Vancouver has been selected to host a conference that brings together the brightest and the best of the business world and provides a multimillion-dollar boost to the local economy.
The Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) is a global network of chief executives in a range of industries. It has about 24,000 members in more than 130 countries and hosts an annual event on a different continent every year.
Founded in 1950, membership in the YPO is by invitation only. To qualify, members must be under 45 years old and a president or chief executive of a corporation that meets minimum revenue and workforce requirements.
This year, Vancouver will be host to over 2,500 of the world’s leading decision-makers at YPO Edge, a conference aimed at sharing new ideas meant to shape the future of global industries. It will be held March 1–3 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Conference organizers estimate that during their stay, the CEOs will spend at least $54 million on hotels, restaurants, retail, transportation and attractions.
“Vancouver is an ideal host city for the YPO Edge, with its diversity and rising importance as a hub city of entrepreneurship, innovation and disruption,” said Scott Mordell, CEO of YPO, in a press release.
The conference will explore advances in areas ranging from medicine and technology to transportation and cybersecurity.
High-profile speakers slated to present at the event include Arianna Huffington, president and co-founder of Huffington Post, Chip Conley, former head of global hospitality and strategy for Airbnb, and Luc Robitaille, National Hockey League Hall of Famer and president of business operations for the Los Angeles Kings.
Paolo Kalaw, past YPO city chair and CEO of dental business management software firm Nimbyx, believes not only that Vancouver is a viable stage for the event, but also that the conference could help build the city’s reputation.
“The reason I brought the event [to Vancouver] was because I believe there is an opportunity to change the economy of British Columbia from a resource-based economy to a technology-based economy,” Kalaw said.
“The intent of the organization is to find a world-class city and rotate it to different continents every year so that the membership is exposed to another phenomenal city each time,” said YPO conference chairman Larry Bond.
Bond is responsible for curating speakers, some of whom include chief executives from Sony, Samsung and Disney (NYSE:DIS).
“Vancouver has never hosted, and, beyond being a beautiful city, it is full of great, creative and innovative companies, making it an easy choice pick for YPO,” Bond said.
YPO member-run companies employ 15 million people and generate US$6 trillion in annual revenues.
