As a premier destination for delegates and event planners, Melbourne, Australia is ever-changing its offering providing an array of new reasons to host business events in the city. The new year has kicked off with some incredible new offerings and a range of new openings guaranteed to delight business organizers and delegates alike.
Eat, stay and play
The tallest hotel in Australia, the Ritz Carlton, and Rydges Melbourne will open this year after undergoing a significant multimillion dollar refurbishment, providing exciting new options for clients.
Melbourne has also welcomed 80’s Memphis Nostalgia with Laneways By Ovolo making its debut as an evolution of the much loved Ovolo Laneways. It’s the first of the brand to debut in Australia, and Ovolo Laneways was renowned for introducing a new take on the boutique designer hotel experience when it first opened. The next phase will reinvigorate this further.
Foodies take note — Melbourne’s incredible culinary scene is exploding with new offerings. Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters celebrates the produce, people and places of the state of Victoria, while Chris Lucas’ stylish Italian-American steakhouse Grill Americano, and Parcs are where sustainable dining is informed by fermentation.
The Queen Victoria Market, which is always popular with incentive groups and visitors, has recently launched The Purpose Precinct — a showcase of Victorian social enterprise products and services located in the Market’s String Bean Alley. With the backing of the Victorian Government and Social Enterprise Network of Victoria, The Purpose Precinct is a partnership with leading social enterprises that create greater opportunity, inclusion and impact in their work. It represents a curated and rotating range of goods all made, designed and/or recycled from sustainably and ethically sourced materials.
Melbourne is always pushing the boundaries, with new and exciting accommodation and venue offerings in the pipeline. A standout highlight is the $340 million, yet to be named purpose-built collection that will be developed by TFE Hotels, in partnership with Capital Alliance. Business event planners take note as a 1,000-capacity event conference center will add another dimension to Melbourne’s high-end conferencing options. Located on a sky bridge that connects the two accommodation towers, delegates will be able to enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of the city. The hotel will also feature the largest rooftop infinity pool in Australia.
Super calendar of business events
Melbourne is set for a bumper year with its calendar of business events across 2023 set to attract more than 65,000 international and national delegates across the 92 events confirmed to date, including 10 hero association events across the year.
For the city’s lead agency in acquiring and delivering business events — the Melbourne Convention Bureau’s (MCB) — that's what's on the books right now and is set to grow as the bureau continues to secure more events each month for Melbourne.
The MCB Team takes the hassle out of planning meetings and events in Melbourne and will connect you with the right people, places and products to ensure your event is planned and executed with ease.
Providing a free one-stop-shop service, MCB can help you create the most memorable Melbourne business event, conference or meeting possible, from help sourcing accommodation, venues and attractions, to organizing your next corporate reward program.
MCB works collectively with its industry partners to ensure the city’s events offering is constantly evolving and appealing to the next generation of event buyers and planners.
May 2023 is shaping up to be massive with 23 events scheduled to take place across the city including the Rotary International Convention; the International Conference on Software Engineering — (ICSE) and SpineWeek across the month, with close to 17,500 delegates anticipated across these events alone.
This will be a showcase of the city-wide collaboration Melbourne is renowned for. Melbourne’s infrastructure paves the way for highly successful business events, with world-leading facilities and venues, quality accommodation and an extensive transport system.
When Melbourne plays host to a conference, corporate event or incentive group, event owners benefit from our wealth of experience, world-class facilities and collaborative network of suppliers, as well as our passion and dedication to ensure every event yields successful business outcomes.
Rotary International Convention is the most valuable conference ever won for Victoria and is expected to attract Rotary members from over 120 countries and regions worldwide.
The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) celebrates its 30th Anniversary
Last but my no means least — AIME 2023. The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) promises to be huge and the event to attend in 2023 as it brings together international and local buyers to access the best exhibitors from around the world in celebration of AIME’s 30th anniversary.
New to the show is the Victorian Precinct, which will occupy the largest footprint on the show floor, including the famous Melbourne Victoria Stand — the largest destination stand at AIME 2023. With 43 exciting exhibitors spread across the Victoria Precinct and the Melbourne Victoria Stand combined, the very best of the best will be at your fingertips.
AIME is the leading trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region, where industry decision makers connect, create and do business. AIME 2023 will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from 13 – 15 February.
Want to learn more?
Discover how Melbourne Convention Bureau can help bring your next business event to life in Melbourne. Alternatively, you can contact our U.S. team: Maria Rivera at maria.rivera@melbournecb.com.au or Theresa DeConinck at Theresa DeConinck theresa.deconinck@melbournecb.com.au.