When thousands of Alpha Kappa Alpha members fill downtown hotels and restaurants from April 9-12, they will leave behind more than memories.
The sorority’s 92nd Central Regional Conference is projected to generate $6.2 million in economic activity for the Circle City.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., founded in 1908 at Howard University, is the first Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. The Central Region includes more than 10,000 members across eight states.
Kiahna Davis, the organization’s Central Regional Director, broke down the numbers during an interview ahead of the four-day gathering, which is taking place mainly at the Indiana Convention Center.
“The direct economic impact — that means the actual checks written — is about $4.2 million,” Davis told the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. “The indirect rate — that’s the food and the things that you just cannot quantify — is about $2 million. So, we are anticipating a total $6.2 million impact on the city of Indianapolis.”
That translates into tangible benefits for local businesses: hotel bookings, restaurant tabs, vendor contracts and convention center services.
“That’s nice tax revenue, definitely coming into the square of the downtown area,” Davis said. “Hotels, the cost of actually hosting the convention, all of the vendors that we pay, that feed the numbers.”
Indianapolis last hosted the Central Regional Conference in 2019. Because of the region’s size — eight states stretching from Minnesota to Kentucky — the city rotates every five to eight years.
“There are only a few cities in our region outside of Indianapolis — Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Louisville — that can host us,” Davis said. “Indy is one of those cities. We always look forward to coming to Indianapolis.”
The timing is advantageous for the city, which recently hosted the NCAA Final Four and the HBCU All-Star Game. The AKA conference extends a busy spring convention season, delivering another wave of visitor spending.
The economic impact extends beyond direct spending. Local chapters — Alpha Mu Omega, Kappa Omega and Alpha Gamma Mu Omega in Fishers — serve as the host committee, contracting with Indianapolis-based vendors for catering, production and other services.
“We have partnered with the two major chapters here in the Circle City and actually three, because we have a chapter in Fishers,” Davis said. “They are our lead chapters.”
The conference expects more than 4,400 registered members and social delegates who participate without full registration. Davis estimated total attendance will exceed 5,500 people.
“Between 500 and 1,000 social delegates will come who are not necessarily registered, but they want to be adjacent to all the activities,” Davis said.
Even the sorority’s community service initiatives contribute to local economic activity. A partnership with Cradle Indy and IU Health to assemble “mom packs” for new mothers has involved donations of diapers, wipes and other supplies from more than 4,000 members.
The conference includes business sessions, leadership workshops, a public meeting featuring political strategist Symone Sanders-Townsend, and a closing gala with R&B group After 7. Each element requires local vendors, event staff and hospitality services.
Davis expressed gratitude for the city’s reception. “We’re looking forward to celebrating and doing the business and the work of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the sports capital and racing capital of the world,” Davis said.
For Indianapolis, the math is simple: more than 5,000 visitors over four days, totaling up to $6.2 million. That’s a return on investment any city would welcome.
Contact Multimedia Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846 or email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on X @3Noral.
For more news like the economic impact of the AKA conference in Indianapolis, visit indianaminoritybusinessmagazine.com.
