Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/770136
B M & T ••• JulyAugust 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29 medium-sized meetings. For example, Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort, owned by Sheila Johnson, is the perfect loca- tion for your next seminar or confer- ence, no matter how large or small. Their rooms can handle up to 2,000 people. The expansive resort features 24 meeting rooms with 65,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space as well as spec- tacular outdoor venues on 900 beautiful acres. Innisbrook, home of the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship, pro- vides the ultimate in audio-visual serv- ices, and their professional, service-ori- ented staff delights in exceeding all expectations. Another possibility, TradeWinds Island Grand Beach Resort, the largest beachfront meetings resort on Florida's west coast, sports a sophisticated tropi- cal vibe and exceptional service. A long-tenured convention services team and on-site group reservations depart- ment earn rave reviews for profession- alism and friendly service. Over 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space includes 28 breakout rooms, tropical courtyards and beachfront terraces for groups up to 1,000. The newly renovated Hilton Clearwater Beach has a casual elegance and features 416 guest rooms and suites, a 9,800-sq. ft. ballroom, a junior ballroom, seven additional breakout rooms and four beachside decks, mak- ing this the perfect location for large conferences, meetings and social events. As St. Pete/Clearwater obliterates tourism records, hotel developers are seizing the moment with some 2,000 brand new rooms in the works, with more than 1,000 planned for Clearwater Beach alone. New proper- ties in the works include the 450-room Wyndham Grand Resort, Clearwater Beach and 173-room Hyatt, downtown St. Pete. After the meetings are over, you'll find endless ways to relax and recharge the batteries. The communities of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area cover a peninsula in the Tampa Bay area, from Tarpon Springs at the far north to Tierra Verde in the south. Much of the area's fame comes from these awesome, award-winning Florida beach towns. Among the most alluring are Clearwater Beach and St. Pete Beach. Craving an island getaway? There's no place quite like Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, especially during a weekday. These are completely unde- veloped Florida beaches that are only accessible by boat — so you're guaran- teed a blissful break. You'll be able to find your happy place on this 35-mile stretch of Florida beaches. Sip a cocktail with your toes in the sand, fly over the water in a para- sail, or finally try your hand (and feet) at stand-up paddleboarding. No matter where you go while visit- ing in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, you'll get a glimpse of authentic Florida with superb meeting facilities, great people, tons of attractions, and fun (and beaches) for miles. The area is served by St. Pete- Clearwater International Airport, where you can enjoy non-stop service to desti- nations around the United States and Canada with value-conscious airlines. R ecently, the American Bus Association (ABA) – the industry leader advancing North American motorcoach travel – commended the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for its announcement of its Crash Preventability Demonst- ration Program, which will help improve the safety measurement data for the industry. "The motorcoach industry has been seeking a means for requesting data reviews of accidents for a long time and we applaud the FMCSA for taking the steps to make this a reality," said ABA President & CEO Peter J. Pantuso. "This program will help keep our members from wrongfully having blights on their safe driving records when accidents are not their fault. We look for- ward to working with the FMCSA throughout this process." According to the FMCSA announcement, the Administration proposes to develop and implement a demonstration program to determine the effectiveness of a program to conduct preventability determinations on certain types of crashes that are generally less com- plex. The agency proposes to accept requests for data reviews (RDRs) that seek to establish the non-pre- ventability of certain crashes through its national data correction system known as DataQs. FMCSA's notice proposes that the agency would accept an RDR, as part of this program, when documentation established that the crash was not preventable by the motor carrier or commercial driver. A crash would be considered "not preventable" if the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) was struck by a motorist who was convicted of one of the four following offenses or a related offense: 1. Driving under the influence; 2. Driving the wrong direction; 3. Striking the CMV in the rear; or 4. Striking the CMV while it was legally stopped. The proposed minimum time period for this crash preventability demonstration program would be 24 months. AMERICAN BUS ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS FMCSA FOR CRASH DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PROPOSAL