Hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in the business events industry will be revealed during AIME 2008.

Around 850 exhibitors will showcase their products and services, with many announcing significant investments in the industry.

In Melbourne, construction is already well underway into a new convention centre which is part of an AU$1 billion development which includes a Hilton hotel, a lifestyle retail precinct and 60,000 m2 of shopping.

Tourism Vancouver is investing $615 million into expanded 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

India will 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 by AIME exhibitors 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.

At an estimated cost of $300 million, the proposed new hotel will be the third hotel in the Crown Entertainment Complex along with the award-winning, luxurious Crown Towers and Australia’s best business hotel - Crown Promenade Hotel.

Emirates is investing more than AU$100 million to build a luxury, conservation-based resort in Australia’s Blue Mountains, its first hospitality development outside Dubai. This new conservation project will be Australia’s most environmentally sympathetic development, as well as providing world-class hospitality facilities and services to its guests.

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, and undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade of its 50 over-water villas.

Back in Australia four times Queensland Club of the Year, Caloundra RSL, is investing $23 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’s event director Rosemarie Sama says that is just a small sample of the investment exhibitors are making.

“It’s testament to the significance of the event that exhibitors choose to announce details of their investments into the industry at AIME.”

She says it’s also proof that the industry is in a strong position both now, and in the future.

“Increasingly the public and private sectors are realising the financial rewards they, and their local economy, can reap by investing in the meetings sector.”

Watch this space for more exciting exhibitor news.

The question should be where can’t you meet at AIME this year?

The welcome reception at Central Pier Docklands on Monday 18 February kicks off three days of networking opportunities. It’s the best place to make new contacts with 2,000 people from around 55 countries attending.

On Tuesday 19 February, Globe Restaurant & Bar opens at 10am, where you can mingle with the more than 2,000 expected through the centre’s doors. There are also cafés, an espresso bar and internet café.

The official AIME networking hour takes place at Globe at 5pm. This is a great opportunity to mingle with hosted buyers and visitors over a cold drink. And then the night is yours to wine and dine at any one of Melbourne’s renowned restaurants. Make sure you take advantage of the Dine Around Program of discounts organised by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and its members.

Later in the evening, kick off your heels and head back to Crown’s newest nightclub for a night of dancing (see ‘hit the dance floor’ for more information).

On Wednesday, Globe is again open all day and official networking drinks begin at 4pm.

So, why not set yourself a target of how many new people you can meet during AIME? Between Monday 18 and Wednesday 20 we’ve calculated you have the chance to meet 6,000 people.

AIME’s coveted awards program has been expanded this year to include two new awards: Best Environmental Stand Award and Best Environmental Supplier Award.

AIME recognises excellence in exhibition stand design in the annual ‘stand awards’. Judged by an industry panel, there are five categories including our new environmental award:

• Best Single Exhibitor Stand
• Best Multi-Exhibitor Stand
• Most Creative Stand Design
• Best New Exhibitor Stand
• Best Environmental Stand

You are not required to nominate for the first four awards. If you wish to be judged in the Best Environmental Stand Award category then click here.

Industry Person of the Year Awards

Nominations are now open for AIME’s prestigious ‘Industry Person of the Year Awards’ - International and Asia Pacific. The two awards recognise best practice and overall commitment and contribution to the industry.

Last year’s international winner was Martin Sirk, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).

The Asia Pacific Award went to Anthony Wong, a leading multi-event manager and inbound operator, PATA board member and third vice president of ICCA.

Submissions can be made online through the AIME website and the criteria for nominations are located in the Exhibitor Zone on the website. The deadline for submissions is Friday 8 February 2008.

New - Best Environmental Supplier

The Best Environmental Supplier Award is our first award for suppliers and we are delighted to recognise their contribution in this way.

To enter the Best Environmental Supplier Award, please click here. Entries close on 31 January 2008.

Judges will take into account the supplier’s commitment to the environment and how they have helped AIME 2008 become a climate neutral event. Judges may also request information on other environmental initiatives the company has made which may include use of recycled materials, carbon offsetting of air travel, waste disposal and the company’s environmental policy.

AIME is setting a new benchmark for exhibitions in Australia, becoming Australia’s first Climate Neutral™ event.

AIME 2008 will have emissions neutralised from the event’s electricity use, paper consumption, meals, hosted buyer flights and accommodation, all coach transportation and staff travel. This includes the build up, the exhibition itself, break down, and the official functions.

So how can you ensure you’re also going green?

Firstly, AIME encourages you to be as paperless as possible. Our media office will be entirely paperless and all media materials need to be supplied on USB or CD.

On your own stands we ask that you please only bring what you need and remove and recycle what you don’t use.

Companies and individuals who offset their carbon emissions will be recognised on the AIME website for their contribution to AIME’s Climate Neutral status.

You can even enter an award for the most environmental stand (see accompanying story on awards).

For more information on how to be green click here.

Visitor research conducted since AIME 2007 has revealed that interstate visitors are interested in travel packages that include flights and overnight accommodation in Melbourne.

So this year AIME has introduced new Overnight Packages for visitors from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.

AIME’s event director Rosemarie Sama says AIME is delighted to be able to extend this exclusive offer.

“AIME offers unique business opportunities, both from an educational and networking perspective. We’re delighted to be able to take some of the pressure of those industry professionals who want to attend the event and know that everything is taken care of from their flights to free admission and drinks during the event.”

The offers include return airfares, accommodation, local airport transfers, entry to AIME and one master class, free networking hour at Globe restaurant, entry to the ICMI speaker showcase, free access to LI’TYA pamper zone and entry to AIME’s club night with free drinks for the first hour.

Clubbing comes to AIME!

Pack your party dress, grab a friend and head to AIME’s new Club Night on Tuesday 19 February. MIX@Fusion is for those who prefer some late-night entertainment, glamour and mix of DJ rhythms at Crown’s newest night club.

Starting at 10pm, MIX is an exclusive AIME event. So don’t forget your AIME Badge and be part of the AIME scene. Once inside there’s an hour of free drinks plus everything to make your night in Melbourne unforgettable. MIX@Fusion until 2am.

Clubbing comes to AIME!

The AIME 2008 Exhibition Directory is given to every visitor and hosted buyer and is often retained long after the event as a product supplier resource. You can add value to your listing through advertising in the Directory. For more information please contact Kate Southward on + 61 2 9422 8939 or email kate.southward@reedbusiness.com.au

The AIME Daily is distributed to visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors at AIME each day. This year it is being produced by RBI Asia, publishers of Travel Weekly, Travel Weekly China and Events magazines.

For further information contact: Tis Perera, Regional Sales Director: tis.perera@rbi-asia.com or Fion Zhu, Sales Manager, fion.zhu@rbi-asia.com

Editorial submissions should be sent to Janelle Schreiber, our public relations agent. janelle@schreiberpr.com.au