MICE comes calling at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

The venue will host the 2025 UFI Asia Pacific Conference along with two other MICE events in one week.

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) will be hosting three MICE events in one week in February. The 2025 UFI Asia Pacific Conference will be held at the venue from 13-14 February, immediately after AIME, the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (10-12 February). The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) will also be hosting a meeting at the MCEC in the same week.

Delivering these three events in the same week is aimed at offering international delegates maximum value for their trip to Australia while drawing the attention of the global business events industry to Melbourne.

Matt Pearce, vice chair, Australian Business Events Association, said: “ABEA CEO, Melissa Brown, and UFI MD & CEO Kai Hattendorf met during AIME this year discussed ways to achieve the best possible outcome for the Business Events industry during the 2025 UFI APAC Conference at the MCEC.

“These discussions were continued during the UFI APAC conference in Macau last week. These opportunities are rare, and the Australian Business Events Association is excited to be working alongside AIME to support UFI in delivering a positive and fruitful meeting for the industry.”

MCEC CEO Natalie O'Brien, said: “Coordinating these three events to be held in the same week, and in the same location is an incredible outcome achieved through outstanding collaboration and partnership. I thank the teams at UFI, MCB, AIME, and ABEA for their cooperation and commitment to making this happen."

UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf added: “We are thrilled to be bringing this flagship event to Australia for the first time, and look forward to connecting the Australian expo professionals with their international peers in the thriving city of Melbourne. By bundling AIME, UFI, and ABEA activities within one week, we will create an international industry hot spot, and a not to be missed opportunity for everyone in the sector to come together to network, learn, and do business.”

UFI is a global association of the exhibition industry with 850 member organisations in 87 countries, representing more than 50,000 exhibition industry professionals. This year's UFI Asia Pacific 2024 conference in Macau, drew 300 delegates from 22 countries.