Event Report: Ted Bowers Reports From The 93rd World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast

We love to lend our production support to events that highlight the global role of our hometown, Los Angeles. During the month of May, the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce promotes global trade, the driving force behind our local economy.

The Event: The 93rd annual World Trade Week Kickoff Breakfast
Date: May 2, 2019
Event Location: Intercontinental Los Angeles Hotel
Number of Guests: 850, hailing from 37 countries.

Ted Bowers: "As Angelenos, we should know this but being present at the 93rd Kickoff Breakfast was a great reminder of the role global trade plays in our lives and the economy of Southern California. Stanley T. Olafson, then manager of the World Trade Department of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, founded World Trade Week in 1927, the year that saw the opening of the Chinese Theatre and the founding of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At the time, the population of L.A. County was approaching just one million.
We have weathered many wars and economic storms since and it was fascinating to learn more about the rapidly changing world of global trade during the various presentations. Keynote speaker Dr. Udo Lange, president & CEO of FedEx Trade Networks Transportation and Brokerage and Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Logistics, used the fidget spinner toy to illustrate how fast a situation can change. Just as the spinner saw huge sales success in 2017 and then disappeared, global trade is affected by rapidly growing and fading trends, due to politics but also, mostly, changing technology. Just a few years ago, Fedex used a fleet of cargo planes to deliver many smalls items. With the spread of 3D printers, the transportation of small plastic parts has become obsolete. It was very impressive to learn about the ever faster changing world of trade and how industry partners adapt.
The same is true in the event industry. One example: just a few years ago we routinely built, transported and installed large-scale backdrops. Then LED graphics projection became an affordable and faster decor option for room turnovers. We adjusted our work flow and procedures. New technology and evolving marketing and branding strategies affect what we do and we need to adjust constantly."

Ted Bowers: "It is obvious that the L.A. area offers first class resources on an international scale for the meetings and event industry. The sheer number of multi-lingual and -cultural services and the understanding and support global trade partners receive from L.A. area and California officials make it a great location for them to hold meetings and events here.
And we look forward to doing our part in the event industry. Our team consists of people from three different continents. We are ready!"

Thank you for reading.