6th Annual International Multicultural Tourism/Hotel Ownership Summit & Trade Show
6th Annual International Multicultural Tourism/Hotel Ownership Summit & Trade Show on July 17-21, 2002 at the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort, South Beach, Florida. This new 422 room, 80 million dollar hotel's construction was pivotal in a 20-point plan, drafted and agreed upon by activists, city officials and lodging executives that ended the Black tourism boycott of Miami in 1993. It represents a new era in the hospitality industry & the direction of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD) whose mission is to increase the number of African American owned hotels, breaking the glass ceiling in the executive suite and increasing minority suppliers to the industry.
The 4-day educational summit is presented by Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD), www.africanamericantravel.com & Horizons Marketing Group. The theme “Growing the Industry Together” will focus on creating partnerships while developing strategies to maximize the economic impact of the minority travel market. The Summit is designed to educate attendees on how to market to minorities; develop hotel partnerships; explore franchising; share minority travel trends and look at diversity issues affecting the industry. General sessions, workshops and seminars are designed to spark discussion on multicultural tourism, employment, marketing, supplier opportunities financing, franchising and African American hotel ownership.
Previous sponsors have been Greater Miami CVB, Hilton Corporation, American Express, Wyndham International, Marriott International, American Airlines, Visit Florida, DisneyWorld, Florida lottery, Adam’s Mark Hotels, Alken Tours, Peebles Atlantic Development Corp., Southwest Airlines, Thompson Hospitality, Boersma Travel, City of Norfolk, Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, State of Georgia and Savoy Magazine.
The summit continues to attract national leaders and top level hospitality industry representatives including Michael Leven, President/CEO of US Franchise Systems; Fred Kleisner, Chairman of Wyndham Intl.; Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks; U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings; Alexis Davis, COO, NAACP; Floyd Pitts, Director of Diversity at Hilton Hotels; John Crump, Chairman of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners; Dan Patel, Chair of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assoc. (AAHOA); Solomon Herbert, Publisher of Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine, Mark Williams, VP, Membership Development of Best Western Intl.; Len Burnett, Publisher of Savoy Magazine; Chase Burritt, Director of E&Y Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group and Valerie Ferguson, Regional V.P./Managing Director of Loews Philadelphia Hotel.
Invited guests include Bob Johnson, Chairman of BET; Don Barden, African American Casino Owner; You will hear from minority hotel developers R. Donahue Peebles, owner of our host hotel; Byron Lewis, Chairman of Uniworld Group; Susan Taylor, Editorial Director of Essence Magazine; Tom Joyner, of the Tom Joyner morning show; Donnell Thompson, developer of several chain hotels & Chairman of NABHOOD; Jay Patel, franchise expert and Board Member of NABHOOD; Mabra Holeyfield, first African American brand affiliate hotel and others.
Just a few of previous attendees have been tourism professionals such as Donna DeBerry, Senior VP of Diversity at Wyndham Intl.; Doris Clark, President of the African American Association of Innkeepers; Margaret Gonzalez, President of International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals and the NAACP National Office presents updates on the Hotel Report Card. Meeting planners from organizations including American Black Film Festival, Impact Super Summit, Fubu, National Association of Black Narcotics Agents, National Conference of Black Mayors; National Society of Black Engineers and National Dental Association have shared information with attendees on how diversity can play a role in winning their business. The Trade Show includes hotel chains, franchise & financing and industry exhibits.
It has become a must-attend industry event for individuals interested in the growing multicultural tourism market; African Americans interested in hotel ownership and senior level industry financial and development executives. Attendance is strictly limited to ensure a relaxed networking environment for conference participants.
You can register online by credit card at www.africanamericantravel.com