AIME 2008 achieves record attendance

MELBOURNE – Recently released statistics show that the Asia-Pacific International Meetings & Incentives Expo (AIME 2008) held in Melbourne last week, achieved record attendance.

Hosted buyer numbers grew significantly to a record 496, up from 370 last year – a 33.8 percent increase on the previous year. Final unaudited figures at the end of AIME 2008 were 3,268 – almost 24 percent higher than for AIME 2007.

Some 243 new exhibitors and a total of 850 exhibitors from more than 40 countries attended this year.

Moreton Hire national sales manager, Michael Bess, said despite seven years of attending AIME he continues to be impressed. "The quality and volume of hosted buyers and trade visitors is outstanding and far superior to any previous year."

Charles Drewe of Charles Drewe and Associates from South Africa says of the eight international shows he attends AIME's appointment system is by far the best. "The system is efficient and results in you not only getting a lot of appointments, but getting in front of the people you want to meet."

AIME is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions and owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau. AIME 2009 will be held on February 17-18.