Strong International Theme at EEAA 2014 Conference

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) has secured a top line-up of speakers for the EEAA 2014 Conference to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next month. 

EEAA Chief Executive, Joyce DiMascio, said the conference program will tackle three key themes: “Internationalising” events, products and services; the security landscape around events and what's driving consumer engagement.

“We are honoured to have the CEO of Austrade, Bruce Gosper, and Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Director - Australia and New Zealand, Bonnie Shek head the line-up for the international theme,” Ms. DiMascio said. “Matt Jones, Director & Creative Strategist of Better Happy will deliver a wake-up call about customer communications and behaviour. 

In addition, a panel including Victorian Police will address the topical subject of event security. We always aim to deliver outstanding content and this year will be no exception. The program is intensive, strategic and challenging and directly aligned with issues that matter to the industry – right here, right now.”

2014 has marked the establishment of strengthening ties between EEAA Members and the Australian Government’s export agency, Austrade. So it is most fitting that EEAA should hear from Austrade CEO, Bruce Gosper. Mr. Gosper helped kick-start EEAA’s positive work now being undertaken with Trade Commissioners in the Austrade network across Asia.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a leading player in the business events sector, launching highly successful partnerships with the exhibition industry. EEAA is honoured that the HKTDC is joining Association Members to talk about their successful initiatives.

Ms. DiMascio said, “The program also includes speakers from within the EEAA community. Our Members are always keen to hear from organisers of trade and consumer exhibitions so we’ll have an interesting panel discussion with Reed Exhibitions Executive Director, John Gorton; Gaming Technologies Association CEO, Ross Ferrar; Exhibitions & Trade Fairs MD, Gary Daly; National Media MD, Mark Harvey; and WALDRONSMITH Management MD, Kate Smith.”

The conference begins with a Welcome Reception at Cargo Hall, on Melbourne’s South Wharf Promenade on Wednesday, 19 November with the 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence on Thursday, 20 November. The Awards night will honour the high achievers in the industry in the Melbourne Room at the MCEC.

“This year’s Conference encourages in-depth discussions with top-tier speakers, offers great networking and will be a rewarding experience for attendees. The industry has undergone many changes in 2014 following the closure of the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre – events have relocated to other venues and cities. 

New events have been launched. The conference, which coincides with the end of the 2014 event season, will provide an important opportunity to assess where the industry has landed,” Ms. DiMascio said.

To view the Preliminary Program, go towww.eeaa.com.au/pdfs/2014/EEAA_2014_Conference_Preliminary_Program_V1.pdf.

Register to attend the EEAA 2014 Conference and Awards for Excellence:http://www.eeaa.com.au/conference.php.

KEY DATES:
2 October - Registration opened
20 October - Early bird discount ends

KEY CONFERENCE DATES:
19 November - Welcome Reception
20 November - EEAA 2014 Conference

KEY AWARDS DATES:
Mid-October - Finalists announced
20 November - EEAA 2014 Awards for Excellence

About EEAA

The Exhibition and Event Association of Australasia (EEAA) is the peak association for the exhibition and event industry, representing organisers, venues and suppliers. As a not-for-profit organisation, EEAA’s primary objective is to maintain high industry standards and ensure industry growth by promoting the professionalism of EEAA members and unique benefits offered by exhibitions. For more information, go to www.eeaa.com.au.

Contact:
rius@eeaa.com.au

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MCVB’s 2012/2013 Strategic Business Plan Revealed

The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau’s (MCVB) Chief Executive Officer Karen Bolinger officially launched the organisation’s 2012/2013 Strategic Business Plan at IMEX this week.

The plan, which centres around the organisation’s vision of Melbourne becoming globally recognised as the world’s premier city for business events, also aims to have MCVB acknowledged as a thought-leader, an innovator and driver of significant economic impact to the city, state and country.

Ms Bolinger said the multi-layered strategic plan had been developed in consultation with clients, stakeholders and staff at all levels of the organisation, which has resulted in a comprehensive, cohesive document that clearly sets the direction for the future.

“We have reassessed who we are as an organisation and what we want to achieve, and in-line with this we have worked hard to establish what we are doing well and what we want to do better,” she said.

