The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) opened on Monday, 10th February. Over three days, AIME will host more than 640 buyers from around the world, welcome more than 4500 attendees and 675 exhibitors from various business events sectors from around Asia Pacific and the world.
20,000 + meetings taking place across AIME 2025
Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), there will be more than 200 new exhibitors attending AIME 2025, along with two new international pavilions, Singapore and Thailand, joining 30 countries and territories represented at the event.
There will be 170 hosted international buyers from New Zealand, Europe, UK, South-East Asia, North Asia, India, South America, USA, and Canada and more than 470 domestic buyers – with 3 in 4 hosted buyers attending AIME for the first time.
This builds on the exceptional growth of 2024 – where more than $330 million of business was forecast to be traded between exhibitors and buyers in the 12 months. The event is owned by Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) and managed by Talk2 Media & Events.
With more than 20,000 meetings taking place across AIME – including more than 15,000 pre-scheduled meetings between highly vetted buyers and matched exhibitors – the expanded showfloor will be the place where the business events world meets in Asia Pacific to do business.
Largest contingent from New Zealand to ever attend AIME
Speaking at the press conference at AIME 2025, Matt Pearce, CEO Talk2 Media & Events announced that AIME 2025 will be the largest show the team has produced. There will be 100 more exhibitors than last year as well as the largest contingent from New Zealand to ever attend AIME.
The Knowledge Program has experienced five-fold growth over the past years – from a program with just a few hundred participants pre-COVID to more than 1500 people today.
The Positive Impact of Business Events Report
Julia Swanson, CEO, Melbourne Convention Bureau, launched the ‘Positive Impact of Business Events Report’, highlighting the immense value that business events deliver to Victoria. The report features case studies from business events demonstrating their contributions to the Victorian economy, technological advancements, community involvement, and lasting legacies.
The Knowledge Program at AIME 2025 serves as a launchpad for the global events industry to come together for learning and development.
Growing Infrastructure
Pip Harrison, Managing Director of Tourism Australia, shared that December 2024 was the busiest month for aviation in Melbourne, with 1.1 million arrivals. New plans for expanding the international terminal at Melbourne Airport will increase capacity to service more routes. New hotel openings will bring additional capacity, with over 26,000 rooms now available in Melbourne’s city center.
Extended opening hours
The AIME trade expo will take place on Tue 11 and Wed 12 Feb, with extended hours allowing more meeting opportunities. AIME opens at 8:30 AM on both days.
