Major investment in business events industry to be revealed at AIME

MELBOURNE – Hundreds of millions of dollars of investment into the business events industry will be revealed during Asia Pacific’s leading event for the meetings and incentives industry in February.

AIME 2008 will see 850 exhibitors showcase their products and services to the industry, with many announcing significant investments in the industry.

At the event’s home city of Melbourne, construction is already well underway into a new convention centre which is part of an AU$1.4 billion (US$1.2 billion) development which includes a Hilton hotel, and lifestyle retail precinct. The new centre, which opens for business in 2009, will be Australia’s largest combined exhibition and convention facility.

Tourism Vancouver is investing CA$615 million (US$14.5 million) into expanded waterfront facilities of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, due to open in 2009.

In Singapore, a S$6 billion (US$4.1 million) integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, will be home to a plethora of attractions such as Southeast Asia’s first theme park, the world’s largest oceanarium – Marine Life Park, six uniquely themed hotels, live entertainment, spa, meetings and incentive venues and other tourism magnets.

In July 2009, China’s biggest and newest international conference venue opens. Located in the heart of Beijing Olympic Green, the biggest pillar-free convention hall can accommodate up to 6,000 delegates. The facility is also environmentally friendly, conserving power and collecting rainfall.

In the city of Mackay in Queensland, Australia, construction will shortly begin on a new convention centre. Built adjacent to the existing Mackay Entertainment Centre, it will include a 1450 square metre plenary hall which can be divided into two separate halls.

India will also be exhibiting at AIME, and able to reveal details of its Government’s announcement of four new world-class mega convention centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur and Goa.

Significant hotel developments include Crown Melbourne Limited. It has sought planning and building approvals to construct the biggest hotel in Australia at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne.



Other hotel developments include Emirates investment of more than US$100 million to build a luxury, conservation-based resort in Australia’s Blue Mountains, its first hospitality development outside Dubai.

Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, has just launched a new hotel brand Andaz. The first in the series to launch was Andaz Liverpool Street in London, which opened just weeks ago.

In January Anantara Resort Maldives will join operations with neighbouring Bodu Huraa Resort, which will undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade of the 50 over-water villas.

Back in Australia, four times Queensland Club of the Year, Caloundra RSL, is investing AU$23 million (US$19.8 million) to upgrade existing facilities and construct a multi-purpose function centre.

The Sunshine Coast Function Centre opens in June 2008 and is the largest custom-built facility of its kind in the region.

AIME 2008, 16th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo is at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia, February 19-20. AIME is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions on behalf of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau.