ORGANISERS of the annual Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) 2011 are expecting the show to generate record business for exhibitors with hosted and semi-hosted buyer spots filling up fast and 50 per cent of registered hosted buyers new to the show in 2011.
AIME is in its 19th year and is the largest exhibition showcase in the Asia-Pacific region for the business events industry, held from February 15 to 16, 2011, at the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
This year, AIME has introduced the ‘refer a friend’ programme which gives hosted buyers the opportunity to refer a friend to be part of the hosted buyer programme. If they successfully qualify, the nominator’s registration fee will be waived.
Sally de Swart, AIME’s event director, said: “AIME’s hosted buyer programme has proven increasingly popular year-on-year and the early registrations to date indicate that AIME 2011 will certainly be another successful event for both exhibitors and hosted buyers alike.
“Demand has been high with international hosted buyer spots almost full and the Australian and New Zealand buyer places filling up fast. The 2010 event broke buyer records with a 9.7 per cent increase on 2009 with 513 attending from over 33 countries around the world. Following this success we are set to target more than 500 hosted buyers again for the 2011 show.
“Visitor registration for 2011 is also currently ahead of last year’s numbers to date and we are aiming to exceed the impressive figure of 3,101 visitors who attended the 2010 event.”
In the 2010 AIME survey report it was shown that 93 per cent of hosted buyers were likely to place business as a result of attending AIME and they stated high levels of satisfaction in regard to identifying new products and suppliers at the event.
A range of exclusive benefits are made available to buyers accepted as part of the programme including, complimentary flights and accommodation, pre-touring in Victoria and access to AIME’s famous networking and educational opportunities. To maximise the two-day event, hosted buyers have a personalised appointment schedule, which allows them to meet with the exhibitors they are interested in doing business with.