SPECIAL REPORT:
EMERGING MARKETS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN TRAVELERS

BY MICHAEL BENNETT

As meeting and incentive planners we have a tendency to look at the familiar because that’s what our attendees want — after hour activities, golf, shopping the latest in audio/visual equipment and four or five-star accommodations. We all know the destinations I am talking about — Atlanta, Orlando, Philadelphia, Miami and Washington DC to name a few.  And there is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these destinations. In fact, I find myself visiting these wonderful locales often for culture, history, or a weekend getaway. These cities represent themselves well and have the latest in venues, hotels, tourist attractions and other amenities to make your group or family think they’ve just won the lottery.

While these large communities offer outstanding choices for the meeting planner or the leisure traveler, there are several emerging markets that we think are worth a look. Most offer tremendous cost savings over their larger brethren, but there is more to it than money. It’s the quality of the offering and less hustle and bustle than the big city. Consistent readers of this magazine are familiar with the size and economic impact of the African-American market and the hard facts are not lost on places like Valley Forge, PA; Puerto Rico; Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina; Wilmington, DE and a few others we’ve selected below.

The motivation for many of these destinations is to seize on the financial windfall that the African-American traveler brings to the table — and pursuing your financial interests, after all, is why we are in business. Tapping into the African-American market is just good business sense.
Several of the markets we’ve selected have major new developments they are “chomping at the bit” to share with the African-American traveler. Things like new convention centers, hotel openings, attractions and/or significant downtown developments. Regardless of the reason, the destinations below are worth exploring for your future group gatherings or family vacations.

Many of you read about Valley Forge while studying the Revolutionary War in high school. It was here where General George Washington led his ragtag group of starving, poorly clothed warriors during the winter of 1777 and rebuilt them into an army capable of beating the British forces on the battlefield.

This proud southeastern Pennsylvania community just outside of Philadelphia has come a long way since Washington held his first meetings here nearly 250 years ago. Following in Washington’s footsteps, although I am sure he wasn’t thinking about meetings and conventions at the time, Valley Forge has turned into a great place for group gatherings. The Valley Forge Convention Center has 108,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space with indoor access to the Radisson Hotel. The convention center is part of the larger Valley Forge Convention Plaza with a total of 145,000 sq. ft. of meeting, exhibit and banquet space that can accommodate 3,000 guests.

There are numerous hotel/conference centers in the immediate area plus plenty of museums, nightlife, shopping at one of the largest malls on the east coast — King of Prussia, entertainment, recreation and restaurants for just about every palate. Valley Forge’s proximity to Philadelphia makes it easy to attend or visit many of the entertainment venues in the big city.

If you are interested in taking a glimpse into African-American history during your stay check out the Patriots of African Descent or one of the Freedom Trail tours. Many African-Americans served with Washington at Valley Forge and their contributions are chronicled in venues throughout the region.

You can request a meeting planners guide by going to www.valleyforge.org, and once you are ready you can also submit your RFP online through their website.

The Caribbean has long been a popular destination for the African-American traveler. As a people we don’t need much of a reason to frolic in the warmth and hospitality of a region that welcomes us with open arms. One place that should be on your itinerary for a visit is Puerto Rico.

For those meeting planners among us, the Puerto Rico Convention Center (PRCC) is the largest most technologically advanced convention center in the Caribbean and throughout Latin America. This center has 580,000 sq. ft. of meeting/exhibit space and can easily accommodate 10,000 people. The PRCC is located in the heart of San Juan, just minutes from the airport and the ocean. As a commonwealth of the United States no passports or visas are required for American citizens and the local currency is the good old U.S. dollar.

There are over 5,000 hotel rooms in the greater San Juan area alone and a new anchor hotel for the PRCC, a Sheraton is scheduled to open any day now.

If it’s vibrant nightlife that interests you, Puerto Rico is the place. From wild nightclubs to quaint jazz clubs and theaters, Puerto Rico has a little something for everyone. And if you’re a gambler there are some great casinos around. Casinos are only permitted in hotels. Isla Verde, Condado and Old San Juan are just some of the places to try your hand at blackjack, roulette, craps, poker and other games of chance.

Charleston, SC has consistently ranked at the top of virtually every poll when it comes to measuring popular tourist destinations over the last 15 years. Africans both freed and enslaved made significant contributions to the culture and economic prosperity of Charleston and the surrounding community especially in the area of agriculture. And for a truly unique American experience a visit to the Gullah community is an absolute must.

Much of Charleston’s African roots are also on display in museums and monuments throughout the region. Avery Research Center for African-American History and Culture and Boone Plantation are a must stop on any vacation itinerary to the region.

