BIO to bring big biotech convention back to Philly
The industry organization said it would hold the 2015 BIO International Convention at the expanded Convention Center - a decade after its last visit.
The Biotechnology Industry Organization plans to bring its international convention back to Philadelphia in 2015.
The group, which has about 1,100 members, last held its BIO event at the Convention Center here in 2005.
Pennsylvania Bio president Christopher P. Molineaux said in a statement that his statewide organization was "proud that Philadelphia has once again been chosen as the host city."
"Bringing this conference back to Philadelphia reaffirms our region's leadership status and commitment to this critical industry," he said.
It also represents a vote of confidence in that the expanded Convention Center, set to be completed in 2011, can attract bigger events. Following BIO's last visit in 2005, organizers had expressed doubt that the city could host the event again without more expansion space and hotel rooms.
Jim Greenwood, president and chief executive officer of BIO, said that the group was "thrilled" to be coming back to Philadelphia "after a very successful event in 2005."
The convention attracts about 15,000 attendees. It will be held in Washington, D.C. in June 2011.