30 April 2009

AIME 09 defies the downturn

MELBOURNE - - AIME 09 (17th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo) held in Melbourne in February, has confirmed its status as the premier business events trade show in the Asia Pacific following an audit by the Circulations Audit Board (CAB).

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty in the global meetings and incentive industry, AIME 2009 increased its total attendance by 10 percent on the previous year.

A total of 3,581 visitors including 467 Hosted Buyers and 71 media representatives visited the two-day event.

AIMEÃ¢â¬â¢s trade visitor numbers rose by 12.5 percent, from 2,768 in 2008 to 3,114. The audit also showed that 832 people visited AIME more than once in the two day period.

Exhibitor numbers set a new record with 854 exhibiting companies from 50 countries participating, an increase of 3.8 percent on last year.

Australian exhibitor numbers increased from 354 in 2008 to 396 at AIME 09.

The number of exhibitors from Asia also increased from 261 in 2008 to 296 this year. The remaining 162 exhibitors came from New Zealand, the Pacific or from other international destinations.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœThese results prove both the resilience of the meetings and incentive industry and the industryÃ¢â¬â¢s recognition of AIME as an important event at which to conduct business, meet new buyers and achieve objectives,Ã¢â¬~ said Paul Kennedy, group exhibition director, Meetings & Incentive Events, Reed Travel Exhibitions.