What to expect at AIME 2023 in Melbourne

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) will celebrate its 30th anniversary when it returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 13-15 February 2023.

As the flagship trade event for the MICE industry in the Asia Pacific region, AIME expects to connect more than 300 local and international exhibitors with 400 hosted buyers and 2,000 visitor buyers.

The M&C Asian team sat down with AIME event director Silke Calder for a preview of what’s to come.

The countdown to AIME 2023 is well and truly on. How are preparations going?

I’m delighted to confirm AIME 2023 is sold-out. The response from exhibitors all around the world has been fantastic and a wonderful testament to the resilience of the business events industry. Seeing everyone coming together on the show floor is going to be a real buzz.

The 2023 Knowledge Program Theme is: Your Industry. Your Opportunity. What is the opportunity for the events industry right now? Can you share more about what you have in store here?

As part of our ongoing commitment to deliver the best programme for the industry, we established a Knowledge Program Advisory Committee. This group of eight leaders from the APAC business events industry have helped to guide the curation of the 2023 programme.

The events industry has had a big year. We know from all our conversations and planning sessions with the Committee that everyone is starting to feel the ‘burn’. Event planners more than ever are having to balance the practical skills of event planning with the more humanistic qualities which build connection within our workplaces and our events.

We have kept this front of mind when curating the 2023 Knowledge Program, selecting a diverse range of speakers and sessions to create space for us as individuals, and together as an industry, to inspire leadership, creativity and map a better path forward.

Visitor registration is currently open. Can you give a preview of what potential visitors can expect?

We don’t want to give too much away but AIME visitors can expect to connect with over 300 exhibitors from all around the world. And when attendees need some time out from meetings, our new Wellness Café will offer the perfect space to recharge. As always there will be lots of colour on the show floor and the Ideas Academy will have several free education sessions running that are sure to inspire visitors.

AIME 2023 Exhibitors have been finalised. Can you share a few highlights with us?

Yes, absolutely. As an Australian-based show we are so pleased to share that every Australian state and territory will be represented on the show floor in 2023.

It is also wonderful to be welcoming – or in some cases, welcoming back – international destinations and partners from Japan, Abu Dhabi, New Zealand, Malaysia, Qatar, the Philippines, Hawaii and more.

Lastly, the Activate/Activate Live space that showcases some of our smaller exhibitors has more than tripled in size since last year. We are excited to have this space for our more boutique suppliers who really help planners finesse their events.

Any final words for anyone visiting AIME 2023?

We cannot wait to welcome you all down under for our 30th anniversary event! It’s a show you don’t want to miss.