The Chiba Convention Bureau and International Center successfully bid to bring the 99th Annual Kiwanis International Convention to Makuhari Messe in Chiba City in 2014.
Kiwanis International is the third largest volunteer social service organization in the world. The 99th international convention was set to take place in Asia, but the country and venue had not been decided. The Chiba Convention Bureau then began direct negotiations with the International Headquarters.
Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan was selected because of the international accessibility through Narita and Haneda airports, the convenient domestic transportation system that allows easy access to Tokyo and the rest of the country, and the way local stakeholders came together as one to provide support and enthusiasm for the conference.
The annual conference for the Kiwanis Asian-Pacific Region, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary since its founding in 1964, will be held in conjunction with the Kiwanis International Convention in 2014.
It is hoped that the convention will raise Chiba City and Chiba Prefectures international profile, and that the city, prefecture, and nation will be imbued with Kiwanis International’s slogan, “Serving the Children of the World”.
＊Kiwanis International is the 3rd largest volunteer social service organization behind International Rotary and Lions Club. It has roughly 220,000 members in 7,500 clubs in over 80 countries. When including all of the other clubs in the “Kiwanis Family”, including youth clubs, there are over 600,000 members.
Convention Details
Convention Name: The 99th Annual Kiwanis International Convention
Organizer: Kiwanis International
Date: July 16th to 20th, 2014
Venue: Makuhari Messe and surrounding hotels
Participants: 3,000 people (1,000 domestic, 2,000 from 40 courtiers)
Economic Impact: 1,100,340 thousand yen (projected)
Outline of Convention: activities reports, recognition and awards, fund raising, officers’ elections,
forums, workshops, fellowship, excursions, etc.
