AIME: Advisory board to refresh show
Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has chosen the 20th anniversary of the Asia Pacific Meetings and Incentives Expo (AIME) to look at ideas to “renew and refresh” the event.
Karen Bolinger, chief executive of MCVB, the owners of AIME, said meetings industry representatives and international and national buyers would be invited to join an advisory board that would hold regular meetings in the lead up to AIME in March 2013.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Overseas Arrivals and Departures figures, Australia welcomed 171,400 convention or conference arrivals during the year ending December 2011. This compares to 4280 for the year ending December 1991, equivalent to a 3904% increase over 20 years.
Plus, Bolinger said, in excess of $1 billion worth of economic benefit has been generated for the state of Victoria, as a result of international business events secured by MCVB for the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). This figures included 778,021 room nights in Melbourne
“Business events also provide ‘beyond tourism’ benefits and long lasting legacies, including new business relationships; enhancement of industry sector profiles; innovations in research and technology; changing perceptions of a city, country and industry; and increased market intelligence,” Bolinger added.
Since Reed Travel Exhibitions took over the show’s management in 2002, AIME has seen more than 7800 exhibitors attend from more than 50 countries.
The 2012 show will see more than 780 exhibitors and 515 hosted buyers in attendance, with visitor numbers expected to reach 3400.
Ian Jarrett
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