MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES NEW YORK CITY WILL HOST INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL'S NEW YORK WORLD CONGRESS 2000

For First Time In 40 Years Event Will Be Held In New York City

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today, joined by International Development Research Council (IDRC) New York Chapter Chairman Elect Gregg F. Weisser, announced that IDRC will hold its first corporate real estate conference of the new millennium in New York City. The four-day IDRC New York World Congress 2000 will be held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan from Saturday, April 29 to Wednesday, May 3, 2000.

"This is the first time in IDRC's 40-year history that New York City will host this major event, and the timing couldn't be better," said Mayor Giuliani. "As the global economy becomes increasingly technology-related, the City's high-tech and real estate communities exemplify the workplace of the future. This conference is great news for the City; it is expected to generate $8.2 million in spending and to draw 3,000 attendees."

IDRC is a leading international corporate real estate organization with 44 chapters worldwide and approximately 3,000 members, who are executives in real estate, information technology, facilities, finance and human resources. The four-day conference will kick off with a gala in the newly renovated Grand Central Station and will continue with workshops and panels that focus on a theme highlighting New York City's strengths: "Workforce, Workplace, Wall Street and the Web: Value-Added Real Estate in the Information Age."

"IDRC is very pleased to host its first North America World Congress of the millennium in New York, whose State and City represent the future of world business in the new economic age," said Weisser, who is also a Vice President of Chase Manhattan Bank. "The theme of the Congress, 'Workforce, Workplace, Wall Street, and the Web,' lends itself to New York, which is always at the forefront of innovation and creativity. Our organization's active members are proud to be the recognized leaders in corporate strategy and relocation decisions, and the support that New York State and City have provided to ensure the success of the World Congress here in April shows New York to be a great place to do business."

"New York City continues to draw high-caliber events and conferences, such as IDRC New York World Congress, because of everything the City has to offer -- entertainment, culture, history, fine dining and more," said Robert M.
Harding, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Finance. "We are confident that attendees of this event will enjoy their four-day stay here and will recognize the tremendous revitalization that has taken place over
the past several years under the leadership of Mayor Giuliani."

New York State, through Empire State Development, the State's business community and the New York City Economic Development Corporation were instrumental in attracting this prestigious event to New York.

"IDRC's decision to come to New York is a clear reflection of Governor Pataki's pro-business attitude that has changed the economic climate in New York State," said Charles A. Gargano, Chairman of Empire State Development (ESD). "The Empire State is now a national leader in cutting taxes and eliminating government regulations, attracting new business investments and creating quality private-sector jobs. The Governor's message to IDRC members is simple: the future begins in New York."

Conference attendees will go on organized tours highlighting the City's business, history and entertainment attractions, including: Lower Manhattan, 42nd Street, the United Nations, Broadway, the Financial District, Manhattan's art museums, and MetroTech in Brooklyn.

"A meeting or convention in New York City combines all the energy and excitement of the world's greatest city with easy access to our unparalleled business resources," said Cristyne F. Lategano-Nicholas, President & CEO of NYC & Company - the Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We're extremely excited to welcome IDRC and grateful for their business, which contributes to the almost two billion dollars spent by more than three million meeting, tradeshow and conference attendees each year."

Along with EDC and ESD, more than 30 companies located in New York City will co-host and co-sponsor IDRC New York World Congress. In addition to this annual event, IDRC will hold its annual overseas World Congress in Beijing in March.

 

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