AME Conference Fuels Record-Breaking Hotel Stays in Columbus

The Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) hit a new milestone in August 2024, hosting the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church General Conference.

The eight-day event, which drew 13,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 41 countries, broke previous records with 24,000 total hotel room nights booked. The event was not only a boon to the FCCFA-owned Hilton Columbus Downtown, but a major success for 13 other downtown hotels. The conference, held every four years, convened church members in one place for worship, church legislation and fellowship.

“Columbus is now the standard that we will use when we go to our next city. Our next city has their work cut out for them,” said Marcus T. Henderson, Sr. – AME Church National Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer.

“Columbus and the Convention Center were exemplary hosts,” said John Thomas III, Ph.D.; Editor, The Christian Recorder. “They were accommodating and set the bar for what I would expect from similar agencies in the cities where we hold our meetings.”

AME is the oldest African American church and the largest Black Methodist religious organization in the United States. Founded in 1816, the church nearly three-million members of African descent at more than 8,000 churches domestically and internationally.

“This is a group we’ve tried to get to Columbus for well over a decade. We’ve had a great history hosting religious groups of various denominations and AME brings both political and historic importance. An event of this magnitude in our city is truly an honor,” said John Page, regional vice president and general manager of ASM Global.

Columbus has a proven track record hosting large-scale religious conventions before, including the Southern Baptist Church Convention in 2018. And it will be the site of the Catholic Youth Group Convention in 2026. Columbus’ central geographic location, coupled with its vast Convention Center space and ample hotel capacity makes it a prime destination for such gatherings.

“Columbus prides itself on it being an inclusive community and a diverse community. Being able to offer religious groups a safe and accepting place to convene is comforting to the city of choice,” said Page.

The AME Church Conference was expected to generate $21-million in direct visitor spend. Many of the event attendees brought members of their families to Columbus, which allowed area restaurants and attractions to shine.

Due to the scale of the conference, the Columbus Convention Center temporarily expanded its staff. At peak times during the conference, upwards of 400 individuals from Convention Center staff, vendors, and partners were working to ensure a safe and accommodating experience for all guests.

“We’ll never know if we’ll have another impression, so we pulled out all the stops to make it the safest and most hospitable event possible,” said Page. “Being able to show that we can handle events of this size and scale is huge for Columbus. It will enhance our reputation as a premier destination for future conferences and events,” said Page.