Black Meetings & Tourism - Industry Briefs

Industry Briefs
	BRAND USA ANNOUNCES NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND LEADERSHIP, WELCOMES ELLIOTT FERGUSON AS CHAIR Brand USA, the nation’s destination marketing organization, recently announced its new leadership and members who will make up its 2025 board of directors. Elliott Ferguson , chief executive officer o ... read more
	CAESARS VIRGINIA OPENS DECEMBER 12, 2024 Caesars Virginia, which opened in December, is a 587,000 square foot casino resort with more than 90,000 square feet of gaming space, including nearly 1,500 of the newest, most exciting slots, 79 live ... read more
	NEW ORLEANS ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER’S LESLIE LOTTEN NAMED DIRECTOR OF EVENT SERVICES The New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center(NOENMCC) has promoted Leslie Lotten to be its new Director of Event Services. Lotten will oversee the comprehensive management and execution of all e ... read more
	VISIT GREATER PALM SPRINGS’ “MEET THE MENTORS” PROGRAM RETURNS, INVITES ASPIRING TRAVEL WRITERS TO APPLY TO GAIN REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE AND MENTORSHIP Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) has announced the return of the bespoke “ Meet the Mentors” program for a third year. Following the successful iterations that have brought together 12 mentor and men ... read more
	WHAT’S NEW IN ANGUILLA FOR 2025 Tucked away in the Eastern Caribbean lies the truly incomparable Caribbean island of Anguilla. The British Overseas Territory, renowned for its powder-white beaches, exciting culinary scene and outsta ... read more
	OCTOBER HOTEL REVENUE EXCEEDS $100 MILLION FOR FIRST TIME IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY Autumn temperatures could not cool the hotel industry’s stout start to Fiscal Year 2025 in Hillsborough County, with October’s taxable hotel revenue surpassing $100 million for the first time ever. Oc ... read more
	FCCA CALLS FOR URGENT DIALOGUE AMID CONCERNS OVER MEXICO’S NEW CRUISE TAX The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) is seeking immediate and collaborative discussions with the federal government in Mexico following the passage of a Federal Law of Rights that includes ... read more
	IITA HIGHLIGHTS IMPACT OF INBOUND TRAVEL TRADE WITH NEW REPORT The U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) has released a groundbreaking report, The Contribution of U.S.-Based Inbound Travel Trade Operators on International Travel to the United States, und ... read more
	WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN AND DOLPHIN BREAKS GROUND ON 120,000-SQUARE-FOOT EVENT SPACE EXPANSION The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has broken ground on its latest expansion, an addition of 120,000 square feet of event space to its current meeting and convention floorplan. Participating in th ... read more
	MAZAGAN BEACH & GOLF RESORT CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort proudly marks fifteen years of excellence and innovation in the hospitality industry. Since its opening on October 31, 2009, the resort has continuously evolved and ren ... read more
	SIPPING AND SAVORING WITH SOUL: PORTLAND’S BLACK-OWNED FOOD AND DRINK SCENE Whether you’re looking to fill your day, schedule a group outing or are kicking back after the conference winds down, you’ll find plenty to love about Portland’s lauded food-and-drink scene. The fun h ... read more
	VISIT BALTIMORE LAUNCHES REFRESHED WARM WELCOME PROGRAM Visit Baltimore is proud to announce the refresh of its award-winning Warm Welcome program, an initiative designed to promote inclusivity and exceptional hospitality throughout the city. This revamped ... read more
	TAMPA’S EPICUREAN HOTEL ANNOUNCES NEW SPA DIRECTOR FOR SPA EVANGELINE Epicurean Hotel recently announced the addition of Whitnee Wilson as Spa Director at Spa Evangeline located in the 188-room boutique hotel in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa. As ... read more
	DONA REGIS-PROSPER, SECRETARY-GENERAL & CEO OF THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION, IN LONDON RECENTLY The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) reinforced its forward-thinking approach to travel and tourism recently at World Travel Market in London, where Secretary-General & CEO Dona Regis-Prosper ... read more
	REGIONAL CAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECOGNIZES DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS OF EXCELLENCE The Regional CAL Black Chamber of Commerce, renowned for its commitment to "turning contacts into contracts," proudly announces its upcoming 20th Annual event recognizing excellence in the entertainme ... read more
	CUNARD REPORTS RECORD-BREAKING BOOKINGS IN 2024 Cunard has reported record-breaking bookings in 2024, following an exceptional year and the launch of its highly anticipated ship, Queen Anne. From January 1 to October 31 this year, Cunard recorded a ... read more
	LBA HOSPITALITY STRENGTHENS CHATTANOOGA PRESENCE WITH TWO NEW IHG HOTELS Recenntly LBA Hospitality and 3H Group proudly announced the grand opening and ribbon cutting of two exciting new additions to East Chattanooga's skyline: Candlewood Suites Chattanooga East and Holida ... read more
	NEW ORLEANS RANKS THIRD IN THE NATION AS A TOP CONVENTION DESTINATION A new “Top 250” study found that 88 percent of the top 250 conventions in the country will meet in only 20 cities and New Orleans tops the list at number three. New Orleans ranked above top-tier conve ... read more
	10 NEW U.S. SHIPS IN 3 YEARS: AMERICAN ANNOUNCES MORE NEWBUILDS AND AMERICAN LEGEND SEA TRIALS American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce that it has signed contracts with Chesapeake Shipbuilding for 4 more new ships, bringing the Line’s total orderbook with Chesapeake to 10 ships over the ne ... read more
	NEW BOOK THE LEADERSHIP JOURNEY OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP FOR MODERN LEADERS Recently, leadership expert and author Velton W. Showell III announced the release of his latest book, The Leadership Journey, a groundbreaking guide that explores the essential qualities and practice ... read more