ACCE News
Update: ACCE's bid for the 2011 World Chambers Congress
Alexandria, VA -
During ACCE's 2007 convention in Sacramento, and as was reported on www.acce.org in September, ACCE President Mick Fleming announced ACCE's intent to make a pitch to bring the World Chambers Federation's biennial World Chambers Congress to the United States, specifically, Los Angeles, California, in 2011. The World Chambers Congress is the only international forum for the global chamber of commerce community.
Much like the bidding process for the Olympics, the bid for the World Chambers Congress involves many steps. The first step just took place in late November with a preliminary meeting with the Board of Directors of the World Chambers Federation (WCF). Mick Fleming and Los Angeles Area Chamber President Gary Toebben, CCE, travelled to the WCF's headquarters in Paris, France, to formally present the letter of intent to bid. They also presented a preliminary description of the conference plan which calls for an exciting and creative way of combining ACCE's annual meeting with the 2011 World Chambers Congress.
Coincidentally, leadership from the Mexico City Chamber was also in Paris making a bid for the same meeting, which has already been determined to take place in the Western Hemisphere.
According to Fleming, the meeting was encouraging. "Judging by the conversations with members of the WCF board, we have a strong proposal. However, the most substantial hurdle will be related to access to visas for the meeting's international participants," said Fleming.
Fleming mentioned that ACCE will be contacting the U.S. State Department to address the visa issue as well as reaching out to the Los Angeles CVB to discuss logistical planning.
The next step in the bidding process will involve the presentation of the formal bid in June 2008, which will map out all the logistical details. Prior to this important next meeting taking place in Stockholm, ACCE members will be asked for letters of support.
"By winning the bid for 2011, the combined conference will attract not only ACCE's 1,300 North American participants, but there will also be another 1,500-2,000 delegates from about 120 countries. As a result, ACCE will have a stronger presence on the world chamber stage, and our members will have access to big opportunities and alliances they may not know have existed. This is a tremendous opportunity," explained Fleming.
ACCE and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce are working together with the United States Council for International Businesses; L.A. Inc., the Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to present the bid to the WCF.
The 2007 World Chambers Congress met in Istanbul, Turkey, and the 2009 meeting is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur. Previous meetings have taken place in Korea, Quebec, and Durban.
Source: ACCE
Publication Date: January 3, 2008