Bids invited for World Sailing’s 2020 Annual Conference

Bids invited for World Sailing's 2020 Annual Conference © World Sailing

World Sailing, the International Federation of the sport, is inviting Host Cities to bid for the 2020 Annual Conference.

World Sailing's Annual Conference brings together up to 1,000 global participants to plan for the future, make important decisions that shape the direction of the sport and provides a forum to share best practice and generate new ideas and concepts.

Held every year over a nine day period at the end of October, early November, the Annual Conference is made up of formal meetings, forums, celebrations and tourism activities. The conference creates significant local spend including approximately 1,500 hotel nights, local transport use, spend at restaurants and tourist activities.

At the 2017 Annual Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico hundreds of delegates were welcomed for a week of meetings, the inaugural World Sailing Awards and Forums on innovation, women in sailing and sustainability.

Andy Hunt, World Sailing CEO, commented, "The Annual Conference will head to Sarasota, USA in 2018 and Hamilton, Bermuda in 2019. In those cities, we have committed partners and we are looking for strong Host Cities to deliver the 2020 Annual Conference.

"The Annual Conference will enable Host Cities and our members to showcase the venue through traditional, digital and social media and creates promotional and sponsorship opportunities that benefit the sport and its stakeholders.

"For the first time at an Annual Conference, we are looking for our partners to adopt and promote sustainable practices in line with our Sustainability Agenda 2030 with preference given to venues who have internationally recognised environment and sustainability management systems.

"The 2020 Annual Conference has extra importance as the successful Host City will also hold our four yearly General Assembly where World Sailing officers are elected and Council members and Committee members are selected for the next four years."

Host Cities wishing to host and organise the 2020 Annual Conference should submit their initial bid no later than 17:00 BST on 30 June 2018.

From 1 July to 31 August 2018, World Sailing's CEO and Head of Conferences and Hospitality will conduct site visits to shortlisted cities where required.

World Sailing's Executive Office will review and compile bids in August for the September 2018 Board of Directors meeting. The Board will shortlist and invite bidders to present at the 2018 Annual General Meeting in Sarasota, Florida, USA on Sunday 4 November.

Shortlisted bidders will present at World Sailing's AGM before delegates vote on who will host the 2020 Annual Conference.

For further information, contact Natasha Keene, Head of Conferences and Hospitality on natasha.keene@sailing.org.

Click here to view information for bidders