On May 6, 2012, the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) announced that they have chosen Yokohama as the site for the 9th International Orthodontic Congress 2020. It will be the first time in their long history that the international congress will be held in Asia.
For this honour, the Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau worked closely with Dr. Keiji Moriyama of the Japanese Orthodontic Society (JOS) to beat seven other destinations.
There were various reasons for Yokohama’s win, but the Executive Committee members who were responsible for the site selection recognized the capability of PACIFICO Yokohama, the city’s all-in-one venue, the city’s public safety record, and the support from the local government, in addition to the contribution of the Japanese Orthodontic Society. According to Dr. Moriyama, the Executive Committee members have high confidence and trust in Japan, since Japan has been an active and committed member from the very early stages of WFO activities.
Said Dr. Moriyama, who will take on the role of Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 2020 Congress: “We believe that gathering orthodontists and dental care professionals from around the world, who will bring with them their expertise, experience and wisdom, will be of particular significance in expanding and supporting the need for orthodontic care that is rapidly growing throughout the world, but particularly in Asia.”
Yokohama has a strong track record for hosting medical science meetings due to the large, active and supportive Japanese association community that recognizes the city’s capacity to service large international congresses. Its most recently hosted congress, the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, was attended by over 3,500 participants. Future medical congresses booked with Yokohama include, among others, the Congress of the World Union of Wound Healing Societies (2012), World Congress of the Human Proteome Organization (2013), and the Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Yokohama, a Japanese port city, is accessible from both Haneda and Narita Airports. Boasting of more than 1,500 weekly flights from 40 countries and direct flights from over 100 cities around the world, Yokohama is perfectly poised to welcome the anticipated 6,000 national and international delegates to the meeting. PACIFICO Yokohama is the city’s largest all-in-one convention complex with a plenary capacity of 5,000. 18 hotels which are a 15-mins walk away from the centre, offer some 4,500 rooms.
