For instance, a recent conversation with Wanda Anderson, Anderson Lucas Advertising's executive v.p. said her company, which is 50% minority owned - succeeded in conducting a southeastern regional campaign for Embassy Suites in which it marketed Embassy's weekend packages.

"The promotion sold more than 10,000 roomnights and placed more than $1 million in revenue in a 90 - day period," Anderson said. 

"We know how to position properties and where to identify market potential. Gaining position and stimulating activities results in bottom-line increases."

The supplier side of the business is another area where blacks are making inroads. Configurations, based in Washington, D. C. has provided office furniture to that area of the nation for many years.

"We recently established a hospitality division," said Chris Powell, Configurations president, "We have the office side of the business down to a science and we are finding hotel products to be exciting and profitable."

Configurations is a preferred vendor for Cendant Corp. and Best Western  International.

"We are developing similar relationships with many other major companies," said Tracey McKether, v.p. of Configurations' hotel division." Because of our involvement with major manufacturers, we fulfill the requests of persons like Donahue Peeples, who is building many major projects."

McKether said Configurations' goal is to become recognized as a competent and competitive company that delivers quality furniture on schedule.

There are many NABHA members who possess real-estate sales permits around the nation, who are beginning to express a desire to identify locations for would-be buyers.

"I know many wealthy people who are interested in evaluating hotel investment opportunities," said Dalisa Porche of Coldwell Bankers' commercial division in Atlanta. "What I have not tapped into is a wealth of resources where there are hotels for sale. Having a buyer and no inventory is a good problem to have, perhaps NABHA can assist in solving my problem."

NABHA intends to solve problems at its upcoming annual conference, to be held Nov. 19-21 at the Ramada Plaza hotel in Atlanta. Our goal is to stimulate new and profitable business for all companies that want to tap into this market niche.

The pursuit of hospitality is not just our mission. With NABHA and our affiliates, it is now a way of life.
 

Gary Cross is executive director of Atlanta-based national Association of Black Hospitality Allies.