The inaugural Regional SportAccord Pan America, Dec. 10-12 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will unite attendees with a global viewpoint of athletics. Over the course of three, attendees will round the bases of the biggest topics in sports and how they affect the region. Hundreds of people from all aspects of sports business and sports tourism will convene at the luxurious Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. As sports organizations—including planners, destinations and venues—attempt to maintain pace with cultural and technological shifts, this conference will place myriad important discussions under one roof. Doping, esports and diversity and inclusion will be discussed in detail during education sessions. Because of the unique nature of this first-time event, DMOs, rights holders and other attendees will gain perspective from peers from other parts of the world. This will be of particular benefit as how one region reacts to a specific challenge will ultimately affect how the international sports community comes together on hot topics—both financial and social. “We all know sport is international,” says Ray Palmer, CSEE, president and CEO of Pensacola Sports. “Not all communities have the resources to attend conferences in pursuit of the international business even though they may be capable of hosting events.  Having the Regional SportAccord Pan American conference in our backyard brings an opportunity to realize how vast and impactful international competitions, training and event hosting can be to our communities.” Case studies will be presented to discuss important issues in depth. Other formats will include intimate fireside chats, panel discussions and workshops. Conservations won’t end when the educations do. The schedule allows for several large networking blocks, allowing for small groups to share their experiences that will likely resonate with peers from other countries. The old saying, “It’s a small world after all” will ring true. After the conference ends, the work continues. The PanAm Sports Best Practices Symposium begins Dec. 13 building off the topics and conversations held the prior three days. Meanwhile, Regional SportAccord delegates can enjoy two open days to explore Fort Lauderdale. The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is a potential highlight the evening of Dec. 14. “Our previous experience with SportAccord enabled us to make dozens of connections to international federations and events that weren't even on our radar,” says Shelby Connett, director of sports at Visit Sarasota County. “We know that Regional Sport Accord will provide even more opportunities and highly recommend it for any destination looking to break into the international sports market."