| Daily news, 19 Feb 2008 |
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| By Lee Mylne |
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MELBOURNE – With 243 new exhibitors attending AIME 2008, buyers are assured of a greater diversity of companies, products and services than ever before.
Despite concerns about the flow-on effect of a possible global economic downturn, the ranks of exhibitors have swelled to 850 this year.
Among the new exhibitors are new convention and exhibition centres keen to build their bookings before opening, as well as an increase in interest from the leisure tourism sector.
AIME sales manager, Stephen Ricardo, said many leisure tourism companies which had not previously exhibited at AIME now recognised the value of the lucrative incentive and pre- and post-conferencing market.
China’s biggest and newest international conference venue, in the heart of Beijing Olympic Green, will open in July 2009. The biggest pillar-free convention hall can accommodate up to 6,000 delegates and the facility is also environmentally friendly, conserving power and collecting rainfall.
Tourism Vancouver is investing C$615 million (US$611 million) in expanding the waterfront facilities of the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. Due to open in 2009, the centre will offer an extensive environmental program including recycling, food and beverage management, and energy conservation.
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