Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/113255
•pg_33-42__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/13 9:06 AM Page 34 country. Virtually all fraternities and sororities hold regional events on an annual basis that are well worth your efforts to explore for future business opportunities. Groups in this category typically represent upwardly mobile and affluent African-Americans. Civil rights and economic development groups such as the NAACP, the National Urban League and the Congressional Black Caucus continue to populate our list. And finally, while we don't mention them in our top 25, sports and entertainment is a huge draw. The Essence Music Festival held in New Orleans and the Indiana Black Expo both drew upwards of 90,000 people. HBCU college football events and the week leading up to these games are a tradition in the African-American community. These games are an economic windfall for the communities that host these events. Some events, such as basketball tournaments change locations and could be a good opportunity for CVBs willing to submit a bid. Some of the larger sports and entertainment events are listed in the sidebar to this story. Another trend that appears to be growing in significance is the choice of city. While New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando, Nashville, Los Angeles and St. Louis continue as the destinations of choice for everyone, what we traditionally have called second-tier cities such as Greensboro, Charlotte, Seattle, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh are making their mark. These cities have all the amenities of their big city brethren at a significant cost savings. It's a trend we don't see changing in the near future, especially for religious organizations. Looking to 2013, many of the cities mentioned here along with Phoenix, Detroit, Houston, Baltimore and Washington DC appear poised to take advantage of meetings and conventions opportunities. The National Medical Association will be headed north of the border to the city of Toronto in 2013. For those of you who haven't visited, Toronto is a top-tier meeting destination with more great hotels and meeting venues than most American cities. Another sidebar to this story is our list of events with 1,000 or more attendees. While we won't pretend that we've captured an all-inclusive list, many of these gatherings could be equally as beneficial in terms of direct spending and economic impact as those in the top 25. The list is a blend of top-tier professional organizations, religions gatherings and business conferences. Many of these events appear in our top 25 in previous years. While large gatherings typically use convention centers or sports venues, one option that continually appears on our list is the Gaylord properties in Nashville, Orlando and National Harbor (Washington DC). The convenience of having an all in one venue/hotel has proven especially appealing for all groups. It is well known by many in our industry that African-Americans typically spend a few extra days in a particular city following their event to explore or bring their families for a small vacation. This is separate than post or pre-convention events organized by the meeting planners, so please be aware of this opportunity to grow your business. Here is our disclaimer. The attendance and financial figures provided come from the CVBs. Some are direct spending, some economic impact or projected economic impact. The information provided in this article is a guide only and we strongly urge everyone to perform their own due diligence when submitting proposals for any current or future business. 34 Founded in 1886, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. is the nation's oldest and largest African-American religious convention. According to the National Baptist Convention, the mission of the Convention is to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching, and healing. The Congress of Christian Education is an auxiliary of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA.) The annual Christian Educational sessions are held the week following the third Sunday in June in various cities throughout the United States. The National Baptist holds multiple gatherings annually in cities all across the country. Two of the larger ones are listed below. The 107th National Baptist Congress of Christian Education Attendance: 20,000 Last/Current Convention Location: St Louis Convention Dates: June 15-23, 2012 Venues: Americas Center Hotel: Renaissance Grand Room Nights: 12,118 Estimated Economic Impact: $16.8 million Headquarters: 1700 Baptist World Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37207 Congress President: Dr. George W. Waddles Membership: 7.5 million Next Convention: St. Louis Convention Dates: June 17-21, 2013 Venue: America's Center Website: nationalbaptist.com 132nd Annual National Baptist Convention Attendance: 22,000 Last/Current Convention Location: Atlanta Convention Dates: September 3–9, 2012 Venue: Georgia World Congress Center Hotels: Omni, Marriott Marquis, Embassy Suites, Hyatt Regency and numerous others Room Nights: Unknown Estimated Economic Impact: $10.8 million Headquarters: 1700 Baptist World Center Drive, Nashville, TN 37207 President: Dr. Julius R. Scruggs Membership: 7.5 million Next Convention Location: Charlotte (2013), New Orleans (2014_ Convention Dates: September 2-6, 2013 Website: nationalbaptist.com 3. AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH – QUADRENNIAL GENERAL CONFERENCE This church was unique in that it's the first major religious denomination in the Western World that had it origins over sociological and theological beliefs and differences. It rejected negative theological interpretations, which rendered persons of African descent second-class citizens. The church was born in protest against slavery. The AME church has multiple gatherings in any given year, some regional others more national and international in scope. Here are a couple held in 2011. B M & T ••• January/February 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com