Melbourne takes top title at INCON awards

AUSTRALASIA – A state-of-the-art convention centre has scooped a top gong. The 2015 INCON Digital Infrastructure Award took place at Imex in Frankfurt this week. Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) took the top honours as overall winner. Presenting the awards, Roslyn McLeod, INCON Co Chair said: “We are delighted that Melbourne has won this year’s award they were by far our strongest entry. We hope that other venues will follow suit and lift the quality of digital infrastructure across the whole industry.” MCEC’s Director of Technology Operations Michael Walsh said the INCON award acknowledged the venue’s leading digital capabilities and ongoing investment to continually evolve its offering. He said: “Providing the right digital infrastructure is the beginning of our tailored approach to technology; it also comes down to our team of tech experts who bring our customers’ events to life and enhance the overall delegate experience,” Walsh said. “Last year MCEC and our public private partner Plenary Conventions invested in excess of AUS$2 million (US$1,570,000) to upgrade our entire IP network and cabling infrastructure. This has allowed us to increase the capacity and speed of MCEC’s network tenfold, enabling us to handle larger internet connections for events such as the International AIDS Conference 2014 and Penny Arcade Expo. Our team also implemented a new wireless internet portal which included a new, simplified login page for customers featuring event branding and sponsor logos. “We know that no two events are the same, which is why MCEC’s IMAGINE encompasses our technology offerings under the one brand and provides access to the infrastructure and expertise to connect people with memorable experiences.”