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In defiance of the current economic climate AIME 2009,
held in Melbourne this week, was a record breaker with both visitor and
exhibitor numbers up on last year.
Exhibitor numbers rose to 868, a 5.5% increase
on AIME 2008. Unaudited total attendance figures were up by 9.6%
on last year, with a record 3,584 trade visitors, including 467
Hosted Buyers, visiting the two-day event.
The unaudited figures released by Reed
Travel Exhibition (RTE) and Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau
(MCVB) do not include revisits to the show, or exhibitors. Final
figures are expected to be released next month once the event is audited by
the Circulations Audit Bureau.
Paul Kennedy MBE, Group Exhibition
Director, Meetings & Incentive Events, RTE, “When you
consider the current economic situation and the
devastating local bushfires these results are really
incredible and reflect the resilience of the meetings
and incentive industry.”
Exhibiting companies represented 50 countries with 43% of
exhibitors from Australia, 9% from New Zealand/Pacific, 32% from
Asia and 16% international.
Hosted Buyers
represented 25 countries, with more than 340 from Australasia, 70
from Asia and around 40 from other international destinations.
MCVB, whose combined Melbourne and
regional Victoria stand covered the largest space in the event,
initiated a special bushfire appeal. With significant
contributions from RTE and MCVB the total raised during the
two-day event was over A$15,000.
“AIME was an
excellent event for Melbourne and Victoria, allowing us to present
our meetings and incentive credentials to international hosted
buyers and visitors,” said Sandra Chipchase, CEO, MCVB. “The industry’s support for the Victorian bushfires was
wonderful, with many offers of additional support.”
AIME 2010 will be held from 27 – 28 April at the
Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
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