Victorian industry heavyweights support meeting and incentive industry event
Melbourne is making the most of playing host to Asia Pacific’s leading event for the meetings industry, confirming a who’s who of the local industry are supporting the event.
AIME 2008, the premier event for the business events industry, takes place next week on 19 – 20 February at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Melbourne has pulled together some of its leading venues, landmarks, hotels, transport companies, event organisers and tourism representatives to ensure its presence inside the event is as obvious as it is outside.
Attending are the likes of Hilton on the Park, Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt and the Langham Hotels, Federation Square, the Melbourne Aquarium, the Atlantic Group, regional exhibitors Geelong and Great Ocean Road, Sofitel Mansion and Spa and the Yarra Ranges – to name just a few.
Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau Chief Executive Officer Sandra Chipchase says Melbourne’s representation needed to reflect its premier position in the business events market.
“Melbourne is Australia’s business events capital because of our purpose-built infrastructure, superior event facilities and services, our strategic bidding and marketing activities, and of course our reputation for being the most stylish and sophisticated Australian city.”
She says that is underpinned by passionate and experienced industry leaders.
“Strong support and representation from the key industry leaders such as our State Tourism Minister Tim Holding and the world president of ICCA Leigh Harry, who is also Chief Executive of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, go a long way to ensuring our continued success.”
More than 6,000 people gather for AIME in February each year, where millions of dollars worth of business is booked for the region, leading to significant financial injections to the economy.
ICCA world president Leigh Harry says international business delegates on average spend almost six times the average tourist.
“Business events are directly responsible for more than 14,000 jobs in Victoria and generate $1.2 billion for the Victorian economy. That’s something we want to continue to build on and events like AIME are a key part to continuing that success.”
Event Director, Rosemarie Sama added: “AIME 2008 is set to be our largest event to date with strong support coming from exhibiting companies from Australia and 49 other countries. While AIME is held over just two days in Melbourne it generates a potential $400 million dollars for the business events industry in the region.”
AIME is managed by Reed Travel Exhibitions and for more information: www.aime.com.au
The Mole will be reporting on location from AIME 2008 next week in addition to interviews and reports on TravelMole TV, the world’s leading on line travel and tourism on line television, TravelMole TV – for more information contact [email protected]
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