NCBMP and AAMA Unite to Advance Convention Growth, Tourism Investment, and Economic Opportunity in Cities Nationwide
For Immediate Release May 27, 2026
NCBMP Contact Alex Thomas [email protected]
AAMA Contact
Kuae Noel Kelch [email protected]
NCBMP and AAMA Unite to Advance Convention Growth, Tourism Investment, and Economic Opportunity in Cities Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) and the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) today announced a landmark national strategic partnership designed to help cities compete more effectively for conventions, tourism investment, major meetings, and workforce opportunities tied to the growing visitor economy. The meetings, conventions, tourism, and hospitality sectors collectively generate billions in economic impact annually and remain critical drivers of local job creation, business growth, and destination visibility.
Formalized through a newly executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the partnership establishes a collaborative national framework connecting municipal leadership, destination organizations, convention industry stakeholders, tourism executives, and private-sector partners to create measurable economic outcomes for cities and communities across the country. The partnership comes at a critical time as municipalities face increasing pressure to compete for conventions, tourism investment, workforce talent, and economic development opportunities amid shifting federal priorities and evolving economic conditions.
“This partnership represents a new model for how cities, industry leaders, and association professionals can work together to drive measurable economic growth, expand workforce pipelines, and create broader access to opportunity. The meetings, conventions, tourism, and hospitality industries are among the most powerful economic engines in the country, generating billions in economic activity and supporting millions of jobs nationwide. Through this collaboration with AAMA, we are ensuring more communities, professionals, and businesses are positioned to participate in and benefit from that growth. This partnership is rooted in access, opportunity, and economic competitiveness,” said Jason Dunn, Chief Executive Officer,
NCBMP. “America’s cities are competing aggressively for investment, conventions, tourism dollars, talent, and economic opportunity,” said Phyllis Dickerson, Chief Executive Officer of AAMA. “This partnership reflects a practical, results-oriented approach to ensuring our communities are positioned to compete and thrive in the future economy. By connecting municipal leadership with industry expertise and strategic partnerships, we are creating pathways for job creation, economic mobility, entrepreneurship, and long-term community resilience.”
The partnership represents one of the first coordinated national efforts connecting municipal leadership directly with Black meeting professionals, destination organizations, and hospitality industry stakeholders to drive long-term economic competitiveness. These focus areas will measure outcomes including hotel room night generation, local spending impact, workforce participation, convention attraction, vendor engagement, and small business inclusion. Through the agreement, the organizations will jointly develop and implement:
- National policy forums and executive convenings focused on tourism growth, convention attraction, and destination investment
- Economic impact research, benchmarking, and accountability reporting
- Public-private partnership models connecting municipalities, destination organizations, and industry stakeholders
- Workforce initiatives designed to expand participation across the visitor economy
The partnership is expected to serve as a national model for how municipal leadership, destination organizations, and industry stakeholders can work collaboratively to drive inclusive economic growth through the meetings, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
About the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP)
It is the purpose of NCBMP to be the preeminent organization in educating association executives, meeting professionals and leaders that believe in excellence in all aspects of the meeting planning profession such that, as a result, NCBMP members will be able to (a) maximize a greater return on the meeting dollar investment for their respective organizations, (b) effect positive change in the hospitality industry, and (c) become the authority on issues that affect the events community.
About the African American Mayors Association (AAMA)
The African American Mayors Association (AAMA) is the only organization exclusively representing African American Mayors in the United States. AAMA exists to empower local leaders for the benefit of their citizens. The role of the African American Mayors Association includes taking positions on public policies that impact the vitality and sustainability of cities; providing mayors with leadership and management tools; and creating a forum for member mayors to share best practices related to municipal management.