APEC 2023 in San Francisco

Coming up: November 12-18, 2023

This November, San Francisco will be hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, which will be the biggest global event hosted by our city in recent years. During the week of November 12-18, we are expecting approximately 30,000 delegates from across 21 APEC Member Economies, 1,200 CEOs from around the world, and 600 media representatives for this 30th annual event. 

With so many world leaders in San Francisco, we have a unique opportunity to showcase our city's unique and diverse small businesses and welcome delegates from around the world to our fabulous commercial corridors and cultural districts.  

The Office of Small Business is working closely with other agencies and organizations ahead of this event. We will continue to share updates and you can reach out to us with questions at sfosb@sfgov.org. 

“A Perfect Day” 

We have invited Merchant Associations, Community Benefit Districts, and Cultural Districts to curate “Perfect Days” in their neighborhoods. These will be featured on the ShopDineSF webpage and social media @ShopDineSF, and shared with APEC attendees. ShopDineSF is a City initiative to attract locals and visitors to support small businesses. This effort will continue past APEC.

Here is an example from the Mission District.

Events 

The City, in coordination with the Office of Small Business, is organizing dozens of events for APEC attendees, beyond their official programming. These will range from tours of key landmarks and industries, cultural events, performances, and opportunities to meet local entrepreneurs. 

If you have events between November 12-18, email sfosb@sfgov.org.

Local impact 

Most of the official events for APEC will take place at the Moscone Center. There will be significant security presence in that area, as well as near hotels and other neighborhoods during the conference. We can expect that large attendance and security will significantly impact traffic, public transportation lines, and parking. The Office of Small Business is working with event planners to learn about any potential street closures or traffic issues. 

Our office will send out more information to businesses as we receive it, via email and on social media. Follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram.

With 30,000 visitors coming to San Francisco, we can expect disruption. Yet, we hope it will be worth it for your businesses, both during the conference and beyond – as we show off San Francisco as a truly world class destination!