An estimated 250 asset management professionals and investors are expected to travel to Bermuda later this year for the first World Alternative Investment Summit Bermuda (WAIS Bermuda) at the Fairmont Southampton Resort.

Slated for September 28 to 30, the event is hosted by Canada’s Radius Financial Education (Radius) and supported by the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA).

A statement from the BDA said the three-day event would bring together investment and business experts to network and share insights and ideas around the global alternative investment industry. Delegates will include asset managers, institutional and high-net-worth investors, hedge funds, family offices, banks, legal and accounting firms, and fund administrators.

“Hosting this conference in Bermuda will further enhance growth in the asset management sector here, as well as to boost the island’s corporate tourism,” said BDA’s chief executive officer Ross Webber. “Bermuda’s world-respected fund business is strong and growing, and events such as this one help heighten our profile and signal our renewed drive as a jurisdiction to attract investment industry professionals.”

WAIS Bermuda now joins the Regulatory Compliance Association’s (RCA) Regulation, Operations & Compliance Symposium, held in April, and the Global Fund Forum (October 24 to 26), organised annually by Hedge Connection, on the Bermuda asset management calendar. Additionally, the Convergence (November 9—11) event has become a yearly staple, geared to alternative reinsurance and insurance-linked strategies professionals.

“The fact that we have these international events taking place here this year affirms we are back on the industry’s radar,” said Sean Moran, BDA business development manager, who led a delegation to Radius’s WAIS Canada event in Niagara Falls, Ontario last September and subsequently secured its commitment to host a Bermuda conference in 2016.

“Bermuda is once again a destination where fund experts are gathering to network, address pertinent issues, and have some fun in the process,” said Moran. “Delegates are always impressed by Bermuda’s natural beauty, but many are also impressed by its sophistication, talent and significance as an international financial centre — this leads to new business opportunities for local fund managers, directors, lawyers, administrators and other service providers.”

Tony Sanfelice, president of Toronto-based Radius, said: “We are committed to delivering a successful event that brings together alternative investment managers and investors. With Bermuda’s formidable history as one of the world’s leading financial jurisdictions, and its reputation for respected regulation and commitment to compliance, it is an excellent location to extend our success producing leading alternative investment management conferences.”

Radius has 14 years’ experience producing leading financial conferences, including the annual WAIS Canada (www.waisc.com). Radius also produces the Niagara Institutional Dialogue (www.institutionaldialogue.com), a flagship pension event attended by high-profile Canadian and global institutional investors and fund managers. Radius also produces Canada’s flagship Exchange Traded Forum or ETF (www.exchangetradedforum.com) each spring.