The Fourth Annual Florida Multicultural Tourism/Hotel Ownership Summit & Trade Show presented by Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine, Latin Chamber of Commerce will be held in Jacksonville on June 21-25, 2000. The theme, "Tourism Can Change Our Community", will focus on Hispanic, African American and other minorities in the travel market.
The four day educational conference will attract top level hospitality representatives, meeting planners, CVB executives, minority hotel investors and entrepreneurs from around the United States and Caribbean. Experts will discuss how to tap this $50 billion and growing minority travel market including exploring minority hotel ownership, franchising and joint-venturing.
General sessions, workshops, seminars and a town hall meeting will educate and spark discussion on multicultural tourism development.
The NAACP National Office will give an update on their Hotel Report Card and discuss new developments within the hospitality industry. John Crump, Chairman of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and Roy Jay, President of the African American Convention & Tourism will lead discussion sessions on how tourism can play a role in economic development in the minority community.
Representatives from the Asian American Hotel Association and Caribbean Tourism Ministers will be among speakers and panelists who have been invited.
Other tourism industry professionals who will be present are Doris Clark, president of African American Association of Innkeepers; Margaret Gonzalez, president of International Association of Hispanic Meeting Professionals and Solomon Herbert, Publisher of Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine.
Meeting planners from many organizations including Jack & Jill, National Association of Black Narcotics Agents, 100 Black Men, National Sunday School & Baptist Training Union, FUBU The Collection and National Dental Association will share information with attendees on how diversity can play a role in winning their business.
In addition to general workshops, there will be special sessions that will focus on minority hotel development, ownership, financing and franchising led by Don Rose of Accore Economy Lodging and other industry experts. Spokespersons from a number of major hotel corporations including Cendant, Choice, Hilton, Starwood and U.S. Franchise have been invited to discuss new opportunities in hotel ownership, franchising and employment for minorities. You will hear from minority hotel developer Donahue Peebles, the first African American to build a convention center hotel and Donnell Thompson, president of Thompson Hospitality, developer of several chain hotels in southeastern U.S.
The Trade Show on Saturday, June 24, will include a host of industry exhibits and displays from cities where multicultural tourism initiatives are thriving. Our Annual Diversity Award will be presented to a hospitality entity for its accomplishments in diversity at the closing banquet.
For information call (954) 792-2579, fax your request to (954) 792-2739 or email:[email protected]