society of the U.S. Animal Care Expo, Ocean Center and the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort, Daytona Beach, FL. www.Day- tonaBeachMeetings.com November 10-13 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), New Orleans, LA. For more informa- tion, visit www.neworleanscvb.com. PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Solomon J. Herbert ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/ EDITOR Gloria Herbert GRAPHIC DESIGN: POP MEDIA GROUP Robert Ingram GRAPHIC ARTIST/WEBMASTER Solomon J. Hebert II ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITOR Penelope Blair GAMING REPORT EDITOR Ann Brown FOCUS ON M.I.C.E. EDITOR Matthew Thomas MUSEUM NOTES EDITOR Patricia Ann Jordan RELIGIOUS REVIEW EDITOR Patrice Kelly TECH NEWS EDITOR William G. Herbert VIEW FROM THE CHA MBER EDITOR Michael Bennett CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Rebecca Bernard Edith Billups Victoria Head Brienne Herbert Roy Jay Cheray O'Neal SALES MANAGERS Regina Buggs Willa Robinson MARKETING/EDITORIAL CONSULTANT'S Hank Harris Andrew Ingraham O.J. Webb OFFICE MANAGER Dorothy Canty ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Victoria Head HUMAN RESOURCES Barbara Harper For high quality article reprints of 100 or more, please contact Reprint Management Services at (717)399-1900. The Authority on African-American Conventions & Leisure Travel COVER STORY • AFRICAN-AMERICAN GUIDE TO MEETINGS, INCENTIVES & TRAVELING IN THE NORTHEAST FEATURES • MOST INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN THE HOSPITALITY/TRAVEL/MEETINGS INDUSTRY • A VIEW FROM THE TOP: CVB HEADS REPORT ON S TATE OF INDUSTRY • BM&T'S ANNUAL CONVENTION CENTER/CONFERENCE CENTER REVIEW AREA GUIDES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, OKLAHOMA, WISCONSIN, FORT WORTH, LOUISIANA, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO COMING IN: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 B L A C K M E E T I N G S & T O U R I S M 2016 2017 Meeting and incentive planners can keep abreast of discount offers and package deals being offered by visiting Black Meetings & Tourism's website – blackmeet- ingsandtourism.com – and clicking on the "Meeting Planner Packages" link. Here you will find many cost saving and often time sensitive deals that can help you bring your meeting in on time and under budget. MEETING PLANNER PACKAGES FOR GREAT SAVINGS