MIAMI — The Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami will host its first annual “Honoring Our Past and Celebrating Our Future” reception on Thursday, June 28th, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Kovens Conference Center Rooftop of Florida International University in Miami.
The roots of the Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami extend to 1990 when Greater Miami and the Beaches faced the challenges of a black tourism boycott.
Spurred by the snubbing of visitor and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela by local political leaders, the boycott lasted 33 months and ended with a 20-point program to boost the role of African Americans in the local visitor industry.
In 1991 the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) established the organization to address challenges the boycott identified and to specifically help expand the roles and participation of African Americans in the local visitor industry.
The unique history has shaped the ways in which the organization operates today.
“We are delighted to honor those who played an important role in establishing the foundation for African Americans and people of color to participate as owners, leaders, students, and professionals in the hospitality and tourism industry in Miami-Dade County,” says Carole Ann Taylor, BHI chair.
*Pictured above is Carol Ann Taylor
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