On the meetings and conventions front, the Charleston Area Convention Center Complex features over 150,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and has an adjoining Performing Arts Center. Just steps away are the North Charleston Coliseum and an Embassy Suites. Combined, this complex is the largest of its kind in the southeast.

Charleston’s proximity to the ocean makes this a great place for boat charters and other outdoor boating activities. Theater, golf and great dining are just part of the Charleston experience.

Meeting planners and leisure travelers alike can learn more about Charleston by going to www.charlestoncvb.com.

Up the road from Charleston in the central portion of South Carolina is the state capitol of Columbia. The Columbia Riverbanks Regions as its know for being near the confluence of two rivers is a great place for meetings and conventions with over 537,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in the city, including 142,000 sq. ft. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.

Columbia has numerous accommodations to choose from including the new Hilton Columbia Center adjacent to the convention center along with a Hyatt and Courtyard by Marriott and several others.

Along with its southern hospitality and rich history this college town is one of the most affordable destinations in the United States. For the African-American historians among us, Columbia has done a magnificent job of preserving its African-American heritage.

Places to eat are plentiful throughout the city with over 450 dining establishments. To learn more about Columbia head to www.columbiacvb.org.

Another destination that might not be on your radar is Wilmington, DE. Located midway between New York City and Washington D.C. and less than two hours drive from several major metropolitan areas including Philadelphia (20 minutes) and Baltimore (90 minutes), this city is ideally situated for leisure travelers and those meetings and conventions.

If you are looking to save money and have a good time, Delaware has a very low lodging tax and offers tax-free dining and entertainment. Need a little retail therapy then Delaware is the right place with tax-free shopping.

Wilmington is a great place for those mid-size meetings of 3,000 or less and is dotted with chic restaurants, a thriving theater life and some great jazz clubs. The refurbished riverfront area is a great place to just hang out.

Wilmington was the last stop to freedom on the Underground Railroad.  Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park was named in honor of Harriet Tubman and stationmaster Thomas Garrett.

The Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau can be located on the web at www.wilmcvb.org.

Many of you are probably wondering how this next city got on our list, but Muskegon, MI. is an up and coming destination that is looking for the African-American tourist and your convention business. For those of you who aren’t quite sure where Muskegon is located, it’s in western Michigan on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

There are several venues for those group gatherings. LC Walker Arena has seating for 6,000, meeting rooms for 1,000 and seated dining for 1,000. Numerous other facilities and hotels with a capacity of 500 or less are also available.

Kayaking, canoeing and boat cruises are among the favorite pastimes for locals and visitors alike. Muskegon has a wonderful maritime history that’s on display for all to explore.

Golfers, you have 12 courses from which to choose. If you are a winter sports buff or you need to build a little camaraderie among those employees, try a team building exercise at the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex. You can try your hand at cross-country ski courses and ice rinks — both lighted at night, snowshoe trails and one of only five luge runs in the United States. For more on Muskegon, go to www.visitmuskegon.org.

Nestled in the majestic beauty of the Pacific Northwest is Portland, OR. Portland has played host to numerous African-American conventions. It’s a testament to the city of Portland to be able to attract African-Americans to a city with a population that’s less than five percent Black.

African-Americans have made a significant contribution to the development of Portland through their work in the railway industry and the World War II shipyards.

There are several Black churches in Portland and two African-American newspapers. Portland has the oldest continuously chartered NAACP chapter west of the Mississippi.

The Oregon Convention Center is the largest in the Pacific Northwest with over one million sq. ft. of space. The transportation system once you arrive is second to none and easy to navigate.

There are art galleries, boat tours, casino gaming opportunities, nightclubs, skiing and so much more in and around Portland. And here’s another Oregon plus — no sales tax, so enjoy the shopping.

Portland is one of those great American cities that speaks for itself. Call the Oregon Convention & Visitor Services Network at (800) 909-2882, Ext. 245, to learn more about this one of a kind destination.

Many of you in my age group might remember the late 1970s – 1980s hit television series Mash. The sitcom followed the life of a bunch of misfit doctors and their support staff during the Korean War. The company clerk Corporal Max Klinger, played by actor Jamie Farr (the one who wore dresses so they would think he was crazy and kick him out of the Army) constantly referred to his beloved hometown of Toledo. He spoke of the town with great reverence. Toledo happens to be Farr’s hometown in real life as well.

