The Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami(BHI) 1st Annual Honoring Our Past and Celebrating Our Future reception
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 from 5:30pm -7:30pm.
Kovens Conference Center Rooftop
FIU Campus
3000 NE 151 Street
Miami, FL 33181
To register to attend the reception and learn more about the Black Hospitality Initiative please visit www.blackhospitalitymiami.com.
BHI Continues to Support the Black Hospitality Industry of Miami
Entertainment for the reception will be provided by Caribbean Music Farm- Steel Drum Entertainment. Honorees include: Merrett R. Stierheim, Former Superintendent Miami Dade County Schools and Former President of Greater Miami Convention and Bureau (Tourism Pioneer Award); Attorney At Law H.T. Smith (Tourism Pioneer Award) Outstanding Contribution to Tourism: R. Donahue Peebles (Chairman & CEO Peebles Corporation; Distinguished Service Award (North Bay Village Commissioner Stuart Blumberg (Former President of Greater Miami and the Beaches and Former BHI Chairman); Dr. Larry Rice(VP Dean of Academic Affairs at Johnson Wales and Former BHI Chairman).
“We are excited about this event! It will honor those who played a significant 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. We will celebrate and say thank you to all who helped pave the way and change the face of our visitors and tourism industry. We will also recommit to advance economic participation and involvement of our constituents… this is indeed a special occasion and recognition to the quality of leadership that makes out city diverse and a world tourism destination,†states Executive Director Graylyn Swilley, Black Hospitality Initiative of Greater Miami.
The BHI initiative was established in 1991 as a non-profit 501© 3 organization by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (GMCVB) to advance economic participation and open doors of opportunity for African Americans and Blacks of African descent in the Greater Miami Visitors Industry. The areas of focus include: Advocacy, Talent Development and Career Coaching. Some of BHI’s impressive achievements include: BHI Minority Scholarship Endowment at Florida International University that is valued at more than $441,496.40; BHI graduates have emerged as industry leaders in hotels, cruise lines, restaurants, and entrepreneurs and as educators in Miami and across the country; and the 2012 Hospitality Open Golf Tournament(H.O.T. Challenge) and Silent Auction raised 125,000.00.
Sponsors for this event include: FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Kovens Conference Center, Academy of Hospitality & Tourism, Office of Commissioner Dennis C. Moss, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners-District 9, Office of Commissioner Audrey M. Edmonson, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners-District 3, Johnson & Wales University, Office of Spence Jones City of Miami District 5, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), National Association of Black Hotel and Operators, Little Havana To Go, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe A. Martinez District 11, Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board and etc.
