Melbourne To Host Dreamtime 2013

Melbourne is to host Tourism Australia's largest trade marketing event in December, Dreamtime 2013, helping to further grow the $12 billion plus business events sector.                                                                                           Announced today by the Minister for Tourism, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, during the opening of the inaugural Business Events week in Melbourne, Dreamtime 2013 will bring together 125 international business events decision makers (buyers) with the Australian business events industry to experience the destination's capabilities for doing business.                                                                                                                                          Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said Dreamtime was part of a broader strategy to promote Australia as a business event destination internationally and deliver economic benefits to the sector. "Dreamtime gives the Australian business events industry a platform to do business with well qualified international buyers from key markets such as China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, North America and the United Kingdom," Mr McEvoy said. "The format of the event provides an opportunity for the Australian industry to demonstrate their expertise in delivering bespoke corporate incentive experiences as well as hosting large scale gala events. "With its combination of state-of-the-art infrastructure, monumental architecture, abundance of green spaces, and a sophisticated dining scene, Melbourne has a strong offering for key business events decision makers looking to achieve real results from their corporate incentive programs," Mr McEvoy said.  During Dreamtime 2013 international business events buyers and media will be hosted in Melbourne where they will participate in a city showcase, business sessions with Australian industry and networking dinner events.  Three days of educational visits will follow, giving buyers and media the opportunity to experience one of many Australian destinations first hand. Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Karen Bolinger said hosting Dreamtime 2013 was a tremendous business opportunity for the city. "Being the host city for Dreamtime is a major coup for Melbourne, as it will allow us to showcase the city's corporate and incentive offering to key markets from across the globe," Ms Bolinger said. "Melbourne has always had a collaborative approach to bidding for and securing incentive business. We worked closely with our partners to prepare the Dreamtime program which will enable us to highlight Melbourne's unique attributes as an incentive destination. "Melbourne has an impressive track record in hosting large incentive groups, such as the Amway India Leadership Seminar for 4,000 delegates in December, 2012, which is a testament to the diverse range of activities on offer and the ability for the city to cater for groups of any size "The city boasts a huge menu of amazing experiences, which are tailor-made to each individual or group, making the city a planner's and a delegate's dream destination," Ms Bolinger said. Mr McEvoy said that in an intensely competitive global marketplace, Tourism Australia's business events industry partnership approach to securing international business events was delivering strong results. "Business events is one of the key areas of the Tourism 2020 strategy to enhance growth and competitiveness in the tourism sector, with the aim to increase tourism spending to as much as A$140 billion by the end of the decade," Mr McEvoy said. "Specifically the business events industry is looking to grow to A$16 billion annually in value by 2020 and already we are well on track to achieving this goal. "The industry is making strong progress, with overnight expenditure by business events visitors in Australia increasing to A$12.5 billion in 2011, up from A$10.3 billion in 2010," Mr McEvoy said.

(Source: Travmedia.com)

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)

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

New Luxury Travel Show Unwrapped

A new luxury travel show has been launched in Australia – Luxperience.

The event, a three day business exchange for Australasia and the Pacific, will be based in Melbourne and will take place from September 2-5, 2012 at the Crown Entertainment complex.

Luxperience’s founder is Rosemarie Sama, previously exhibition manager for the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), held annually in Melbourne.

She said, “It's time the travel industry had a year-round community dedicated to the luxury experience, a place where ideas can come to fruition and grow through collaboration.

“We are dedicated to matching high end suppliers with appropriate buyers so the world of the high end experiential travel market can prosper.”

(Source: Travelmole.com, September 2011)

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Melbourne to Host AIME 2012

The 20th anniversary AIME will be held on 21-22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Melbourne, Australia.

With approximately 850 international Exhibitors expected, AIME 2012 will present ample opportunity for buyers to make important business connections as well as receive a range of exclusive benefits available only in AIME's VIP Hosted Buyer Program.

Benefits include flights, accommodation, pre-touring itineraries in Victoria and access to AIME's exclusive Hosted Buyer lounge and networking program. To maximise the two day event Hosted Buyers will also receive personalised Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSAs), which allows them to meet with the Exhibitors they are interested in doing business with.

Sally de Swart, AIME's Event Director, says that AIME's Hosted Buyer Program offers buyers a productive schedule to conduct business over an enjoyable two days.

"Exhibitors and Hosted Buyers come to AIME to make business happen by meeting with existing contacts and making important new ones. Face-to-face meetings are extremely valuable in this industry and AIME presents a perfect forum to meet with a host of contacts in just two days," Ms de Swart said.

"This year's event attracted almost 850 exhibitors, with 200 of these first time exhibitors at AIME, presenting a greater diversity of companies, products and services for buyers to choose from. We ensure that our Hosted Buyers gain value from their attendance and meet with those exhibitors they are really interested in doing business with."

For more information about AIME 20112 visit www.aime.com.au

(Source: Travmedia.com)

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Tourism and Events Excellence Conference - Melbourne

The 2011 Tourism and Events Excellence Conference showcases business excellence within the tourism and events industries.

The Conference will bring together industry experts and leaders, business owners and operators, destination managers and visitor service providers, offering a unique opportunity to share knowledge, learn from each other, form new business relationships and discuss the issues that matter most to your business and our industry.

The Tourism & Events Excellence Conference is set to become a key feature of Asia Pacific business events circuit and a leading centre for thought leadership in our industry. Expect new insights, creative solutions and the unexpected from an outstanding range of professional presentations.

Date: Monday 5-7 September
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
Cost: Registrations start from $595.00