AIME 2008 opens today!

AIME 2008 opens today with 850 exhibitors looking forward to increased business opportunities.

The Asia Pacific region remains a growth area for meetings and incentives business despite concerns regarding the flow on affect of a possible global economic slowdown.

AIME 2008, 16th Asia-Pacific Incentive & Meetings Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on 19-20 February is Asia Pacific’s premier event for the conventions and incentives industry drawing around 6,000 people to Melbourne for the annual event, the first industry event of the calendar year and a litmus test of business in the region.

“The feedback from exhibitors, buyers and industry leaders combined with data from recent surveys suggest that both tourism and business tourism in the Asia Pacific will continue to grow,” said Rosemarie Sama, Event Director.

“Many exhibitors have chosen to increase the size of their stands this year and a number of regions will have more co-exhibitors than previously. AIME will also have a greater diversity of companies, products and services this year as 243 new exhibiting companies join the event.

“We are expecting a record number of hosted buyers this year also, following changes to the program that eliminated our semi hosted buyer category. This year all but local buyers are fully hosted. Our hosted buyer team and intermediaries in many countries have assisted us in communicating the business benefits of attending AIME. This has resulted in a record number of buyers being qualified this year.

“A number of new features have been added to AIME this year. We have 10 new Master Classes, a first–timers badge, a new Globe Restaurant & Champagne Bar, new networking hours for the last hour of each day, an official event free night on Tuesday and a new AIME Club Night – Mix@Fusion“Pre-registrations are also up by 25% on last year so we expect to see an increase in our visitor numbers as well.”

A strong response from past exhibitors plus an influx of new exhibitors will see AIME 2008 reach new heights, with Dubai, Sydney and Brisbane have doubled their stand size

Canada, Tahiti, Hawaii, the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Brunei, Macau and China as well as Australian exhibitors Tasmania and Northern Territory have all increased their stand size

New Zealand exhibitors have combined to exhibit under the Conventions & Incentives New Zealand banner

New Exhibitors include:

Norfolk Island Tourism

Adventures in Paradise, Vanuatu

Charles Drewe & Associates, international and domestic event marketing consultants from South Africa

Coral Sea Resort, award winning ocean front resort at Airlie Beach, Queensland

Southern Africa: Business Tourism On Show

Move Mountains, an Australian personal development experience company

Trails of Indochina, a supplier of customised travel services for high-end travellers in Southeast Asia

Japan National Tourist Organisation – back after a year’s absence with a larger presence.

Victoria Hotels from Vietnam

Marine Holdings from New Zealand

Events of Noosa, spectacular events at one of Australia’s prettiest beachside locations

Australian International Hospitality Group, offering a range of restaurants and venues in Sydney and Canberra

Alice Springs Desert Park

Aquamarine Resort & Villa, Phuket

Australian Opal Cutters

Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa

China National Convention Center

Expo Centre Johannesburg

Mandarin Oriental Singapore

Philippine Airlines

Qatar National Convention Center

The Chedi Muscat, Oman

The Venetian Macao – Resort – Hotel

Vancouver Convention Bureau

For further information about AIME 2008 visit: www.aime.com.au            

A Special on location report by The Mole from AIME 2008