KONCLAVE ON THE BAY LEAVES LASTING POSITIVE IMPACT ON TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY
Visit Tampa Bay partnered with Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity to bring nearly 15,000 attendees to Tampa Bay.
Tampa, FL (August 10, 2023)
Tampa Bay’s action-packed convention summer is in full swing, and Tampa Bay is shining bright as it comes off the heels of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity’s very successful 86th Konclave on the Bay national convention. From July 18-22, 2023, the prestigious fraternity painted Tampa Bay Crimson and Cream as it brought in record attendee numbers making the convention the second-highest attended gathering since its centennial celebration in 2011.
As the first of the Divine Nine organizations, a National Pan-Hellenic Council comprising historically African American fraternities and sororities, to host a national convention in Tampa Bay, it attracted nearly 15,000 (up from the 13,000 expected) attendees including its members, families and national presidents from other Divine Nine sororities and fraternities. With the overwhelming interest from convention attendees across the globe, the group sold out eight hotels throughout Hillsborough County, resulting in an estimated $8 million in economic impact.
“Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity’s visit to our beautiful destination positively impacted our community in ways that are still felt throughout Hillsborough County today,” said Santiago C. Corrada, President & CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Through collaboration with our amazing partners and being masters at fostering relationships with diverse convention groups like Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Buffalo Soldiers & Troopers Motorcycle Club, Church of the Nazarene 2023 Youth Convention and more, we welcome a variety of organizations to our destination. By way of our relationships, we are able to roll out the red carpet and show each convention what makes Tampa Bay authentically Tampa Bay.”
“As a community that is committed to being a welcoming destination for all, Tampa Bay greeted our attendees with open arms and celebrated alongside us,” said Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq., 34th Grand Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity. “With a diverse array of attractions, authentic culture and an exquisite culinary scene, Tampa Bay served as an exceptional destination for our 86th Grand Chapter Meeting and official affiliate events.”
While in the destination, Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity activated its community giveback program by presenting The Skills Center with a $75,000 donation for its outstanding community work. The organization also put together a series of community-focused events that included hosting a community health and job fair and educational workshops for over 3,000 Tampa Bay residents. Also, to highlight local businesses, convention attendees visited the destination’s world-class attractions, restaurants, cultural sites and more.
In addition to hosting the Kappas, Visit Tampa Bay will welcome more than 20 major conventions in 2023 with an economic impact on the community in excess of $68 million. Through collaboration with over 800 partners, Visit Tampa Bay strives to bring the destination major businesses that contribute to Tampa Bay’s economic impact like national meetings and conventions, large-scale events, and so much more to support its local community and help 51,000 people secure jobs in the hospitality industry in Hillsborough County.
To view photos of the Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc.’s 86th Konclave on the Bay national convention, click here:
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ABOUT KAPPA ALPHA PSI® FRATERNITY
Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Incorporated (ΚΑΨ®) is a historically African American Greek-letter organization. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911, at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, the fraternity has never restricted membership on the basis of color, creed or national origin. The fraternity has over 250,000 initiated members with 643 active undergraduate and alumni chapters across the United States, and international chapters in Abu Dhabi UAE, Canada, Germany, South Korea, Japan, US Virgin Islands, Nigeria, South Africa, the Grand Bahamas, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Bermuda. The International Headquarters is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.