Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) and Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) announced the audited figures for AIME 2008 and the results of independent research conducted with visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors.

Figures audited by the Circulations Audit Board in Australia verify a total attendance of 3,260 at AIME 2008, a 25.3% increase on the AIME 2007 attendance of 2,603. The audited figures do not include revisits to the show of 721, or exhibitor numbers.

“The record attendance confirms AIME’s reputation as the premier event in Australia, a leader in the region and an event that delivers significant economic results for the meetings industry,” said Rosemarie Sama, Event Director.

“We increased significantly the number of hosted buyers this year, from 370 to 492, up 33% on last year. With the average total expenditure by each hosted buyer this year valued at US$292,099, that represents an extra US$35 million in bookings for exhibitors,” Ms Sama said.

“We also attracted an unprecedented diversity of exhibitors including 243 new exhibitors within the total 823 exhibitors.”

Sandra Chipchase, CEO, MCVB, said feedback from visitors, hosted buyers and exhibitors had been extremely positive.

“AIME 2008 delivered outstanding business opportunities and invaluable international networking. Business valued at US$551 million is expected to be booked as a result of AIME 2008, resulting in more than 2 million room nights in convention and incentive business for the Asia Pacific region,” she said.

Paul Kennedy MBE, Group Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions said the positive results were reflective of the current pace of growth within the meetings industry.

“The Asia Pacific region continues to be one of the fastest growing marketing for the meetings industry and this can be seen through the excellent results generated by AIME 2008. Our efforts will continue to focus on hosting a forum to meet the needs of the industry through education, networking and by providing return on investment for all our participants,” Mr Kennedy said. 

Independent research conducted by Micromex Research, found high levels of satisfaction with AIME 2008.

Hosted Buyer Research

356 of AIME’s 492 hosted buyers completed the AIME survey.

92% of respondents had placed or were likely to place business as a result of attending AIME 2008. 96% of respondents were satisfied with AME in terms of meeting their objectives, 87% believed it was beneficial to attend AIME on a yearly basis and 92% would probably or definitely recommend the event to associates. When compared to competitive events, AIME was valued more highly as a ‘must see’ event by a factor of 3:1.

Visitor Research

An exit survey of 250 randomly selected visitors was taken at AIME 2008.

95% of respondents were satisfied with AIME in terms of meeting their objectives, 86% said it was beneficial to attend AIME every year, 84% said they would recommend AIME to colleagues and 75% considered AIME to be a ‘must attend’ event. 78% indicated that they had placed or were likely to place business with exhibitors.

Exhibitor Research

280 exhibiting companies completed the AIME survey.

96% of respondents said it was beneficial to exhibit at AIME and 95% were ‘satisfied’ to ‘very satisfied’ with AIME 2008. 93% said they would probably or definitely exhibit at AIME 2009. 91% stated they would probably or definitely recommend AIME to associates. On average, each exhibitor received 21 business leads during AIME 2008.

AIME’s Environmental Policy

82% of visitors and 68% of hosted buyers considered it important that AIME has an environmental policy, while 77% of AIME exhibitors thought it was ‘important’ to ‘very important’.

Ms Sama said that all feedback and the research results will be considered in the planning of AIME 2009, 17th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, to be held on 17-18 February at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. AIME is organised by RTE and owned by MCVB.