New exhibitors make for greater diversity at AIME 2008

A greater diversity of products and services for the meetings and incentive industry is expected to be on display at next year’s AIME 2008 following a strong response from companies wishing to participate for the first time.

“There has been an increase in demand from companies in the leisure tourism sector who have not previously exhibited at AIME but are now recognizing the value of the lucrative incentive and pre and post conferencing market,” said AIME Sales Manager, Stephen Ricardo.

“AIME is a business to business exhibition and these companies see the value of exhibiting in a proven event where they can expand their product distribution,” he said.

Travel Essentials, a Melbourne-based company that supplies portable catering packs and corporate gifts under the Travelfare brand will exhibit in AIME 2008’s New Products Showcase.

“We commenced business in late 2004 with our catering and breakfast packs, working with hotels and apartments in the leisure market.” “Groups began to approach us through our hotel clients and soon we were also supplying our packs for use with conferences and incentives.” “Our packs can be used in remote locations and are light and easily transportable.” “All food packs have a long shelf life and are shelf stable,” said Angus McLeay.

As well as travel packs Travel Essentials can custom make packs to suit client’s needs such as Ski Packs or Spring Racing Packs and packs can also be labeled with the company logos.

Mr McLeay said that AIME would help his company to promote their recently developed packs for the corporate and incentive market.

Anthony Bonnici, Managing Director, Move Mountains Pty Ltd, a personal development experience company, is also exhibiting at AIME for the first time.

Mr Bonnici established his business more than two years ago after working in sales and management for a pharmaceutical company, where he saw first hand the results of motivating people and helping to change behaviour.

“My aim is to improve individual and team performance by changing the way we think about our jobs, our environment, our lives and most importantly, ourselves,” he said.

“At Move Mountains we run a series of programs which utilize a unique experiential learning technique to prove to participants that they can achieve much more than they currently think they can.”

The structured programs include a discussion on mental barriers, a creative activity and a review of what has been achieved, how participant’s beliefs have changed and how to apply these skills in their everyday lives.

Mr Bonnici says the programs work well as part of a conference as they are fun, relevant, business related and tangible.

Brett Morgan, Director of Sales & Marketing, Trails of Indochina, has also decided to exhibit at AIME for the first time in 2008.

“Trails of Indochina was established in Vietnam in 1998 and provides customized travel services for high-end travelers in Southeast Asia.” “We have the advantage of being familiar with the region combined with a clear understanding of the specialised requirements today’s up-market travellers demand as part of their overall travel expectation,” Mr Morgan said.

The company has extensive experience in the travel industry and an unrivalled network of contacts in the region.

“Trails of Indochina is different to other inbound operators in this region as we have a range of exclusive fully-owned product including the home of the former US Ambassador in Saigon, the Halong Bay cruise on the traditionally-built and highly luxurious ‘Ginger Junk’, and Vietnam’s newest cultural attraction, ‘Ancient Hue’ – built around five 150-year-old restored houses.

Stephen Ricardo believes that the strong mix of new exhibitors combined with AIME’s highly regarded exhibitor base of hotels, venues, convention & tourism bureaus, airlines and service providers will add a new dimension to the event in 2008.

“Visitors and buyers to AIME 2008 will see an exciting variety of new products and services on display. There will be everything for the high end buyer to the individual planner or person from the corporate world simply looking for some great new ideas for their next event,” he said.

AIME 2008 is at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from 19-20 February. For further information visit the AIME website: http://www.aime.com.au/

Report by The Mole