In the annual report released by Melbourne Convention Bureau, it stated that 40 business events worth AUD150 million have been secured – adding to its strong pipeline of future events for the bureau. This pipeline now boasts 118 business events for 2022 to 2028 that will attract 133,495 delegates, filling 387,372 hotel room nights across the city, and set to inject AUD804 million into Victoria’s visitor economy.

This will result in over 65,800 room nights secured, enough to fill the city  three times over. Melbourne Convention Bureau has reordered that from 2020 to 2021, more than 1,800 jobs were created from business events.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting, Melbourne Convention Bureau chief executive Ms. Julia Swanson reflected on the challenges created by the pandemic, and how the bureau’s purpose has never been more relevant than over the past year.

“Driving economic and social progress for Victoria by securing and delivering world class business events has provided, MCB with a strong sense of direction in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, we have delivered a sound result, strengthening Melbourne’s position as a global leader in business events and reinforcing Victoria’s reputation as Australia’s event capital.”

Ms. Swanson added: “Our strategy has been the right one to guide the organisation in laying the foundation for a bright future for business events in our state, from enhancing our profile and business opportunities across both international and domestic markets, engaging stakeholders, and an ambition to provide a leading digital experience for professional event organisers and event planners globally.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau has also successfully launched a national business events program, the first of its kind for Victoria – designed to aid the immediate restart of the business events sector.

The funding program provided business event organisers with a significant cash injection to support costs for the hosting of their events in Melbourne. The events approved are at the close of the financial year, and are to be held in 2022, they are expected to deliver AUD102 million in economic contribution to the state.