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 Dates Announced for AIME 2013

Organisers of the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), have announced new show dates for AIME 2013, which will now take place on the 26 and 27 February 2013.

Previously announced March 2013 dates have been revised as exhibition space at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) became available in February when the show is usually held.

Sally de Swart, RTE's Director for AIME, said the change of dates has been well received following collaboration with key buyers.

"February best suits the industry diary and allows AIME to remain the first meetings and incentives event on the year's calendar, so we're really happy with the revised dates for the 2013 show," Ms de Swart said.

Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), which owns AIME, said she was pleased that space had opened up at the MCEC.

"Over the last two decades, AIME has traditionally been held in February, so we are delighted that the revised dates will ensure the show is consistent with previous years," Ms Bolinger said.

AIME 2013 will bring together exhibitors, Hosted Buyers and visitors from the meetings and incentives industry from around the world to network and do business over the two-day event.

AIME organisers are now taking bookings for exhibitor space, with 50 per cent of the floor space already committed for 2013.  Exhibitors are urged to secure their space early to ensure they do not miss out by contacting Stephanie Rowen, Sales Manager on +61 2 9422 2470 or via email  stephanie.rowen@reedexhibitions.com.au.

For more information on AIME 2013 visit www.aime.com.au.

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

The 20th anniversary Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) will take place next week and is expected to be bigger than ever, with a huge turnout by exhibitors and strong support from existing and new sponsors, allowing for exciting initiatives both on and off the show floor.

Joined again by big name, major sponsors such as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Crown, Qantas, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Saxton Speakers Bureau, as well as new sponsors including Corporate Traveller, Air New Zealand, ShowGizmo and three new industry associations, AIME has been able to draw on their support to introduce new additions such as the Association Lounge, a new look Education Program and an additional dining area on the show floor.

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) Director for AIME, said she is looking forward to seeing the response to the show’s range of new initiatives.

“The show floor is going to be really buzzing and I am particularly looking forward to our new networking opportunities such as the Exhibitor Networking Drinks on the Tuesday afternoon. This gives exhibitors the chance to run promotions and competitions as well as host casual drinks on their stands and mix with buyers and visitors in a more relaxed atmosphere,” Ms de Swart said.

“We’ve also enhanced the culinary offering at the show this year as the Globe Restaurant and Bar sponsored by South African Tourism, is offering table service and bookings for the first time, which is ideal for lunch meetings."

“We want to offer something for everyone and the formal dining option at Globe will be complemented with the Singapore Tourism Board’s SingaporeXpress, a dining area, which is offering a quick and tasty, hawker-style menu for attendees short on time.”

New sponsor ShowGizmo is offering a free mobile phone app to AIME visitors and exhibitors which provides up-to-date information on everything taking place at the show, by allowing them to plan their time, access AIME’s program, exchange information and collect brochures, make connections, receive real time alerts and news, before, during and after the event, all in the palm of their hand. Attendees will also now be able to charge their mobile phones at the show’s new Chargebar, located in the Relaxation Zone and close to the Globe Restaurant.

New partnerships established with associations have led to the introduction of the Association Lounge, where attendees can meet with members of AIME’s new association partners: The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCO); and International Special Events Society (ISES). The new look Education Program has also been developed in conjunction with these partners, as well as International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) and Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), ensuring the content addresses real issues faced by the industry.

This year AIME has also introduced the new, online travel booking tool that allows AIME attendees to compare preferable flight and accommodation prices for their trip to AIME and book all through the one site thanks to new sponsor Ozzacom Plus.

A “Keeping it Green” campaign has also been introduced in an effort to make AIME a sustainable, low carbon event by encouraging exhibitors to donate their surplus merchandise and gifts, such as bags and pens, to charities. AIME will provide Green Deposit Depots at the show for these donations and then will distribute these on behalf of exhibitors.

AIME, which is owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and run by RTE, will take place on the 21 and 22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

For more information about visiting AIME 2012, visit www.aime.com.au

To attend as a visitor, pre-register for free online by Monday 20 February by 5pm or pay $22 at the door.
Follow AIME on Twitter @AIMEMelbourne #AIME2012

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