Watch CBS News

African-American Business Leaders Threaten Boycott Of SF Tourism

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce is threatening a tourism boycott, alleging discriminatory practices by the hospitality industry.

Some in the African American community said they are not being given equal access to business opportunities in the tourism industry.

African American Business Leaders Threaten Boycott Of SF Tourism Industry

"The people that are in the hotel business, the leaders of (those businesses), they just talk to their own kind," said Myles Stevens, Vice President of the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce.

Stevens said representatives of the Chamber will meet with San Francisco travel leaders on Monday, with hopes of better directing visitors and their dollars to African American businesses.

"What I'm talking about are dollars. I'm not talking about just platitudes, and doing a little bit here and there" Stevens said.

The African American Chamber of Commerce has alerted the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners and the Association of African American Meeting Professionals to prepare to cancel San Francisco conventions if nothing is done.

In a statement, Joe D'Alessandro, President and CEO of the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he agrees that the broad issues of demographics and economic disparity must be addressed in order to ensure that San Francisco remains welcoming to a diversity of visitors.

(Copyright 2014 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.