The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has selected the Pennsylvania Convention Center as the location for its 2019 annual conference, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.

APIC, which is the leading professional association for infection preventionists with more than 15,000 members, will hold its annual conference in Philadelphia for the first time in 2019.

“Philadelphia has always been a great destination and now that SMG has worked out some of the past challenges with the new CSA we are looking forward to treating our conference attendees and exhibitors to all the wonderful experiences that it has to offer,” said Sara Haywood, associate director for Education and Events at APIC.

APIC is the fourth citywide convention to book at the Pennsylvania Convention Center since the adoption of a new agreement with labor was reached in May that modernized work rules and expanded customer rights.

The conference convenes nearly 5,000 attendees from around the world for three days to advance their network and learn about evidence-based advances in infection prevention. More than 200 exhibitors also are expected.

APIC 2019 attendees are expected to use over 9,200 total hotel room nights and produce more than $14.3 million in economic impact for Philadelphia.

Since the implementation of the Customer Satisfaction Agreement (CSA) -- signed by four trade unions and ratified by the Center’s Board of Directors on May 6 -- four groups generating a projected regional economic impact of more than $91 million have booked with the center.

Joining APIC in selecting Philadelphia are the American Association for Cancer Research ($41 million in economic impact), the National Association of Black MBA’s ($19.5 million in economic impact), and the American Industrial Hygiene Association ($16.2 million in economic impact).

Concerns about labor costs had discouraged the group from considering Philadelphia in the past, but the organization was reassured by the approval of the new CSA and recent experiences of other organizations that have hosted events at the center under the new work rules.

The new labor agreement at the Center addressed a range of customer concerns by providing exhibitors with greater flexibility and independence, in addition to a customer-service oriented labor workforce.

"The word is definitely getting out that it’s a new day in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Customers are seeing first-hand that we are capable of delivering an exceptional experience for planners, exhibitors and attendees,” said PHLCVB Executive Vice President Julie Coker.

She added, “APIC has been on our radar for a long time and after hearing a presentation from the PHLCVB, SMG and the Center in early May, we received their commitment to come to Philadelphia in 2019.”