Business tourism in São Paulo reaches another milestone, as São Paulo has been named to host the Rotary Club International World Convention in 2015, which is expected to attract over 40,000 visitors. São Paulo was the unanimous choice with 13 votes, beating out Houston and Phoenix.

This achievement is the result of joint effort between the São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau (SPCVB), São Paulo Tourism (SPTuris) and the City of São Paulo, plus support from the Rotary International Pre-Convention Executive Committee - led by President José Alfredo Pretoni and the director of Rotary International, Themistocles A.C. Pinho. "The mobilization and commitment of those involved was instrumental in securing this important event for the city," said Annie Morrissey, President of the SPCVB.

Other groups taking part included the Brazilian Hotel Operators Forum (FOHB), the Brazilian Hotels Association (ABIH-SP), the Tourism Transport Companies Union (Transfretur) and Embratur.

Major destination for events

The result further strengthens São Paulo´s position as a major destination for events in Latin America, underlined by its International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) ranking. The ICCA named São Paulo as the number 12 city in the world in international events, and number 1 in Latin America. "We must also remember that in 2015 São Paulo will be even better because of the urban transit works being done by the City and State governments ahead of the 2014 Soccer World Cup," said Caio Luiz de Carvalho, President of SPTuris.

São Paulo last hosted the Rotary convention in 1981, when it received about 17,000 people from 94 countries. Since then no other city in South America has hosted the event, which in 2015 will take place at Anhembi Park, the continent´s largest convention and exhibition centre.

Last year the event was held in Los Angeles, while this year it will be in Birmingham, England. Upcoming conventions will be Montreal (2010), New Orleans (2011), Bangkok (2012), Lisbon (2013) and Sydney (2014).