The exhibition officially opened on Monday, February 18 with a one day Knowledge Exchange Program of inspiring talks and networking and two days of full meetings between exhibitors and buyers.  Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) owner, the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) impressed delegates at the show this year, with its newly designed exhibition stand that projected the best of Melbourne.

The AIME Knowledge Exchange Program saw over 600 hosted buyers, exhibitors and media attend engaging sessions and workshops at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Topics and discussions included exploring community, the power of technology, the importance of face-to-face meetings and challenging both the meeting norms and our own perceptions of ability in Dialogue in the Dark.

Following the day of Knowledge, delegates gathered at Atlantic Group’s Peninsula for the AIME welcome event and were treated to something special with a focus on networking. The evening was a true celebration of the Asia-Pacific region with exotic styling theme across different rooms.  To kick off the night, guests were entertained by an awe-inspiring performance of the Wadaiko Japanese drums. Guests were then taken on a sensory culinary journey across the Asia-Pacific culminating with a decadent floating dessert station.

Throughout the show, the floor had a continued buzz as buyers moved from stand to stand fulfilling their matched meetings with well over 5,000 formal meetings. Horses walked into the Northern Territory breakfast meeting and; as part of the Arts Centre ‘Melbourne Play Me, I’m Yours’ series, a piano is placed in the most unexpected places at the Melbourne stand, for passers-by to play the piano – a fun invitation for delegates to participate and share Melbourne’s music and visual arts.

Meanwhile, the new Melbourne stand showcased the city’s vibrant culture and uncover Victoria’s major icons, attractions and events, through a series of interactive activation zones dedicated to the arts, major events and food and beverage emphasising on Team Melbourne’s philosophy of delivering business events.

An interesting highlight at this year’s AIME is its partnership with Australia’s most-trusted charity, Guide Dogs Victoria through a sensory experience workshop of the show’s Knowledge Program.  Sponsored by the Melbourne Convention Bureau, this innovation marks the world’s first industry sensory experience.

AIME 2019 was held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from February 18 to 20.