TEDTalks picks Vancouver for 2014 conference

One of the world's most popular intellectual conferences will be held in Vancouver next year, the TEDTalks organization announced on Monday morning.

The West Coast conferencewhich has been held in Long Beach, Calif., for the past five years is moving to the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre for its March 2014 event.

About 1,200 attendees are expected to watchabout 100 leading academics and intellectuals give18-minute talks on their cutting edge research and projects.

Amber Sessionswith Tourism Vancouver says Tourism Vancouver is excited about the types of tourists the event will attract.

"Not only is it a conferenceand it's only a 1,300-person conference, which in the grand scheme of things isn't very big but the influencers that this conference brings ... ticket prices are $7,500 dollars, you have to apply to come, people like Oprah have this on their annual calendar of must-go-to events," he said.

"It really on brings the world's thought leaders not only in the audience but on stage."

A satellite event, TEDActive 2014, will be held at the Fairmount Chateau Whistler and linked to the main event by simulcast.

Organizers said they picked Vancouver in part because of the location and the convention centre.

"TED2014 will be held at the world's most eco-friendly meeting venue a convention center positioned directly on Burrard Inlet, which took our breath away upon first seeing it," said a statement posted on the organizer's website.

Following the announcement, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson issued a statement of support for the event.

"Having the TED organizers choose Vancouver as their new home is a big vote of confidence in the creative entrepreneurs, social innovators and community leaders who make Vancouver a leading-edge city," said Robertson.

The TED organization has beenrun by a non-profit group since 1984. It holds two major conferences each year, one in Edinburgh, UK, called TED Global, and onein North America called the TED Conference, and posts thousands of the talks on its website.