Press Release
February 23, 2001
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- The 5th Annual International Multicultural Tourism/Hotel Ownership Summit & Trade Show
presented by Black Meetings & Tourism Magazine and International Association of Black Hotel Owners & Developers
(IABHOD) has changed its conference date to September 5 - 9, 2001. The Advisory Board made the decision to change
the date because the conference hotel, under construction and soon to be the largest African American owned resort
in the country, will not open in time for the original conference dates. The Advisory Board felt the historical
significance of holding this 4-day educational conference at the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza Resort on Miami Beach
was paramount and will also showcase what IABHOD members can accomplish. This is one of five resort hotels that
Donahue Peebles is developing.
This year’s theme “Expanding the Industry, Eliminating the Borders” will focus on the rapidly growing minority
travel and hotel ownership market, with emphasis on the Caribbean. Studies conducted this past year by Travel Industry
of America (TIA) indicate that Asians, Hispanics and African Americans spend 90 billion dollars annually on domestic
travel. It also shows that African Americans logged the highest increase at 16% over 1997 figures.
The three ethnic groups account for 17% of all domestic travel spending.
We have also seen an increase in Black hotel ownership. According to IABHOD, there are approximately thirty-eight
African American hotel projects completed or under construction in the U. S. and others in the Caribbean.
Many hotel chains have developed new franchise and financing programs targeting African Americans and other
minorities and will discuss these opportunities at the summit.
General sessions, workshops, seminars and a town hall meeting will educate and spark discussion on multicultural
tourism development and hotel ownership.
A representative from the NAACP National Office will give an update on the Hotel Report Card. Tourism industry
professionals who will share information include Choice Hotels; Cendant; Zoho; Ana Aponte, President of National
Coalition of Black Meeting Planners; Buggsi Patel, Chair of Asian American Hotel Owners Association; Dr. Kenny
Anthony, Prime Minister of St. Lucia; Mike Leven, President/CEO of US Franchise Systems; Doris Clarke, President
of the African American Innkeepers Association; Alan Gumbs, President of Rendevous Hotel in Anguilla, B.W.I; Leonard
Burnett, Publisher of Savoy Magazine; Margaret Gonzalez, President of Intl. Association of Hispanic Meeting Planners;
Valerie Ferguson, Senior VP of Loew’s Hotel; Thomas Dortch, President of 100 Black Men; United States Congressman
Gregory Meeks; Florida State Representative Frederica Wilson, Chair of Florida Black Caucus; Ralph Stringer, agent
for Miami Dolphins Dan Marino & Jason Taylor, Ricky Left, agent for former NFL player turned hotel developer,
Tyrone Leggette and other NFL & NBA players and agents.
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Contact:
Andy Ingraham, President Horizons Marketing Group Intl. Inc. Tel:954-792-2579 Fax:954-792-2739 horizons@gate.net