14 March 2011: Reed Travel Exhibitions and the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) took out the coveted ‘Exhibition of the Year’ award at the Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) Victorian Awards held at The Sebel Albert Park on Thursday 10 March.
The accolade was awarded for the 2010 Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), an annual event drawing more than 5,000 people to Melbourne.
The exhibition was assessed across a wide-range of criteria, including business and financial plans, marketing activities, sustainability and innovation before being awarded as the best of 2010.
AIME event director Sally de Swart said the award is recognition of the success AIME has had in continually innovating its programme and providing business opportunities for its attendees.
“AIME continues to be the region’s leading business events gathering and its success is a reflection of the hard work that goes into ensuring new attractions and top quality buyers are a cornerstone of the event,” said Ms de Swart.
“We thoroughly research the needs of our exhibitors and buyers and the feedback is that AIME provides the best marketplace to meet and do business across the two days of meetings, satellite events and networking opportunities.
“As we approach AIME’s 20th year next year we are thrilled that AIME is recognised for its contribution to the industry and we will continue to innovate to ensure we remain the region’s premier meeting and incentives event.”
Ms Sandra Chipchase, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the MCVB which founded and owns the event, said the event is a great example of MCVB’s work to promote Melbourne as an exceptional place to do business.
“I am delighted that AIME’s contribution to the Business Events industry continues to be recognised,” Ms Chipchase said.
“We continue to set the bar high in terms of marketing Melbourne as one of the world’s premier cities for hosting conferences and conventions, as well as exhibitions such as AIME, which we established almost two decades ago.
“Events such as this deliver significant economic and employment benefits directly to our tourism and business events industry, as well as to the broader state economy.
“Hosting such a successful event couldn’t be possible without the strong support from a range of partners, including the State Government of Victoria, the City of Melbourne, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and Qantas.”
The Meetings & Events Australia national winners will be announced and presented at the 2011 MEA National Awards Night, being held on 24 April 2011 in Brisbane.
AIME 2012 will be held from 21 – 22 February at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
For more information about AIME, visit www.aime.com.au
