Al Tucker – Multicultural Tourism & Business Development Champion
Al Tucker made an impact at Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB
I’d like you to briefly know and appreciate the achievements of a great guy, Al Tucker, a man whose achievements in cast a wide net. Before Al transitioned on 18 April 2020 due to medical complications unrelated to COVID, his life demonstrated that one person can be a difference-maker in the Black Travel ecosystem of South Florida.
Al Tucker, a New Yorker by way of Washington DC, worked tenaciously to raise the profile of multicultural tourism in Greater Fort Lauderdale. As VP of Multicultural Business Development at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Al made a direct economic impact in his home county, Broward, and in neighboring Miami-Dade County. Through vision, leadership, and elbow grease, he put Greater Fort Lauderdale on the black travel map as a convention, leisure, family reunion, and pre & post-cruise destination.
Al Tucker developed a close relationship with the Westside Gazette, Broward County’s oldest African American newspaper, to discuss the merits of black tourism and other issues. In 2016, he shared musings with Westside Gazette about his impressions of Broward County the first time he arrived. In 1997, he came with fellow American Tennis Association officers to evaluate bringing their national championship event here. When the well-received event arrived in 1998, it was the largest black tourist event ever held in Broward County. That experience combined with great weather, and demographic and economic opportunities for people of color, convinced Al to invest the next phase of his life here in 2000.
Al wisely merged economic development in the black communities of Greater Fort Lauderdale with tourism development. Partnering with government figures, he was a catalyst for strengthening and branding heritage sites in the historically black Sistrunk community. He raised public awareness regarding the economic impact multicultural tourism could have in Broward County and the benefits to local businesses and community stability. He avidly promoted Fort Lauderdale’s African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, one of only four in the nation, to group travel planners. In that manner, Al cultivated an ecosystem of government, business, religious, and media contacts in the community to help attract more black conventions to Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Marc Muriel, Sallie Elam & Al Tucker at the Urban League Conference in Fort Lauderdale
Al served on the Advisory Board of the Urban League of Broward County, which got Fort Lauderdale’s remarkable Urban League building constructed in 2010. Al served on the Advisory Board of the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale. His marketing efforts assisted the expansion of the Jazz in the Gardens music festival in nearby Miami Gardens. His strengthened outreach marketing of black family reunions and other conferences to be held in Greater Fort Lauderdale
Though he attracted the Black Enterprise national conference, his proudest moment was bringing the National Urban League conference to the metro area. To paraphrase Al, “The work I’ve been doing with some of our political leaders – both black and white – as well as community leaders, was to convince them of black tourism heads in beds value, but also in terms of visibility of our community. Every night the Urban League was in Greater Fort Lauderdale, there was CNN, MSNBC, and other national network coverage. That was when local people understood that black tourism was really important to South Florida.”
Al brought the American Tennis Association Championship to Broward County again for their 100th Anniversary Championships. He raised the awareness for the efforts of local civic organizations by hosting their national conferences,” said Dennis Wright, a president of the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale. He supported the annual scholarship fundraiser for the 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale.
High-achievement sisters in Florida also lost a hero. Kathy Eggleston, co-owner of Avenue of the Arts Executive Suites said, “Mr. Tucker has been so important in supporting our vision to grow the South Florida Women of Color Empowerment Conference into an annual destination event hosting professional women leaders across the nation.” Working closely with their leadership, Al and the CVB were the first sponsors of the opening night which allowed them to expand to 2 days and market the conference nationally. That expansion enabled the Women of Color Empowerment Conference to become a national conference with attendees from as far away as Seattle and Trinidad.
Al Tucker speaking at Synergy Summit for Cultural & Heritage Tourism in South Florida organized by Stephanie Jones (left)
Booking upscale Fort Lauderdale beach resorts, the conference has grown to 3 days and attracts All-Star speakers: Trumpet Awards founder Xernona Clayton, media magnate Cathy Hughes, Senior VP for MSNBC and NBC News talent Yvette Miley, MSNBC newscaster Joy Reid, Inspiration for Scandal TV program Judy Smith, U.S. Representatives Donna Edwards, and Alcee Hastings, supermodel Beverly Johnson, Head of the American Bar Association Paulette Brown, Tamron Hall, Regina Belle, Lamman Rucker, Founder of African American Ancestry Gina Paige, Wikimedia’s COO Janeen Uzzell, Founder of the Africa Channel Paula Madison, TV Chef Carla Hall, XM Radio Host Karen Hunter, Malcolm X daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, Judge Glenda Hatchett and too many more luminaries to list.
When I asked Al about the conference, he’d calmly suggest knick-knacks that could go better. But his summary would always end with a smile. It was an easy smile because he was proud that conference attendance grew from about a hundred to 900+ at the National Women of Color Empowerment Conference today. BTW, if you have a wife or daughter entering a professional field, this is the national conference you want them to attend and make connections.
Publishing black travel guides on Soul Of America since 1997, I can confidently state Fort Lauderdale was only seen by most black travelers as a backup cruise port in South Florida. When we introduced our first black travel guide for Miami in 2000, I only thought of Fort Lauderdale as a day trip from its famous neighbor. Al Tucker convinced me to deep dive into multi-cultural Broward County. When I arrived, Al gave me a personal tour of many attractions. When he couldn’t, others in his circle like black historian Dr. Kitty Oliver, Kathy Eggleston, and empowerment guru Terri Crook introduced me to more breadth and depth in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Al Tucker’s work and influence convinced me that Fort Lauderdale merits its travel guide on the Soul Of America home page. You made a lasting difference brother, Rest In Peace, my brother.
We will miss Albert’s smile and personality. Thank you for remembering all he accomplished in the beautiful tribute.
What a great tribute! Al, well done. We will miss you here in Ft. Lauderdale for all that you have done for the community–but I will miss you as my friend. Thank you for being you.