“Over the last few years the landscape of business events across the globe has changed significantly, with many cities, governments and countries recognising the value of business events beyond delegate numbers and economic impact.

“As the economic and competitive landscape changes, the strategic direction of MCVB needs to move with it and this new plan has been developed to identify how we can remain competitive on a global stage.

“The six strategic projects provide us with a platform on which to build a focussed organisation with a set direction. We’ve got rid of the clutter and in some instances redirected our resources in order to streamline our activities to deliver us better conversion across the board and ensure our clients, stakeholders and staff are all engaged.”

Ms Bolinger added that the MCVB team was looking forward to achieving the goals they had set for themselves.

“Provided these strategic projects are effectively executed, there’s no doubt MCVB and Melbourne will be positioned extremely well for the future,” she said.

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

Melbourne to host World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in 2014

In an important endorsement of Victoria as a leader in social welfare reform, Melbourne has won the right to host 2000 delegates from around the world at the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development in 2014.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher announced the win for Melbourne today.
“This conference will not only deliver valuable tourism dollars to the state, it will also provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the extensive work undertaken in Victoria in the development of social welfare policy and service delivery,” Ms Asher said.

“This important event for Victoria will attract 2000 delegates and inject an estimated AUD $7.6 million into the state’s economy.”

Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge said the conference would be of great benefit to Victoria, which is highly regarded across Australia and internationally in the area of social policy.
“It will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase the extensive work undertaken in Australia and more particularly, in Victoria, in the development of social policy, education and service delivery,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“It will also ensure Victorian social workers have the opportunity to learn from their counterparts from across the world.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau Karen Bolinger said the Conference would be jointly hosted by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW).

“The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau worked with Professor James Angus, the Dean of The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences to secure the Conference for Melbourne in 2014,” Ms Bolinger said.

“Professor Angus is an Ambassador for Club Melbourne, a program of 134 local leaders in academia, science and business who assist in securing business events for Melbourne, and this bid win demonstrates just how important their role is in this process.”

Professor Angus said the conference in Melbourne would facilitate an in-depth investigation of critical world issues.

“These include social protection, the social impact of natural disasters and economic crises, and all the really important health and social concerns that face us as a society,” Professor Angus said.

Peter King, Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre where the event will be hosted, said, “We look forward to welcoming professionals in the important fields of social work and social development to our facility for this four-day conference.”

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

CLUBS + HOTELS AUSTRALIA 2012 is Fast Approaching

Now managed by one of Australia's leading exhibition and conference organisers, Australian Exhibitions & Conferences, between 19 & 20 June Clubs & Hotels Australia will open its doors to the hospitality and gaming industry.

Over 2 days, visitors will have the unique opportunity to find out all they need to know to satisfy their interests in clubs and hotels from amusement systems to ATM equipment, decor and furnishings to venue design and decoration, plus much more.

With an exhibitor list that continues to grow, the Expo will offer an extensive range of the latest in technology, services and products for anyone involved in hospitality and gaming.

An industry specific series of seminars and workshops have been scheduled that are short, sharp and business focused, aimed at keeping visitors up to date with the industry. Clubs + Hotels Australia is also very excited to announce that Aristocrat has just signed on as lead exhibitor of the event.

Showcasing their 2012 games portfolio including, A Legends Returns, bringing back some classic games with a modern twist, as well as participating in the gaming venue seminar program, the "2012 expo comes at an ideal time for the gaming industry, with the new gaming operational regime coming on line in Victoria in August 2012." says Aristocrat Victorian Sales Manager, Matt McCarroll.

Closely timed with Clubs + Hotels Australia, this highly competitive regulation change and regime will mean that interest in gaming machines and systems, operational management and monitoring systems, venue design and fit out, will all be at its height.

Other exciting exhibitors on show include dedicated training provider for the food, tourism and hospitality industries, William Angliss Institute, along with licensed manufacturer of electronic gaming machines, Complete Gaming Solutions, and returning exhibitor, JBN Sound Ceiling.

