Biggest AIME in a decade opens in Melbourne

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) opened in Melbourne, 19 February, for what organisers say is the biggest show in a decade. Taking place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), AIME is hosting more than 600 buyers from around the world, welcoming 3,500 visitors and 570 exhibitors from various business events sectors over the three days, 19-21 February, 2024. AIME is the leading trade event for the meetings and events industry in the Asia Pacific region, and in 2024 AIME oganisers expect to welcome 63% more exhibitors than in 2023. More than A$200m (US$130.8m) in business is expected to be generated at AIME 2024. The event is owned by Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and managed by Talk2 Media & Events. The 2024 show will be the third show delivered by AIME event director Silke Calder and her team. A total of 33 countries are represented at AIME and more than 16,000 meetings have been scheduled between vetted buyers and exhibitors. For the first time at AIME, in 2024 there will be a dedicated zone for the world’s boutique experience makers. The Boutique will showcase more than 20 operators offering bespoke and highly customisable experiences. Another new zone for 2024, the DMC Network, will bring together Destination Management Companies from all over the world. An official press conference officially opened the AIME 2024 show and featured The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, minister for tourism, sport and major Events; Matt Pearce, CEO Talk2Media and Events; and Julia Swanson, CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau. Pearce announced that AIME had joined the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative, a global collaboration led by the Joint Meetings Industry Council – where more than 600 organisations and events have established measurable outcomes for the events industry to minimise its impact on climate change. Pearce added: “We have more exhibitors on the show floor than AIME has in over a decade, and this is testimony to the success of AIME in the recent past. “The secret sauce of AIME is undoubtedly the sheer amount of work that goes into matching exhibitors with visitors, or Sellers with the right Buyers. “The recruitment, vetting and management of our hosted buyers is second to none.” MCB announced the launch of its First Peoples Engagement Guide, tailored specifically to the business events industry. The resource is aimed at assisting event planners in creating culturally enriched business events and fostering positive social impact. A thousand people are registered to attend the show’s Knowledge Programme sessions held at The Plenary at MCEC during the show. The programme is themed ‘The 4Ps of Glocalisation’, with two keynote speakers: award-winning marketing executive Lisa Ronson (supported by Saxton Speakers Bureau) and bestselling author, TV host and founder of the 100 Things movement Sebastian Terry (supported by ICMI). The programme draws inspiration from the AIME global community’s wish of harmonising the symbiotic relationship between global insights with local nuances. Concluding AIME’s first day, 1,700 people attended the Welcome Event held at Grazeland in Melbourne’s inner west. Photo: L-R MCEC chief executive Natalie O’Brien, Matt Pearce, Julia Swanson, The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Silke Calder AIME 2024