MELBOURNE - The Australian business events industry is
gearing up for next year's Asia-Pacific Incentives &
Meetings Expo, AIME 09, determined to increase inbound
business. "We know many people around the world aspire to
visit Australia. With the international release of the
movie 'Australia', Tourism Australia's aligned marketing
campaign, and the fall of the Australian dollar, we believe
we are in a good position to attract even more business
events," said Sandra Chipchase, CEO, Melbourne Convention +
Visitors Bureau (MCVB). AIME's acting event director,
Elizabeth Sarian said that many of Australia's convention
bureaux will have larger stands and more co-exhibitors than
previously. According to Chipchase, Melbourne's meetings
infrastructure continues to grow with the new Melbourne
Convention Centre to open in 2009, along with the adjoining
Hilton Melbourne South Wharf and the third Crown hotel
current being constructed. To the north of Australia, the
Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC) will open
in July 2009. The Australian-owned Toga Hospitality will
showcase its two new hotels in Darwin: Medina Grand Darwin
Waterfront and Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront; which are
scheduled to open in February. Business Events Sydney
(BES), formerly Sydney Convention & Visitors Bureau,
has significantly increased its space at AIME and will be
using the exhibition as a platform to introduce a number of
new services and tools for event planners. More than 40
co-exhibitors from Sydney and New South Wales will
strengthen the state's push to win more business events.
The Perth Convention Bureau also plans to launch its new
business events brand at AIME 09. AIME will be held at the
Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia, on February 17 and
18, 2009. For further information visit: www.aime.com.au