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HOUSTON TO HOST KAPPA ALPHA PSI IN THE NEWS NATIONAL CONVENTION IN 2013 Convention to Bring 5,000 Attendees and $4.87 Million to Houston Representatives of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. announced earlier this year that Houston will host its 2013 National Convention. The convention will be held Aug. 2-12, 2013 at the George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas Hotel. More than 5,000 delegates are expected to attend, with an estimated economic impact of $4.87 million. “Kappa Alpha Psi is excited to bring its 2013 National Convention to the great city of Houston. Kappa last met in Houston in 1971 and chose the city again because of its excel- lent location and outstanding venues,” said Richard Snow, executive director and COO of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. “It was a long selection process, but at the end of the day, Houston’s proposal was the strongest and the best for Kappa in 2013.” Past Kappa conventions have been held in Minneapolis, Minn., St. Louis, Mo., and Charlotte, N.C. Convention cities are selected through an open bidding process based on a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to, the availability and price of hotel rooms, meeting space, city services and the needs of members. “It’s great to have the opportunity to host Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity’s National Convention in 2013. I had the honor of working personally with this group at the Minneapolis CVB and saw the value they brought to city,” said Greg Ortale, president and CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I knew Houston would be a great match for Kappa, and with the help of the George R Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas, we got their attention and held it till the end.” Kappa’s National Convention is held biennially during odd-numbered years to elect officers, estab- lish policy and practices, and to receive the annual report of finances and all other relevant actions of the organization. Kappa delegates come from 750 chapters, including nine outside of the continental U.S., including two chapters in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. During their 2013 convention, Kappa will rec- ognize “icons” in the Houston community with their Distinguished Citizens Award. They will also present their National Humanitarian Award to non-members whose values are representative of the fraternity’s. Past recipients have included Mohammed Ali, Lady Bird Johnson, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson and Cicely Tyson. BOSTON RANKED TOP U.S. DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND EVENTS Ranks ahead of Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago in 2009 World-Wide Meetings Market Study When it comes to hosting international associations in the United States, Boston took the top spot in 2009, according to an international meetings market and trend study conducted by The International Convention & Congress Association (ICCA). According to the study, Boston hosted 35 association conventions that met criteria for the ranking, enough to put Boston ahead of its biggest U.S. competitors in the meetings and events industry, such as Washington D.C., New York City and Chicago. Boston also ranked eighth in the Latin and North America rankings, and is listed 44th in the world-wide rank- ing by cities. Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil fill the top spots in the Latin and North American rankings, while Vienna, Barcelona and Paris took the top spots in the world rankings. The full report can be found at http://www.iccaworld.com/dcps/doc.cfm?docid=994. “Boston’s international appeal plays an important role in the 21st century as we see more 10 associations broadening their attendee base to incorporate their international audience,” said Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com