The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has launched its 2024 edition that will be the biggest AIME in a decade. Taking place from February 19-21 at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), AIME will host more than 600 buyers from around the world.

The event will see the participation of 3,500 visitors and 570 exhibitors from various business events sectors.

AIME is one of the leading trade events for the meetings and events industry in the Asia Pacific region, and in 2024, it will welcome 63% more exhibitors than in 2023, cementing its position as the premier event for the international business events community in the region.

More than $200 million in business is expected to be generated at AIME 2024.

The event is owned by Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and managed by Talk2 Media & Events, which has managed the show for the past six years. This will be the third show delivered by AIME Event Director Silke Calder and her team.

With 33 countries represented at AIME and more than 16,000 meetings pre-scheduled between vetted buyers and exhibitors, the expanded show floor will be the place where the world meets in Asia Pacific to do business, organisers said.

For the first time at AIME, the 2024 edition will feature a dedicated zone for the world’s boutique experience makers. The boutique will showcase more than 20 operators offering bespoke and customisable experiences.

Another new zone for 2024, the DMC Network, will bring together destination management companies from across the world.

Steve Dimopoulos, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said AIME is the first of the ‘big four’ trade shows on the international business events 2024 calendar and the foremost business event trade show in the Asia-Pacific region.

Talk2Media and Events CEO Matt Pearce said that AIME had joined the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative, a global collaboration led by the Joint Meetings Industry Council – where more than 600 organisations and events have established measurable outcomes for the events industry to minimise its impact on climate change.

MCB announced the launch of its First Peoples Engagement Guide, tailored specifically to the business events industry. The resource, it said, is aimed at assisting event planners in creating culturally enriched business events and fostering positive social impact.

AIME’s Knowledge Program is expected to be attended by more than 1,000 people. Themed ‘The 4Ps of Glocalisation’, it will feature two keynote speakers: award-winning marketing executive Lisa Ronson (supported by Saxton Speakers Bureau) and bestselling author, TV host and founder of the 100 Things movement, Sebastian Terry (supported by ICMI).

On the first day, the welcome event will be held at Grazeland in Melbourne’s inner west. Themed an AIME Neon Carnival, more than 1,700 people will experience the outdoor food playground that for only one night will be transformed into a neon playground exclusively for AIME Welcome Event attendees. – TradeArabia News Service