19 February 2009

AIME rewards its star performers

MELBOURNE Ã¢â¬' The AIME 2009 Awards by Reed Travel Exhibitions and Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau saw Rhona Walker, managing director and owner operator of Solution Red, named the Industry Person of the Year for the Asia Pacific region.

Walker is also vice-chair of the Business Events Council of Australia (BECA) and chair of the Meetings and Events Australia (MEA).

She has played a major role in the growth of audio visual and creative themeing since the early 1990s, opening her own company in 2001.

The AIME Awards also included five categories of stand awards including an environmental stand award and an award for the Best Environmental Supplier.

The Winners:

Best Single Exhibitor Stand Ã¢â¬' Staging Connections

Best Multi Exhibitor Stand - 100% New Zealand

Most Creative Stand Design - Team Brisbane

Best New Exhibitor Stand - Kawarau Falls Station

Best Environmental Stand Ã¢â¬' Business Events Australia

Best Environmental Supplier Ã¢â¬' Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

In selecting the winner for the Best Environmental Stand the judges took into account the stand holderÃ¢â¬â¢s commitment to the environment by using environmentally friendly paint, low voltage lighting, and offsetting carbon emissions from the stand build as well as an assurance that 100% of their stand will be used at AIME next year.

Business Events Australia was also recognised for their leadership position on the issue of Corporate Social Responsibility, which attracted strong interest at their AIME media conference.

In judging the Best Environmental Supplier category, the judges took into account the supplierÃ¢â¬â¢s environmental policies and how they have helped make AIME 2009 a greener event.

As the worldÃ¢â¬â¢ s first 6 Star Green Star environmentally rated convention centre, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is raising the bar for environmental initiatives in the events industry.

The MCEC also supported AIMEÃ¢â¬â¢s commitment to staging a sustainable event by providing recycling, waste handling and waste minimisation.