Business leaders from a wide range of sectors will gather in New York City today (5 May) for the start of the first international Quality of Life Conference.

The two-day event, hosted by services provider Sodexo, will explore the potential of quality of life as a key social and economic performance driver. Hundreds of leaders from a wide range of backgrounds, including the business community, academia, health care, NGOs and the political sphere will gather to collaborate and challenge current social and economic performance models.

Headlining the plenary session will be Mari Kiviniemi – the deputy secretary-general for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and former Prime Minister of Finland – while a number of though leaders will discuss how to identify solutions to foster economic growth alongside social progress.

"For most organisations, the next competitive advantage will come from their ability to generate higher added human value," said Michel Landel, Sodexo CEO.

"Promoting health and well-being; creating the conditions for collective efficiency; guaranteeing a safe and healthy physical environment; cultivating social ties; encouraging the recognition of individuals – these are all key to reinventing growth models.

"This is why we are hosting this conference and bringing together stakeholders with so many different perspectives, looking towards a future growth model where economic progress goes hand in hand with human progress."

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