MELBOURNE Business events buyers from across the globe gathered in Melbourne for the Australian Incentives and Meetings Expo from February 16 to 17. The event was an opportunity for the city to showcase its products as well as those of other Australian and Asian operators.
Simon Lu, director of pharmaceutical accounts division, China CYTS MICE Service, Beijing, said: “I found the show to be quite professional and I met with some good-quality suppliers that I will use on future incentive trips for my clients.”
Karen Kim, MICE general manager, Venica Korea, said: “The show was useful to me but I really enjoyed seeing what Melbourne had to offer with its off-site venues for functions and dinners. I was especially impressed by the evening cocktail function we attended at St.Kilda Sea Baths.”
The international Hosted Buyers programme was fully subscribed with a record-breaking 174 buyers. AIME organised said the event had increased its geographical reach compared to 2010 with 6% more Asian buyers, 50% more buyers from the US and 25% more buyers from the rest of the world.
Highlights of the event were the Education programme that featured Master Classes on sales, marketing, motivation and leadership. These were conducted by global industry leaders including Roger Helms, founder and CEO of HelmsBriscoe and Roger Tondeur, founder of MCI Group and Kati Quigley, director of Event Marketing for the CMG Events team at Microsoft.
AIME 2011 was held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the city’s new facility that is a 6-Star Green Star’ environmentally rated convention centre and the largest in the southern hemisphere.