The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) today released analysis from its  2024 show, with business traded between exhibitors and buyers estimated to be worth more than $330 million over the next 12 months – a 65 percent increase on 2023.

AIME 2024 was the 31st edition of the show and the third edition delivered by event director Silke Calder and her team from Talk2 Media and Events, who manage the show on behalf of Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB).

Held February 19^th to 21^st at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, it was the event’s largest edition in a decade, with more than 570 exhibitors, 595 hosted buyers and 17,000 meetings occurring on the show floor across the two days. In total, more than 4,000 people attended, including 70 media representatives from around the world, and more than 89,500 connections were made across the event.

Further post-show analysis has revealed:

• More than 90% of exhibitors were satisfied with their attendance at AIME, resulting in an average that outperforms all respective benchmarks and puts AIME in the top 10% of trade shows around the world¹
• More than 90% of visitors were satisfied with their attendance at AIME, a statistic that puts AIME in the top 10% of trade shows around the world for visitor satisfaction²
• Almost 1 in 2 visitors were first-time AIME attendees
• More than 85% of visitors report that their objectives for attending AIME were met
• More than 9 in 10 exhibitors are likely to return next year

“The growth of AIME 2024 was just phenomenal, and we are thrilled that these post-show results confirm that success,” said Silke Calder. “AIME’s winning formula comes down to the unmatched lengths we go to vet our hosted buyers, together with the pre-qualified appointments exhibitors receive through our AI-powered meeting matching platform.

“AIME wouldn’t be the success it is without the great support of the global business events industry and, of course, our incredible sponsors who help us to deliver an outstanding event,” she explained. “So many of our exhibitors have reserved their space again for next year so they don’t miss out on the connection-building that AIME’s unique Australian flavor facilitates. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back for 2025.”

The first tradeshow on the annual international business events calendar, AIME 2024 enjoyed a 63 percent growth over 2023 in global exhibitors, drawing MICE suppliers from every Australian state as well as international destinations including Japan, New Zealand, Africa, Fiji, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Singapore, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, Malta, Norway, Spain, UK/Ireland, Vietnam, India, Maldives, Monaco, Sri Lanka  and more.

New “zones” at the show included The Boutique, a showcase of more than 20 operators offering bespoke experiences, and the DMC Network, which brought together destination management companies from all over world.

Both initiatives were embraced by attendees and provide just two examples of the annual improvements and creative innovations to the AIME show floor.

This year the annual AIME Welcome Event was held at Grazeland with the theme “Neon Carnival,” which more than 1,700 people attended, while AIME’s education Knowledge Program, with its theme “The 4 Ps of Glocalisation” attracted a total attendance of more than 1,850 people.

AIME 2025 will be held February 10^th to 12^th, 2025, at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Australia.

 

¹ AIME 2024 Exhibitor Survey conducted by Explori

² AIME 2024 Visitor Survey conducted by Explori