The American Property Casualty Insurance Association plans to move its 2020 annual meeting online because of continued safety concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

APCIA President and CEO David Sampson informed membership of the news via a June 23 email message.

“With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic being felt across the globe and corporate travel restrictions in place, both domestically and internationally, we made the decision to cancel the in-person component of our 2020 Annual Meeting, due to take place in Orlando, Fla.,” Sampson wrote. “Above all, APCIA prioritizes the health and well-being of our attendees and staff, and this decision, while difficult, has been made with those values front of mind.”

APCIA’s 2020 Annual Meeting will still be held on Oct. 12-13, but those days will instead feature online speakers and other events focused on “the state of the industry,” Sampson wrote. Registration is expected to open later in the summer, APCIA said.

Noted Sampson: “The world may have changed dramatically this year – but we will still be convening our celebrated industry event.”

APCIA’s move online follows actions by a number of industry groups through the spring to postpone their events, move them online or cancel them outright.

Among the bigger industry gatherings to cancel: The 64^th Rendez-Vous de Septembre in Monaco, which was scheduled to be held Sept. 12-17 and was canceled in late April. Organizers chose not to hold the event due to ongoing COVID-19 uncertainties.

APCIA represents nearly 60 percent of the U.S. property/casualty insurance market. The group is the product of a 2019 merger between the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America and the American Insurance Association.

Source: APCIA