The 30th edition of the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings
Event (AIME) saw more than 13,000 meetings take place between events industry
professionals during the three-day event at Melbourne Convention & Exhibition
Centre.
The business events exhibition welcomed 2,000
visitors, including 400 international buyers and more than 350 exhibitors who conducted at least 13,000 meetings between them.
The AIME programme kicked off on Monday 13th
February with a knowledge programme featuring futurists, event design experts, professional athletes and wellbeing advocates each taking to the stage to
deliver workshops and education sessions.
The tradeshow floor opened to buyers and suppliers on Tuesday
14and Wednesday 15 February. Delegates were keen to reconnect after what has been a turbulent few years for the industry. The Covid-19 pandemic forced AIME to cancel its 2021.
AIME returned in 2022 as one of the first major meeting industry
tradeshows to bounce back. However, this year’s show proved to be much bigger,
bringing with it a powerful show of resilience.
The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), owners of the event, and Talk2Media, the event planners since 2019, showcased what Melbourne has to
offer by bringing the city into the exhibition halls. Delegates were treated to First
Peoples’ culinary-themed activations including cooking demonstrations with a
focus on native Australian ingredients.
AIME also encouraged exhibitors to showcase Australia's rich history and Northern Territory stepped up to the mark with a fashion show event showcasing the work of First Nation clothing designers.
The association community was also warmly welcomed at AIME
with local industry associations including Meetings & Events Australia
(MEA), the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB), and several
international associations including IAPCO, ICCA, PCMA and SITE taking part and
delivering education sessions.
AIME 2024 will return to Melbourne next year and it has
already promised to bigger that this year’s edition.
