Scores of U.S. officials and Caribbean delegates to discuss State of the Hotel and Tourism Industry.
MIAMI — Hundreds of Tourism stakeholders will assemble this week to discuss new trends in the industry at the 18th annual African American Hotel Ownership and Investment Summit and Trade Show.
Held at the Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay Hotel from July 16 – 19th, the conference is not only scheduled to have its renown ‘Introduction to the ABC’s of Hotel Ownership’, ‘Industry Outlook’ and ‘Hotel Financing’ sessions that attendees usually look forward, but will also host new forward thinking sessions like ‘The Power of The Purse: Women Shaping and Influencing the Hospitality Industry’.
Andy Ingraham, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), which organizes the summit and trade show, said the theme “Creating Opportunities for a Diverse Generation” is going to be highlighted throughout this year’s event.
“It’s everything that you can expect from a summit of this magnitude, but every year we keep adding on to it to customize unique opportunities for everyone in attendance,” said Mr. Ingraham. “We want to make sure that every year, stakeholders can leave here gaining something new from this experience that they can take with them out in their communities and businesses and build upon.”
Many dynamic speakers from throughout the Caribbean region are slated for the event to speak on Caribbean Development and Investment, including the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister, St. Lucia; Khaalis E. Rolle, Minister of State for Investments, The Bahamas; Jeanne Rogers-Vanterpool, Conseillere Territoriale, Office De Tourisme de Saint Martin; Haydn Hughes, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism & Sports, Anguilla, W.I; Claude Duncan, Vice President, Investment Promotion, JAMPRO.
Also speaking will be Geoff Ballotti, President/CEO, Wyndham Hotel Group; Sam Bakhshandehpour, President, SLS Hotels; Sheila Johnson, Founder/CEO, Salamander Hospitality; Tom Baltimore, President, RLJ Lodging Trust; Congressman Alcee Hastings and Warren Fields, Principal, Pyramid Advisors.
The summit opens Wednesday morning with the NABHOOD Historically Black College or University Scholarship Deep Sea Fishing & Shark Tournament to raise money for minority hospitality students. It will be followed at noon with an Orientation Program for new and prospective hotel owners, Committee Meetings, Opening General Session and a Welcome Reception in the evening.
General Sessions and workshops will be held Thursday and Friday with student workshops on Friday and Saturday morning and will be followed by the NABHOOD Career Fair & Job Expo.
