Jewellers Optimistic as 2012 Fairs Approach

Anticipation is growing for the jewellery industry as the 2012 trade fair season approaches.

The ‘jewellery trade fair season’ begins next month with Victoria hosting the Melbourne Jewellery Fair March 4-5 at the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton Gardens, while the Brisbane Jewellery Fair takes place March 25-26 at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre in Southbank.

For the second consecutive year Australia will stage three jewellery fairs, with Sydney hosting the main event in September.

Director for wholesaler Ellani Collections, Paul Hicks, told Jeweller last year’s Melbourne fair was well supported and set in a positive atmosphere.

“I expect Melbourne to be even better for me this year,” Hicks said. “After a great Sydney fair and Christmas I’ve acquired a lot of new accounts and Melbourne has left me constantly busy.”

Hicks stressed the importance of having a third fair, saying it’s a great opportunity for retailers around the country to build relationships with suppliers and vice-versa.

“Australia and New Zealand is so spread out that it’s almost impossible to see everyone so the Melbourne and Brisbane fairs are great for everyone to come together,” Hicks added. “Retailing can be a tough gig at the moment so for them to see the wholesalers and form a view of where their business should head is beneficial.”

Duraflex Group director, Phil Edwards, said Thomas Sabo and Spinning Jewelry are launching new ranges at the Melbourne and Brisbane fairs.

“We’re using both fairs to launch two different products and hope to attain good feedback and high attendance rates,” Edwards told Jeweller. “We will have representatives from Thomas Sabo visiting Melbourne and overseas reps will be coming to Brisbane as well.”

Edwards intends to use both fairs as a solid testing ground for future years, with the supplier paying close attention to attendance and retailers’ feedback.

Royal Exhibition Centre in Melbourne's Carlton Gardens

“It’s unusual having two fairs so close together but this year’s fairs will be a testing ground for our new range of products,” Edwards said. “It will be a good chance to monitor retailers’ feedback and keep track of attendance levels.”

Registration

Fair organiser, Expertise Events advises that visitors to the 2011 fairs will have received a new Buyer Identification card making registration simple. Visitors with a blue photo card need only to mark the dates and present the card upon entry to the Melbourne and/or Brisbane fairs for immediate access.

Visitors still holding a past gold buyer card will be required to update their registration and new visitors or those updating their record can download a registration form from the Jewellery Fair website.

Expertise Events managing director, Gary Fitz-Roy said, “With three fairs along Australia’s east coast, the JAA Jewellery Fairs are an ideal chance for jewellery retailers to top-up their stocks and get in-tune with the latest trends after Christmas.”

Both the Melbourne and Brisbane trade fairs will each present over 90 exhibitors offering finished jewellery, retail services, watches and jeweller’s supplies.

Jewellers Optimistic as 2012 Fairs Approach

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)

AIME Still Going Strong in its 20th Year - AIME 2012

The Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) may be celebrating its 20th year in 2012, but this premier industry event is proving as dynamic as ever, with new initiatives and a range of new sponsors coming on board; AIME is still the event for the business events industry.

A sponsor in previous years, Saxton Speakers Bureau, which is returning to AIME for a third consecutive year to run the impressive Saxton Ultimate Event Experience, has now become a major sponsor of the show.

AIME also welcomes new sponsors: Corporate Traveller; Air New Zealand; The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCO); and International Special Events Society (ISES).

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibition's (RTE) Director for AIME, says that the new sponsors are a sure sign that the 20th anniversary show will be as successful as ever.

"We are delighted to have so many new sponsors and association partners on board and we know these partners will help keep AIME fresh and exciting," she said.

The addition of new association sponsors will also add a boost to AIME's Education Program.

"We are asking our existing and new association partners to contribute to our refreshed Education Program which will assist us in delivering relevant and interesting content that addresses the current challenges and issues facing the meetings and incentives industry," said Ms de Swart.

AIME 2012 is also shaking things up on the show floor with a new Association Lounge for association members to use for meetings, as well as an additional Globe restaurant, sponsored by Singapore Tourism, SingaporeXpress, which will offer quick and delicious Singaporean-style meals. In addition, the Globe Restaurant and Bar, sponsored by South African Tourism, will offer a variety of options to entertain clients.

