Black Meetings & Tourism - Industry Briefs

Industry Briefs
	NYC TOURISM + CONVENTIONS LAUNCHES ELLIS: FIRST-EVER AI-GENERATED CHAT PLATFORM FOR BUSINESS EVENT PROFESSIONALS New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, recently announced its launch of the fir ... read more
	MYRTLE BEACH – THE PERFECT PLACE TO MEET Myrtle Beach , South Carolina – or “The Beach” as locals and repeat travelers call it – is the ideal place to host any meeting or convention. In Myrtle Beach, top-notch meeting and event facilities co ... 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
	DESTINATION DC HIGHLIGHTS INTERNATIONAL STRATEGY, CONNECTED CAMPUS AND WHAT’S NEW FOR MEETINGS AT PCMA CONVENING LEADERS 2025 Destination DC (DDC) , the official destination marketing organization for Washington, DC, reinforced its commitment to attracting meetings and events during PCMA Convening Leaders. “From large conven ... read more
	NEW GLACIER EXPERIENCES AND UP-CLOSE ACCESS TO ICONIC SITES HIGHLIGHT HOLLAND AMERICA LINE’S 2026-2027 SOUTH AMERICA AND ANTARCTICA SEASON Filled with exciting destinations and iconic sites, Holland America Line’s 2026-2027 South America and Antarctica season is officially open for booking. Each itinerary, between 14 and 31 days in lengt ... read more
	A LOOK AT LOUISVILLE’S 2025 CONVENTION TOURISM CALENDAR As Louisville embraces the start of a new year, the slate of upcoming 2025 conventions and events reflects the city’s longstanding reputation as host to several of the country’s largest industry expos ... read more
	EXPLORE ST. LOUIS SELECTS BRAD DEAN AS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO The Board of Commissioners of Explore St. Louis recently announced the appointment of Brad Dean as its new president and CEO, effective February 17, 2025. Dean brings over two decades of leadership in ... read more
	DISTINCTLY FAYETTEVILLE WELCOMES THREE NEW TEAM MEMBERS DistiNCtly Fayetteville , the Destination Marketing Organization for Greater Fayetteville, North Carolina, is pleased to announce the expansion of its team with the addition of three new hires. Brooks ... read more
	BACK BAY BAR & GRILL REOPENS WITH VIBRANT NEW LOOK AND MENU AT WYNDHAM GRAND ORLANDO RESORT BONNET CREEK Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek has unveiled the newly renovated and rebranded Back Bay Bar & Grill, a vibrant tropical escape that blends stunning waterfront views with a menu inspired ... read more
	NEXT-GENERATION LNG-POWERED SUN PRINCESS MAKES INAUGURAL CALL ON NASSAU Sun Princess , the newest next-generation vessel operated by Princess Cruises, a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc , made Nassau, Bahamas its first-ever Caribbean port of call recently and ... read more
	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