We love Toledo too and truly believe it is one of America’s great communities and an emerging market for the African-American tourist and those meetings and conventions. Toledo has some exquisite small and mid-sized gathering spots for meetings, banquets and conventions. The largest meeting venue in Toledo is the 75,000-sq. ft. SeaGate Convention Centre that is physically attached to the Radisson Hotel and the Hotel Seagate with a combined 600 rooms. In total, Toledo is home to over 7,000 hotel rooms.

For those of you looking to take the family, the Toledo Zoo is the city’s number one tourist attraction and one of the best in the country. It’s a community with abundant nightlife, great theater and plenty of other activities for an enjoyable family experience.

The jewel of east Tennessee is Knoxville, home to the University of Tennessee. Knoxville is located within a days drive of over half the U.S. population making it easy to plan a family vacation, family reunion or other group gathering.

Meeting planners, Knoxville has a new 500,000-sq. ft. convention center and 7,500 hotel rooms countywide. It has big-city amenities with a small town charm. There are several great places for corporate meetings including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

In you are one of those who loves to stay in touch with your roots, Knoxville was the adopted hometown of Roots author Alex Haley. Haley is honored with a large statue at Haley Heritage Square. If you happen to be in Knoxville in late June, checkout the Kuumba Festival. The festival represents the shared heritage of African, African-American and African Appalachian in the Diaspora and how that heritage shaped eastern Tennessee life.

From blues to reggae, jazz to rock, Knoxville has a vibrant nightlife with numerous venues to suit just about every musical taste.

Knoxville is a family-friendly city with outdoor boating activities along the Tennessee River, one of the better zoos in the southeastern United States and Fort Kid with thousands of sq. ft. of rides, slides and swings. Go to www.Knoxville.org to learn more about this one-of-a-kind American city.

When you say the word Tuskegee, the first thing most of us think about is the world famous group of World War II aviators, the Tuskegee Airmen. But there is more to Tuskegee, AL starting with one of the best historically Black colleges in the country, Tuskegee University.

While small in size with fewer than 12,000 residents, it’s richly steeped in African-American culture and history. One such cultural event held annually the Saturday before Mother’s Day is The Carver Arts & Crafts Festival. This multi-faceted event celebrates the life of Dr. George Washington Carver.

Carver revolutionized the southern agricultural economy by showing that 300 products could be derived from peanut oil. By 1938, peanuts had become a $200 million a year industry. Carver went on to teach at Tuskegee University.

Civil rights hero Rosa Parks, music legend Lionel Richie and nationally syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner all hail from Tuskegee.

Tuskegee is in east-central Alabama about 40 miles from Montgomery and 125 miles from Atlanta. And if you need a place to stay while in Tuskegee, the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center is right on the campus. The conference center is 17,000 sq. ft. and the largest space in the center is a ballroom that can hold up to 350 people

At the polar opposite in terms of location and experience from Tuskegee is Sitka, Alaska. I know, by now you think we’ve lost our minds. But one thing African-Americans have always been noted for is our adventurous spirit and there is no better place for a new adventure than Sitka.

Sitka has a majestic beauty that many of us have only experienced in some photo album or guidebook. To be in Sitka is truly like being one with nature.

Bring your camera for the year-round marine and wildlife viewing opportunities. Catch a glimpse of humpback whales, sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, brown bears and black-tailed deer.

Boat tours, guided sea kayak tours, diving, snorkeling are just some of the ways to experience Sitka wildlife. You can also take an all-terrain-vehicle tour through some of the most breath-taking wilderness trails anywhere in the world. And don’t forget to ask about the numerous fishing opportunities.

If you prefer an aerial view try “flightseeing” tours. Take in the majestic views of mountains, lakes, wildlife, volcanoes and glaciers from high above or from the water on a floatplane.

Most shops are filled with artifacts that represent the local culture both past and present. Sitka was once-upon-a-time part of Russia, and you can see that reflected in a lot of the local art. Native Americans and Eskimos have a long and continuous history in Alaska and you will find plenty of souvenirs, jewelry, baskets, quilts and apparel reflecting that contribution in shops all over Sitka.

This seaside community is located on the western side of Baranof Island along the Alaskan panhandle. It’s the fourth largest city in Alaska by population and the largest city in the United States by area.

Sitka can only be reach by air or sea. Direct flights from Anchorage, Juneau and Ketchikan, AK along with Seattle are available. If you prefer the water route try one of the numerous ferry services and sea charters along the Alaska Marine Highway System.

For small meetings of 500 or less, Sitka has several venues to choose from including Harrigan Centennial Hall and the Alaska Raptor Center to name a few. If you are interested in one-stop shopping for your event try the Westmark Sitka with 100 guest rooms, several meeting or banquet rooms and a theater capacity of 175 people.

To learn more about Sitka go to www.sitka.org.