The process takes 12 months and includes:
- submission of expressions of interest from individual member organisations
exploratory discussions between World Physiotherapy and interested member organisations - full bid submissions
- review and analysis of each submitted bid
- additional research
- site visits
- discussions with member organisations, convention bureau, conference venues
final assessment of submitted bids.
World Physiotherapy member organisation
Factors relating to a member organisation submitting a bid include:
Length of World Physiotherapy membership – member organisations will ideally have been a member of World Physiotherapy for at least four years and have participated in two general meetings Good standing – whether the member organisation is fully paid up with membership subscriptions and compliant with our constitution Size – whether the member organisation has sufficient individual members to be representative of the profession in the country, ideally at least 30% of practising physiotherapists in the country should be members of the World Physiotherapy member organisation - Delegates – whether the member organisation can guarantee a minimum number of 400 local delegates
International congress participation – whether the member organisation can demonstrate participation at previous international congresses by local members, as delegates and presenters - Management – whether the member organisation can demonstrate its cooperation with and understanding of the management arrangements for the congress, supported by a leadership structure of employed or volunteer leaders
Host – whether the member organisation can demonstrate its capacity to fulfil its role as host Conflicting events – a commitment from the member organisation not to hold a national congress in the same year or 12 months preceding the World Physiotherapy congress and a willingness to absorb any national/regional meetings within the World Physiotherapy congress - Other events – whether there are competing events in the region at that time
The data sources used to assess this include:
World Physiotherapy country/territory profile data Delegate data from past World Physiotherapy congresses - National member organisation conference analysis reports
- Member organisations’ websites
- Letter of support from other member organisations
- National statistical databases
- Discussions with local member organisation
Site visits by World Physiotherapy staff
Proposed destination
Factors relating to a proposed destination include:
Degree of political and socio-economic stability and issues impacting on peace and security such as: - Homicide rates
- Incarceration
- Access to weapons
- Violent demonstrations
- Violent crime
- Political instability
Human rights (eg the rights of women, workers, indigenous people, LGBTIQ+ people) - Perceptions of criminality
- Political terror
- Terrorism impact
- Deaths from internal conflict
- Internal conflicts fought
- External conflicts fought
- Deaths from external conflict
- Displaced people
- Neighbouring countries’ relations
Accessibility for international delegates and the availability of visa-free access, visa on arrival or preapproved visas for delegates from countries with a World Physiotherapy member organisation Business legislation or regulation, particularly around any need to register a local shelf company - Financial legislation relating to currency flows and any restriction on the movement of cash into or out of the country
Corporation and/or Company tax legislation or regulation VAT/GST legislation/regulation/rules and processes - Prevailing laws/customs and practices that may impact on congress delegates
- Evidence of strategies used to ensure a safe environment for visiting delegates at previous international conferences
- Local currency stability
- Experience of hosting international events for more than 1,500 delegates, including scientific meetings and trade shows
Culturally and geographically distinct from recent World Physiotherapy congress destinations - Suitability of the proposed congress venue and infrastructure
- Availability of local suppliers eg audiovisual, catering, events management
- Easily accessible for domestic, regional and international flights
- Accessible public transport with connections between airport(s), venue and downtown
- Range of accommodation/hotel options within the vicinity (immediate and within 20-minute easy commute) of the proposed congress venue to eliminate and need for a shuttle service
- Smoke-free policies (eg smoke-free public spaces, restaurants, transport network) in the proposed destination city
- Incidence of natural disasters and weather anomalies
The data sources used to assess this include:
- World Bank Political Stability Index
- GlobalData’s Country Risk Index
- World Economic Forum - The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report
- Visions of Humanity Global Peace Index
- International Congress and Convention Association reports
- Advice from local tax agents
- ILGA State-Sponsored Homophobia report
- Human Rights Watch Report
- Discussions with local member organisation and business events organisations
Site visits by World Physiotherapy staff
Proposed venue
Demonstrate a track record of hosting similar events - Provide evidence of attention to detail and high standards of customer service
- Be able to accommodate at least 2,000 delegates and, ideally, up to 5,000
- Offer at least 10 presentation rooms of variable sizes for concurrent use to accommodate the scientific programme
- Offer additional rooms for offices and logistical support eg speaker ready room (audio visual services)
- Offer space for a trade exhibition and poster display area
- Provide all facilities on one site
- Provide sufficient internet and WiFi capabilities to support delegates using a congress app and social media in sessions
- Be accessible for persons with disabilities
- Support a healthy living environment eg through non-smoking policies onsite
- Support green meetings and sustainable environment policies
The data sources used to assess this include:
- International Congress and Convention Association reports
- Tourism reports
- References from previous conferences
- Discussions with local member organisations and proposed congress venue
Site visits by World Physiotherapy staff
