São Paulo to host International Rotary Club World Convention in 2015

The city of São Paulo has been selected to hold the International Rotary Club World Convention in 2015.

The city competed with other heavy hitters such as Houston and Phoenix in the US to win the convention bid by a unanimous vote of 13. 

Today, São Paulo has become a leader in the Americas international events venue sector.  

“However, this win only serves to strengthen São Paulo’s position as one of the best destinations to hold large scale events,” commented the president of São Paulo Turismo (SPTuris), Caio Luiz de Carvalho.

“We have to remember also that in 2015 the city will be even better owing to the urban mobility works which will be implemented by the Municipal and State Governments in readiness for the World Cup to be held in 2014,” he added.

The victory bid is the result of a concerted effort involving the Rotarians on the Rotary International Pre Convention Executive Committee, presided over by José Alfredo Pretoni and led by the director of Rotary International, Themistocles A.C.Pinho – as well as the Mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab, the Secretary of International Relations, São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau (SPCVB) and SPTuris.

“Mobilization and the efforts of those involved were fundamental in the process of winning this important event for the city,” Annie Morrissey, president of the SPCVB  affirmed.  

The Forum of Hotel Operators in Brazil (FOHB), the Brazilian Association of the Hotel Industry (ABIH-SP), the Syndicate of Collective Transportation for Tourism Companies Syndicate (Transfretur) and Embratur (Brazilian Agency for Tourism) took part in this action.
  
The last time that the city of São Paulo held the event was in 1981, when it hosted no fewer than 17,000 people from 94 countries.