Register to visit now and secure your chance to see the industry's biggest players on show at Clubs and Hotels Australia 2012. To read more about the exciting features, seminar program, newly signed exhibitors or to register online, visit www.clubsandhotels.com.au today.

(Source: Accommnews.com.au)

Conference Gets Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for 2012 & 2013

The national tourism industry annual conference, Tourism & Events Excellence, has secured the Melbourne Cricket Ground as the venue for 2012 and 2013.

Tourism industry leaders are reminded to save 16 and 17 July for this year's event.

Staged for the first time in Melbourne in 2011, the TEE conference was a critical forum for the tourism and events industry, featuring an impressive line-up of speakers who presented ways of overcoming challenges despite the tough times. Securing the venue for the next two events is testimony to the success of the TEE national conference.

"The industry continues to confront serious challenges, with the global economic uncertainty, Aussies choosing to holiday overseas and labour shortages. The conference last year put the industry's issues on the political agenda and also generated creative ideas that were very energising for the delegates," says Tony Charters, co-convenor of the event.

"Tourism and events will continue to feel the intense pressure they have had to weather in recent years, making this conference a critical focal point for the year.

"As a leading tourism destination in Australia, Melbourne is the obvious place to base this conference. The MCG and its hospitality partner Epicure is a fine example of everything Melbourne is doing well," says Mr Charters.

"Epicure at the MCG is delighted to be part of the team hosting this prestigious event and we look forward to building on the success of last year," says James Gilham.

(Source: Accommnews.com.au)

World’s Leading Magnetic Resonance Specialists to Convene in Melbourne

More than 5000 clinicians and scientists from over 50 countries around the world specialising in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will convene in Melbourne for the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine’s (ISMRM) 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from Saturday.

The ISMRM is a world‐wide multidisciplinary society dedicated to the development and application of all aspects of magnetic resonance to medicine and related fields.

The 2012 Annual Meeting will build on the established position as the premier event in its field, providing challenging state‐of‐the‐art programs for both clinical and basic scientists.

“The 2012 ISMRM meeting in Melbourne will see highlights of the most important interactions between physicists, engineers, and physicians that have translated scientific discoveries to patient care,” said Roberta A. Kravitz, ISMRM Executive Director.

This year, under the Program Direction of James G. Pipe, Ph.D., of Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, the ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition will offer a diversified seven-day educational and scientific program. 

A key highlight of the program will be a lecture presented by Dr. Paul Bottomley who was the first physician to perform a localised Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) in a human heart and brain and has authored over 170 peer-reviewed papers.

Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), which won the Meeting for Melbourne, said she, along with her colleagues at the MCEC, were looking forward to welcoming delegates to the city.

“Melbourne has so much to offer delegates visiting for a business event and we certainly hope those attending the ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition will take full advantage of their spare time to explore the city’s intricate laneways and dining hotspots.

“Holding an event of this calibre in Melbourne reaffirms the city’s reputation as a centre of excellence for research and development in the medical, science, business and financial industries.”

New Business Events to Attract Around 7000 Delegates to Victoria

Melbourne has won a further eight major congresses, one national and seven international business events, that are set to attract around 7000 delegates to Victoria over the next five years.

The congresses are:

• International Conference on Care and Housing for the Ageing (IAHSA) 2013
• IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics (ICPE) – ECCE ASIA 2013
• Inaugural Broadband World Congress 2013
• The MHS 2013 (The Mental Health Services Conference)
• International Symposium on Information Theory and its Applications – ISITA 2014
• International Congress on Noise Control Engineering (INTERNOISE) 201
• Congress of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Coloproctology 2015
• AFMC International Medicinal Chemistry Symposium (AIMECS) 2017.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said the wins followed the recent announcement that Melbourne will host the prestigious International AIDS Conference in 2014, the largest medical conference ever to be held in Australia.

"I congratulate the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau for securing these business events for Victoria and for all their hard work throughout 2011," Ms Asher said.

(Source: Tourism Victoria Industry News #93)

Exhibitor Presence Increases for AIME 2012

The Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) is experiencing an increased demand for exhibitor space giving further credence to reports that the meetings and incentives industry in Australia and the surrounding region is going from strength to strength.

