MELBOURNE – AIME 09, the 17th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, was a record breaker with both visitor and exhibitor numbers up on last year.
Exhibitor numbers rose to 868, a 5.5 percent increase on AIME 08. Unaudited total attendance figures were up almost 10 percent on last year, with a record 3,584 trade visitors, including 467 Hosted Buyers, visiting the two-day event.
The unaudited figures released today by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) and Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) do not include revisits to the show, or exhibitors.
Final figures will be released next month once the event is audited by the Circulations Audit Bureau.
“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,†said Paul Kennedy, group exhibition director, meetings & incentive events, RTE.
Exhibiting companies represented 50 countries with 43 percent of exhibitors from Australia, nine percent from New Zealand/Pacific, 32 percent from Asia and 16 percent 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 AU$15,000.
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 April 27-28 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
