Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- American International Group Inc., the insurer facing criticism for hosting a $440,000 event at a California resort less than a week after a federal takeover, plans another gathering for its brokers at a Ritz-Carlton hotel next week.

The event, in Half Moon Bay in northern California, is designed to ``motivate and educate'' about 150 independent agents that sell AIG coverage to high-end clients, spokesman Nicholas Ashooh said. ``These sorts of sales meetings are an essential function,'' he said. ``We have them around the world all the time.''

About 50 AIG employees will also attend the meeting. Ashooh said he didn't know the cost of the event or whether the agents AIG is hosting would stay overnight.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erik Holm in New York at eholm2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 8, 2008 13:50 EDT