The NGLCC Conference Is Coming to Philly Next Year

Here's everything you’ve wanted to know since the news dropped.

The 2018 NGLCC Conference will be in Philadelphia.

Last week at its 10th anniversary celebration, the Independent Business Alliance (IBA) announced that Philadelphia will be hosting the 2018 National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) Conference. And now we have the details!

“We’re so excited to be chosen as host for the 2018 NGLCC International Business and Leadership Conference. It was a joint effort among the IBA, the PHLCVB, PHLDiversity, and Visit Philadelphia to put together the bid to bring the conference here,” said Zachary Wilcha, Executive Director of IBA. “It was a competitive process, and it’s a real testament to Philadelphia and the fact that the PHLCVB, under Julie Coker Graham’s leadership, has prioritized bringing minority meetings and conferences to town that the NGLCC chose here for their conference.”

The three-day event, scheduled for August 14–17, 2018, plans to attract more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and government officials from across the country and around the world. Participants can expect leadership and educational programming, networking and engagement opportunities with keynote speakers at events such as the annual B2B Boot Camp for LGBT Business Enterprises. A chamber development track, marketplace expo, and one-on-one matchmaker meetings are also expected to be featured. The conference has already secured presenting sponsorships from American Airlines, Bristol Myers Squibb, and EY.

“We are elated to bring the 2018 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference to Philadelphia, and to partner with the Independence Business Alliance and our presenting sponsors to continue expanding the reach and impact of the largest LGBT business event on the planet,” said NGLCC co-founder and president Justin Nelson. “Solidarity and success in our community has never been more vital that it is now, and so it’s fitting that we bring the entire NGLCC family to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection in 2018 to create unprecedented opportunities for LGBT-owned businesses to thrive.”