The 2014 Asia Pacific Meetings & Conference Expo (AIME) pre tour program has motivated over half of its participants to bring business to Melbourne and regional Victoria in the future, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) Chief Executive Officer, Karen Bolinger, announced today.
According to MCB’s survey of AIME pre tour participants, close to 100% were satisfied with their visit to Victoria in February and 48% said the pre tour program had positively changed their perception of the state as a meetings and conference destination.
The AIME pre tour program saw 227 Hosted Buyers and media from 23 countries visit central Melbourne and 14 regions across Victoria to experience the diverse range of venues, hotels, activities and other services available for business events.
Ms Bolinger said that participants chose from a record 19 pre tour options, an increase of five from 2013.
“New tours included the ‘Hidden Secrets of the Dandenong Ranges’, with visits to hill top venues and a ride on Puffing Billy, and the ‘Horses, Wine & Beer Tour’, offering the opportunity for attendees to visit retired champion racehorses and unique venues such as Gisborne Peak Estate,” Ms Bolinger said.
“Each year we work closely with our partners in Melbourne and regional Victoria to devise a pre-touring program that we believe will not only be enjoyable for our delegates, but will also encourage them to choose our state for their next business event.
“The results of the survey prove that the program is very effective in generating business for Victoria and a crucial component of AIME.”
Of the survey respondents, half were from Australia, almost 40% were from the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and the remainder from Europe and the Americas.
“High levels of satisfaction were also recorded for the various regions’ accommodation, meals, activities, transfers and hosts, which is a testament to Victoria’s ability to cater to the business events market.
“This is great news for the city and state and reinforces why Melbourne is Australasia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination,” Ms Bolinger concluded.
AIME is the premier exhibition in the Asia-Pacific for those who organise meetings, conventions, incentive travel reward programs and exhibitions. In 2014, more than 700 exhibitors conducted business with over 3000 business events decision makers from 41 countries.
