Accredited America postpones September symposium

Accredited America has postponed its inaugural event for MGAs, program administrators, reinsurers, reinsurance brokers, TPAs and other market constituents that was scheduled to take place next month in Jacksonville, Florida in an early sign that the US fall conference season could again be disrupted.

The program management specialist said it had made the “difficult decision” to postpone the 1st Annual Accredited Evolution Symposium because of a “lower than anticipated response” that it put down to a number of circumstances beyond its control.

Although the Randall & Quilter-owned platform did not provide further details of the reasons behind the decision, it comes amid rising Delta variant Covid-19 cases in the US and with restrictions still in place against travel from the UK.

Accredited America said it plans to reschedule the event for late spring 2022.

The symposium had been set for 21-23 September and was billed as a program of speakers and dedicated time for “serious” meetings, according to the company’s US CEO Patrick Rastiello.

Accredited America partnered with Samir Shah-led Ledger Investing as co-sponsor of the invite-only event.

The event was open to Accredited America’s current and prospective customers as well as counterparties including reinsurers and reinsurance brokers, and was set to focus on performance review, relationship building and driving new business and innovation.

It was also being seen as a welcome return to face-to-face meetings in the US programs sector.

Trade association Target Markets is still currently forging ahead with its 21st annual summit in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is scheduled to get under way on 18 October and offers program administrators access to carriers including London markets, as well as other constituents.

In a statement as part of its registration process the association says it intends to follow all CDC recommendations as well as safe meeting guidelines laid out by the Marriott, where the event is being held.

That currently includes a requirement that face coverings are worn by unvaccinated guests in public spaces inside the hotel.