Team Bermuda

RIMS 2017 in Philadelphia saw a full delegation flying the flag for Bermuda. Premier Michael Dunkley was joined by Finance Minister Bob Richards, Economic Development Minister Dr Grant Gibbons, plus representatives from industry, the BDA, Bermuda Monetary Authority and Bermuda Tourism Authority at the annual conference and exhibition. Day 1 saw a full slate of media interviews, a speech by the Premier, and a meeting with the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Day 2 included Team Bermuda's official tour of the exhibition hall, a visit to Temple University, and the Bermuda Reception. Three trips to Bermuda were given out during the three-day conference.

• 23,290 Twitter impressions earned
• 10,000+ total delegates at RIMS 2017
• 1,500 jurisdictional brochures
• 1,545 delegates' badges scanned
• 1,000 square feet of Bermuda Booth
• 250 Gosling's rum cakes at Bermuda Reception
• 241 Guess-the-Bag entries
• 150+ delegates from Bermuda
• 20 media interviews
• 8 AM BestTV videos

Bermuda's super-sized global impact was the topic of Premier Michael Dunkley's presentation at RIMS 2017, the first by a Bermuda leader. Bermuda speakers were also featured in a panel representing the Insurance Development Forum (IDF). Brad Kading of ABIR, IDF Chair Stephen Catlin and Joaquim Levy of the World Bank Group discussed ways insurance can help communities in the developing world. Granite Management's Brian Quinn and Al Gier, of GM, also hosted a session on innovation in the captive industry, titled "Cutting-Edge Captives."

Bermuda was invited to meet the Select Greater Philadelphia Council, the marketing and business development arm of the city's Chamber of Commerce. The Bermuda group, including Premier Dunkley and BDA CEO Ross Webber, met members to discuss synergies, shared goals, and industries from shipping and energy to insurance and life sciences. "The discussion proved to be mutually beneficial," said Matt Cabrey, Executive Director of the Council.

Premier Dunkley and Minister Richards visited the city's Temple University, a 39,000-student school with a long connection to Bermuda's risk industry. For over 20 years, Temple has had two Bermuda captive insurers, both reinsuring professional liability claims in the university's healthcare system. Dean Moshe Porat gave a tour of the facility, ending with a sit-down with insurance students, including two Bermudians, Lady Carmela Robinson and Quaejah Cox.

Brexit, US tax reform and the 35th America's Cup were hot media topics at the conference. An impressive "Team Bermuda," comprising government, industry and regulator held numerous interviews with media representatives from a range of organisations, including Bloomberg, the Philadelphia Inquirer, RIMS-TV, AM BestTV, Reactions, Business Insurance, and Insurance Insider.

Bermuda leaders were featured on AM BestTV following two days of RIMS 2017 interviews. They discussed the strength of the island's insurance market, Bermuda's regulatory leadership, America's Cup, and the impact of Brexit and US tax reform. Included was Bermuda Premier Michael Dunkley, Finance Minister Bob Richards, Economic Development Minister Bob Richards, Jeremy Cox of the BMA, and BDA CEO
Ross Webber. 

Watch them all here

RIMS gave a boost to the Bermuda Captive Conference, to be held this year September 10 to 13. The Bermuda booth sported photographic wrap with bold BCC branding, as did buses hired to transport guests through the city from the convention to Tuesday's popular annual Bermuda networking reception. Organisers hope the push will boost registration numbers even higher than last year's record of more than 800 delegates, from the US, UK, Canada and Latin America.

Big thanks to industry volunteers at our Bermuda booth. Stakeholder companies included: Aon, AIG, Arch, Argo, Artex, Arthur J Gallagher, Aspen, AXIS, Beecher Carlson, Butterfield, Chubb, Clarien Bank, Conyers, Deloitte, Estera, Granite Management, Hamilton Group, HSBC, Ironshore, JLT, KPMG, Liberty Mutual, Lloyd's, Mazars, Marsh Inc, PwC, R&Q, Sedgwick, Sompo International, Starr Companies, Willis Towers Watson, XL Catlin, and Zurich.

The BDA partnered with Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) and Gosling's Rum to host the annual Bermuda Reception aboard Moshulu. Built in 1904, the vessel is moored at Penn's Landing and is the largest remaining original windjammer. It was featured in the movies Rocky, Blowout, and The Godfather Part II. Some 200 industry guests attended the networking event, including Premier Dunkley and Ministers Richards and Gibbons, and Opposition Leader David Burt and PLP Senator Kim Wilkerson.

BDA highlighted the 35th America's Cup at RIMS 2017, tying into the upcoming regatta. The iconic Bermuda booth in the RIMS Exhibition Hall sported a large sail emblazoned that was used as a popular photo backdrop. Our hallmark bags, produced in nautical AC35 blue, also carried the America's Cup logo and BDA and BTA representatives were on duty to talk up the event and its advantages for the island. Prospective business took part in speed-networking sessions at the booth to learn about the domicile.

See you at RIMS 2018 San Antonio!