Other new initiatives include two new Pre Touring options that give Hosted Buyers the chance to experience Melbourne and regional Victoria first hand.

The new Hume City Council full-day tour gives Hosted Buyers the opportunity to sample wines and experience the beauty of the region, while the new, half-day Melbourne Coffee Tour introduces buyers to cosmopolitan Melbourne.

AIME's exceptional networking opportunities are always a huge draw card for many attendees and Ms de Swart reveals that the social side of AIME will be bigger than ever in 2012.

"It's AIME's 20th birthday, so of course this year's networking functions will be second to none. From our Welcome Reception to a new, Tuesday night event - we want everyone who attends to meet fantastic people and have a memorable time," Ms de Swart said.

The 20th anniversary of AIME, owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) and organised by RTE, will be held on 21-22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) in Melbourne, Australia.

If you’re attending AIME and need to book accommodation then try Metro Apartments on Bank Place, Melbourne.

Located in the heart of Melbourne CBD and only a short taxi ride to the AIME venue, Metro Apartments on Bank Place provides exhibition exhibitors and delegates with a comfortable, affordable apartment accommodation with friendly service.

For further information or to make a booking log on to www.metroapartmentsmelbourne.com

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

Conferences Perth: The Secrets of Event-Based Marketing

Social media might be the hottest new marketing tool on the block right now, but there has also been a simultaneous swing towards event-based marketing.

This approach is becoming increasingly popular as business owners seek out increasingly rare opportunities to get some face time with their customers.

But how you run the event can make or break any future dealings with those in the room, so tread very carefully.

How does event-based marketing work?

Inviting potential customers along to learn about your business can be a tough ask, but those involved in event-based marketing business say it can work wonders for a business.

Adam Benson, director of event-based marketing experts Recognition PR describes it as one of the best sales programs around. "What other marketing activities give you an opportunity to bring prospects into your world for an hour or two (or longer) and be completely engaged with you at the exclusion of all else?" Benson says.

The Secrets of Event-Based Marketing

Business tourism remains strong: BECA

Despite the economic downturn the international business events sector indicated strong growth from its 2009 fall.

According to the Business Events Council of Australia, (BECA) industry report, total expenditure for international and domestic overnight and day business event attendees grew seven percent to 8.5 billion in 2010 compared to 2009.

Overnight business event attendees increased by five percent in 2010, compared to domestic day business events attendees which fell by one percent in 2009.

The report was compiled to assist Tourism Australia seek its goal to ensure Australia’s tourism industry doubles its contribution to the Australian economy by 2020.

Australia’s (ICCA) ranking as a destination for hosting international associations meetings jumped from 16th to 11th and within the Asia Pacific region, Australia was ranked third by ICCA and fourth by UIA.

Despite New Zealand significantly contributing to Australia’s international conference and convention attendees, arrival numbers from New Zealand fell during 2010.

In relation to the incentive market the total yield was down by 19 percent with expenditure per visitor down for both international and domestic markets.

BECA has joined forces with Business Events Australia to monitor and ensure the contribution of business events sector to the economy increases from the present delegate visitor expenditure of AUD8.4billion to AUD16billion by 2020.

BECA recognises the tourism value of business events and has produced a discussion paper on the issue attempting to quantify the ‘beyond tourism’ benefits by the Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau and Business Events Sydney.

(Source: etbmice.com)

Sydney Conferences: Australia is the Ultimate Incentive: Business Events Australia

With some 90-plus per cent of surveyed Americans saying they have always wanted to go to Australia, Business Events Australia is confident that Australia is in good stead to incentivize employees.

e-Travel Blackboard was on location at last week’s IMEX America in Las Vegas, where regional general manager Daryl Hudson shared findings of a recent study revealing that Australia is the number one desired incentive destination for Corporate End Users, after cash incentives.

The survey also saw American event organizers list Australia as a once in a lifetime experience for many delegates.

“We are thus in a good position to play an important role in incentivizing employees to achieve and to win that Australian trip,” Mr Hudson said.

Australia is the Ultimate Incentive: Business Events Australia