The RI Convention in Birmingham 2009 got off to a flying start at the Los Angeles Convention with 2500 registrations taken in five days A delegation of fifty members of the Rotary International Convention 2009 Host Organising Committee (HOC) and staff of partner organisations visited Los Angeles from 13th – 19th June, 2008.
They attended the 2008 Rotary International Convention and spent the week promoting the 100th Convention in Birmingham next June, to the 17,000 delegates in LA. Heading the delegation was the Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham Councillor Randall Brew and Brian Fuller Chairman of the Host Organising Committee. The Convention will be one of the biggest events to be held in the UK for over twenty years, and Birmingham has been chosen as the host city thanks to the combined efforts of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, Marketing Birmingham, Birmingham City Council, and The NEC Group. All these organisations were represented in LA..
The Birmingham Convention was promoted on a stunning 70 x 20 feet exhibition stand which had been sponsored by Advantage West Midlands, Marketing Birmingham and others. It was manned by HOC members and their partners all dressed in striking union jack uniforms as well as a Beefeater and Town Crier and staff from the partner organisations It put Birmingham in the spotlight and clearly demonstrated that the city of Birmingham offers a magnificent backdrop for Rotarians to gather and to discuss how Rotary Clubs around the world are helping make the world a better place. A special promotional DVD has been produced and was shown on the stand to showcase Birmingham and the West Midlands to the world.
Brian Fuller said "We received tremendous enthusiasm for the Convention in Birmingham in 2009 from delegates from all over the world. There is a huge interest from Rotarians in visiting the UK and Birmingham in particular, and as well as the 2500 registrations, we booked several thousand host events and hotel rooms. We are very proud that Rotary International has provided our city and our club with this fabulous opportunity, and Los Angeles enabled us to present to the world what a great destination city Birmingham really is."
Ian Taylor, Commercial Director at Marketing Birmingham said: "Birmingham is looking forward to welcoming the 100th Rotary International Convention and we’re keen to work together with the Host Organising Committee to promote the event to an international audience, attracting as many visitors as possible toexperience Birmingham next year. Our presence in L.A. was very British and attracted a lot of interest, with a number of partners joining us to really showcase the city and wider region."
Rotary International is a worldwide organisation of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. It has more than 1.2million members, inover 32,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas. The four-day convention in 2009 will attract visitors from all aroundthe world including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australasia, India and Japan. The Rotary International Convention 2009 will take place at the NEC. The last time the event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Birmingham was in 1984 when it was also held at the NEC. The fact that Rotary has chosen to return to the city highlights the impression made and fond memories that were takenaway.
11/07/08
