The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event celebrates its 30th Anniversary in Melbourne

The first of the ‘big four’ tradeshows on the international business events 2023 calendar kicked off this week, with The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) - the foremost business events trade show in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together international and local buyers to access the best exhibitors from around the world in celebration of AIME’s 30th anniversary.

Owned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and managed by Talk2 Media & Events, AIME is the leading trade event for the meetings and events industry in the Asia Pacific region, where industry decision makers connect, create and do business. Hosted by venue partner Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 13 – 15 February, AIME 2023 introduced exciting new elements representative of significant testament to the longevity and legacy of the show and its importance to the global business events industry.

More than 350 exhibitors showcased at AIME, including convention bureaux, partners, and suppliers from every Australian state as well as international destinations including Japan, New Zealand, Hawaii, Qatar, the Philippines, Singapore. Abu Dhabi and more. The 400 hosted buyers and 2000+ visitor buyers were certainly spoilt for choice and were kept busy across more than 10,000 meetings that took place across the two days of the three-day AIME 2023 program.

New Zoning to the show floor has certainly been a highlight, enhancing networking and navigations with product and destination precincts aiding wayfinding.

It comes with no surprises that the Victorian Precinct occupied the largest footprint on the show floor, including the famous Melbourne Victoria Stand – the largest destination stand at AIME 2023 and host venue MCEC stand, amassing 43 exciting exhibitors spread throughout the Victoria Precinct with the very best of the best suppliers at attendees fingertips.

In celebration of AIME’s 30th anniversary milestone, this year’s Melbourne, Victoria Stand boasted a brand-new design built across two-stories, plenty of First Nation-inspired activations including an ice cream pop up, Jarrah Boy beer tasting, and a flavourful cooking demonstration by the National Indigenous Culinary Institute, and a place where visitors discovered how the MCB team and its industry partners enrich events hosted in Melbourne communications. MCEC's award-winning chefs also put on a gastronomic show, serving multi-sensory desserts and cocktails.

Victoria’s lead agency in acquiring and delivering business events, MCB provides a free one-stop-shop service to help professional conference organisers and planners create the most memorable conferences, incentive travel reward programs and corporate business events in Melbourne. From bidding and hosting international business events, event planning support, securing government and industry support to helping to source local event service providers, accommodation and tour attractions.

Meanwhile, MCEC's newly refreshed stand allowed buyers to step into the home of the unconventional. Already globally revered as Oceania's leading meetings and conference centre, the southern hemisphere’s premier venue continues to push boundaries and innovate. Staying true to their values, MCEC weaved sustainable principles through its design, with the stand's structure made from reusable elements with a preference for digital presentations, signage and paper-free communications. MCEC's award-winning chefs also put on a gastronomic show, serving multi-sensory desserts and cocktails.

MCEC's sales team were on hand to chat through exciting things coming up for the business, including its future operation of a new convention and exhibition centre in Geelong, Victoria’s second largest city, opening in 2026. This makes MCEC the operator of two purpose-built venues, providing even more opportunity for customers.

Outside the show floor, MCEC engaged buyers further with a reimagined Goldfields Café + Bar offering an inclusive gastronomic menu as a DJ served up epic tracks. It was an effective way for MCEC to give attendees a feel for the momentous events they can bring to life.

MCB works collectively with MCEC and its industry partners to ensure the city’s events offering is constantly evolving and appealing to the next generation of event buyers and planners.

With Melbourne’s ever evolving and innovating offerings, the city is constantly providing an array of new reasons to host business events. From new hotels to exciting new dining options and immersive experiences, and a super calendar of business events lined up, find out what’s new for 2023 and start planning your next business event in Melbourne.