Record-breaking attendance at Bermuda Captive Conference

More than 800 delegates attended this week’s Bermuda Captive Conference, with organisers hailing the event as a major success.

Over half of the delegates were overseas participators at the three-day conference which is in its 12th year, with more than 50 percent travelling to Bermuda from the US, Canada, Latin America, and the UK.

Attendees included 147 captive insurance owners, 70 sponsors, 49 vendors, plus a total of 900 hotel room nights booked during the event’s duration.

David Gibbons, conference chair, said: “By every measure, this year’s conference has been a great success. From the number of attendees, the number of companies represented, the number of business meetings that took place, and the strength of both the social events and educational sessions, we have received nothing but positive feedback. It’s evidence of renewed growth in our sector, and it sets us up very well for next year’s event.”

Premier Michael Dunkley officially opened the conference on Monday, welcoming delegates and calling the event a “staple on the calendar of required captive insurance events”.

“You already know that you are doing business with the finest captive professionals in the world—not just the excellent captive and insurance managers, but also the accountants, lawyers, bankers, brokers and other individuals who make up our industry,” the Premier said.

“Our leading insurance professionals are known for their innovation and exceptional service, and you can be assured that you are part of a vibrant Bermuda market.”

Keynote speaker Joe Flower, an American healthcare and technology futurist, told attendees that US healthcare costs could only be curtailed when employers and individuals act as true customers and curtail spiraling fee-for-service pricing systems.

Additionally, Jill Husbands, chairman and managing director of Marsh IAS Management Services, was awarded the Fred Reiss Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her long and influential career in the captive insurance industry.

The Bermuda Captive Conference will shift to the fall in 2017 to avoid a clash with the America’s Cup, and has been scheduled for September 11–13.