ICANN Looking To Consolidate Meeting Locations
Due largely to difficulties in finding host cities for its three meetings per year, ICANN is looking to host annual meetings in the Asia Pacific and Europe, while rotating the third meeting each year between North America, Africa and Latin America/Caribbean.
The proposal comes in a meetings proposal issued by ICANN which it is seeking comment. The proposal suggests holding the first meeting of the year in two cities in Asia Pacific, the second meeting of the year in two cities in Europe while rotating the third meeting of the year through North America (2014), Africa (2015) and Latin America/Caribbean (2016). The third meeting would be the Annual General Meetings for each year.
ICANN meetings have been organised in-house since 2007, while from 1999 to 2007 meetings were organised by the host. Issues with the current setup are that as ICANN meetings have increased in size and scope, the number of facilities capable of hosting an ICANN meeting has decreased considerably. In addition, the number of facilities that actually meet all of the established meeting location selection criteria is very limited.
Further, as ICANN meetings have already been held in more than 40 different cities worldwide, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify new hosts, as well as new host cities with the appropriate facilities.
Under the new proposal which is open for comment, using selection criteria outlined by ICANN, they will identify the best facilities in the world for conducting an ICANN Meeting. These typically will be convention centres with adjacent supporting hotels. Availability of the facilities on published ICANN meeting dates will be confirmed. And it is intended that favourable, multi-year contracts with meeting facilities, which may include hotel chains or groups, and other service providers, e.g., hotels, audio-visual services and registration staffing, will be negotiated, resulting in reduced costs for the ICANN community, and ICANN.
To check out the proposal in more detail, and submit comments, go to:
www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/meetings-proposal-2012-02oct12-en.htm
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