Sunshine Matters

Last week, the Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) held their 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Fort Lauderdale.  Nearly 100 travel professionals gathered to address the theme of “Bridging our Past with Our Future.” TPOC, a national organization that promotes training, networking and support of minority travel professionals, has membership from North America, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

VISIT FLORIDA’s Brenda L. Bryant lead the conference as the newly-elected President of the organization, and lead the charge to bring the event to Florida under her leadership.  The conference featured three full days of education and excellent keynote sessions, including “Millennium Trends in African American Travel” by Dr. Ernest Boger, Chairman and Professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, “Creating Powerful Presentations” by Vanessa McGovern, Vice President of the Global Institute for Travel Entrepreneurs, and “Bridging Our Past with Our Future:  The Legacy Lives On” by Charlotte Haymore, TPOC Founder.  In addition, the conference offered a Heritage Tourism Certification session, round table trade show, Business Pavilion and numerous networking opportunities including a closing gala.

Florida was well-represented with welcome addresses by myself, Barbara Sharief, the Mayor of Broward County, and Albert Tucker, VP of Multicultural Business for the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.  Special thanks to the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB, DoubleTree by Hilton Deerfield Beach-Boca Raton, and all our sponsors for their support of the conference.