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B M & T ••• July/August 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 AREA GUIDES WITH PLENTY OF RICH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY TO EXPLORE MARYLAND IS A PRIME DESTINATION FOR GROUP MEETINGS, REUNIONS AND LEISURE TRAVELING BY REGGIE MURPHY If the goal is to bring your client's group to a historical but still hospitable destina- tion offering attendees a plethora of activ- ities for all age groups in multiple cities, then Maryland should be your top choice. ••BALTIMORE•• If you want to make your next meeting a success in every way plan on it in Baltimore, an exciting city with surprises around every corner. With a major growth in accommodations, meeting facilities, nightlife, and attractions just a short walk away from the Baltimore Convention Center—Baltimore is your place to meet. A key to Baltimore's continued vitality is its strategic location on the Atlantic seaboard, right at the heart of the most densely populated area in the United States. The city of Baltimore is in close proximity to a large portion of the nation's population – a region that is home to more than 50 million people. This makes it easier for you to reach your target attendees and a built-in attendance base. Nestled in the heart of downtown Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center's location is a tourist's dream and a meeting planner's delight. Linked by a series of overhead walkways to Baltimore's renowned Inner Harbor, hotels and fine dining, the Center offers attendees a wide variety of attractions, and meeting planners with an affordable prime destination. The center features 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 50 meet- ing rooms, and a 36,000-sq.ft. ballroom. When time permits conference atten- dees might want to explore some of Baltimore's informative African-American historic sites and museums. Just a few blocks from the Inner Harbor is the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, the largest African American museum on the East Coast. The Lewis Museum shares the stories of African American Marylan- ders' triumph over adversity and their influence on American life. Hop aboard a water taxi and visit the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park & Museum. Within the walls of the restored "Sugar House," trace the path of one of America's most famous abolitionists – Frederick Douglass – who, along with Isaac Myers and 14 fellow African- Americans, started the first Black-owned shipyard in the United States. The National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the only museum of its kind dedicated to the African-American experi- ence, displays one of the most talked about, moving and emotional representa- tions of the Middle Passage. The muse- um also features a figure of President Barack Obama, and is located not far from legendary Pennsylvania Avenue, once home to Baltimore's own artistic Black Renaissance. All three museums are featured in the Legends & Legacies Heritage Pass available for purchase through Visit Baltimore. The Baltimore/Washington Internat- ional Thurgood Marshall Airport services the Baltimore/Washington DC area with 650 daily flights from 70 destinations. ••ANNAPOLIS•• Looking for the perfect day trip or weekend getaway with your family? Look no further than Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Regardless of when you visit or how old your family members are, everyone's certain to have a great time. Annapolis provides ample space and resources for reunions and small to medi- um size gatherings. When you visit Annapolis, you'll also have plenty of reasons to find out why it's dubbed the Sailing Capital of the World. Take a cruise on a charter sailboat or yacht, or rent your own electric boat, kayak or standup paddleboard. Enjoy the quiet calm of our creeks and rivers or head out to the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (888) 302-2852 www.visitannapolis.org • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Hilton Baltimore 757 Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel (Marriott) 586 Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor 488 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Baltimore Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 300,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 55 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Greater Baltimore Black Chamber of Commerce http://www.greaterbaltimorechamber.com Baltimore Maryland Inner Harbor Photo Credit: Baltimore Convention Center M A R Y L A N D