Missing Monte? Executives weigh in
Reactions asked: What impact might this year’s cancellation of the Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous have on the event’s future, if at all?
WADE GULBRANSEN, HEAD OF NORTH AMERICA, TIGERRISK:
People would love the opportunity to get together and talk business. It’s nice to be able to have these chats. I enjoy going to Monte Carlo because you get to see and meet a lot of different people, get their perspective on what they expect to see at the upcoming renewal, and it’s a very quick process a bit like speed dating. You get a lot of information over a short period of time and you get to connect with those people that you would normally only talk with on the phone. So, I think there will certainly be a desire to go back and all these cancelled conferences will eventually resurface. In terms of next year, I think it will be a question of where each country is in terms of travel. Certainly, there are restrictions today on U.S. citizens flying outside of the U.S. and even into certain states, so it’s complicated. If there is a vaccine, those that get vaccinated may be offered some more freedoms and things might begin to get back to normal, but if not, who knows?
CHARLES WHITMORE, PRESIDENT – GLOBAL ACCOUNTS, HEAD OF PLACEMENTS SOLUTIONS GROUP, GUY CARPENTER:
The Monte Carlo RVS is an important annual industry milestone. Not only does it bring many people together to meet and maintain personal and business relationships, but it also enables brokers and underwriters to "take the temperature" of the market and help prepare and set expectations for the major renewal season ahead. Most in the industry will no doubt be very keen for the event to revert back to its traditional format next year.