AIME, owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) and organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on 21-22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), and based on early feedback from registered exhibitors, organisers expect exhibitor presence to be strong.

Sally de Swart, RTE Director for AIME, says she is impressed but not surprised with the interest from new exhibitors for 2012, as well as the desire for past exhibitors to expand their presence at the show.

"This year we are seeing destinations increasing their numbers of trade partners at the show and therefore needing to increase the size of their stands. Also organisations which have previously shared a stand are branching out and committing to their own stand in order to have more exposure at AIME," Ms de Swart said.

"It's fantastic to see that early interest in AIME is very promising and that the strong interest in the Asia-Pacific region as a MICE destination gives the industry a positive outlook moving forward."

In June this year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported a three per cent year-on-year increase in convention and conference arrivals to Australia. The UFI, Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, also reported a 10 per cent profit increase for Asia-Pacific companies in the exhibition industry in 2010*. Both reports confirm the region's growth in popularity as a meeting and incentives destination.

Australia is also proving to be a strong market for outbound conferences, which has led to AIME exhibitors like Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to significantly increase their presence at the show.

Jane Scribner, Manager of Consumer Marketing & Business Tourism at HKTB in Sydney confirmed that Hong Kong has almost doubled their stand size at AIME for 2012 in addition to increasing the number of trade partners from 24 in 2011 to 35.

"Australia is one of the primary source markets for the meetings and events industry in Hong Kong and we have enjoyed strong growth from this segment in recent years," Ms Scribner said.

"AIME 2012 will represent a milestone for HKTB as we mount the largest presence for any trade show in recent times where we are joined by 35 Hong Kong trade for what we hope will be another very successful show and start to the new year."

Marriott International, a leading worldwide hospitality company, has previously been represented at AIME through individual hotels and on destination stands, however in 2012 they are expanding their presence by holding a dedicated Marriott International stand for the first time.

Avril Northridge, South Asia's Regional Director at Marriott International, said they are delighted to be taking a major stand at AIME 2012.

"This expanded presence at AIME is part of Marriott's group strategy and will assist in building awareness and increasing business for the many new, or recently refurbished, hotels and resorts in the Asia-Pacific region and across the globe," Ms Northridge said.

"Marriott also continues to support country and city destination stands at AIME."

New and returning exhibitors will join Hosted Buyers and visitors from around the globe for AIME 2012, taking advantage of the valuable meeting and networking opportunities for the business events industry.

For more information visit www.aime.com.au

*UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, compiled the data collection from 194 companies in 54 countries. www.ufi.org

Creative Innovation 2011 - Melbourne Conferences

The Creative Innovation 2011 conference will be held 16–18 November at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

Be inspired by over 35 world-class thinkers, speakers and innovators helping you to achieve business success in a super-connected world.

The main theme of Ci2011 is "The challenges and opportunities of a super-connected world" and it will be addressed at the personal, organisational and global level across the major sectors of business, industry, community and government. Sessions will allow delegates the opportunity to expand their scope of creative understanding and learn new strategies whilst also leveraging their innate, but sometimes hidden, creative capabilities.

Among the key speakers will be one of the world's best know lateral thinkers Dr Edward de Bono who has written over 82 books. Raymond Kurzweil – who has been referred to as "The Restless Genius" by the Wall Street Journal – will give a keynote address as part of a Deep Conversation.
For more information about Creative Innovation 2011, visit www.ci2011.com.au.

ICMI Showcase First Speaker Announcement - Melbourne Conferences

Be our Guest in Melbourne for ICMI's 25th Year Anniversary Showcase of Australia's Most Successful Speakers and Entertainers.

This is a FREE event with lots of giveaways and surprises on the day. It's a great opportunity to get to know the ICMI team and see exclusive presentations from ICMI Speakers like Amanda Stevens, Col Cameron, Mike Brady, Ralph Plarre, Matina Jewell and many more.

20th October 2011
Crown Conference Centre Melbourne
Starting at 8:00am (registration from 7:30am)

More Speakers on the lineup will be announced soon.

Register now to reserve your place!