06 Jul 2015
The Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) to be held in Melbourne, Australia, 23 – 24 February 2016, has gathered a host of the industry's most experienced buyers, sellers and influencers to form the AIME Advisory Board.
The newly appointed Advisory Board is tasked with collaborating to shape the vision for the show and their key contributions will help set the agenda for the 24th year of AIME. The board represents a commitment from the Melbourne Convention Bureau, owners of AIME, and Reed Travel Exhibitions, organisers of AIME, to enliven the event and deliver an engaging, and critically important, year-round community for the business events industry.
Meeting on 1 June 2015, the inaugural Advisory Board includes 16 members from across the Asia-Pacific region including corporate event buyers, association event buyers, senior representatives from venues and hotels and a range of event suppliers.
Ms Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention Bureau said she wanted to continue to build AIME's leadership status across the Asia-Pacific region, and taking a collaborative approach with industry partners will propel that vision forward.
“The Advisory Board will play a vital role in ensuring we evolve AIME for the benefit of the whole business events industry, and continue to create an innovative and engaging program each year in Melbourne that delivers true value to our diverse customer groups,” said Ms Bolinger.
Understanding that AIME is powered by the contribution of the events community, Ms Sallie Coventry, ibtm events (including AIME) Portfolio Director said the members of the board, through their engagement and advice, have already influenced AIME 2016 and beyond.
“The Advisory Board engaged in lively debate, provided honest feedback and shared invaluable insights. We thank them for their active and enthusiastic participation.
“We are proud to harness the passion for, and commitment to, the business events industry that they embody,” said Ms Coventry.
Anna Case, Director - Business Events, Gold Coast Tourism was pleased to be invited to the Advisory Board.
“I congratulate Reed Travel Exhibitions and the Melbourne Convention Bureau for their initiative to create the AIME Advisory Board and for recognising that collaboration is the key to delivering a successful AIME into the future.
“It is critical that AIME continues to be the most prominent business events trade show within the Asia-Pacific region, and by injecting fresh ideas and energy into the event, we can ensure its position as the must-attend event for buyers and suppliers.
“I am encouraged that, as part of the Advisory Board, we developed a list of strategic milestones to take us into 2016 and beyond and I am proud to be a part of this process,” said Ms Case.
The AIME Advisory Board will meet twice yearly to continue to develop original ideas and inspiring strategies to ensure an enhanced experience for all participants year-on-year.
AIME Advisory Board members include:
- Alanna Khodeir, Organisational Coach, Business Coaching Systems
- Anine Leakey, Senior Event Manager, BT Financial Group
- Anna Case, Director - Business Events, Gold Coast Tourism
- Anne Jamieson, Director of Sales, Marketing and Club Melbourne, Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
- Elizabeth Georgopoulos, Director of Business Travel Sales - Australia, Accor
- Jan Shaw, Events Manager, Urological Society of Australia & New Zealand
- Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention Bureau
- Kate Smith, Managing Director, Waldron Smith
- Lauren Hall, Chief Executive Officer, iVvy
- Linzi Cavender, Senior Event Manager, American Express
- Nicolena Oborn, Group Director of Sales, Crown Hotels and Restaurants
- Patrick Scheiber, National Conference & Events Manager, Rydges Hotels & Resorts
- Peter Jack, Founder/Director, EMG Event Management Group
- Sallie Coventry, ibtm events Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions
- Shahnaz Bakhshay, Director of Sales – Travel Partnerships, TFE Hotels
- Sharon Lam, Area Director, Singapore Tourism Board
-ends-
Media contacts:
Laura Valentine, Account Manager, Zadro
P: +61 2 9212 7867 | M: +61 4 06 285 077 | laura@zadroagency.com.au
Elizabeth Williams, Account Director, Zadro
P: +61 2 9212 7867 | M: +61 4 11 201 354 | elizabeth@zadroagency.com.au
Notes to editors:
Interviews with Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention Bureau and Sallie Coventry, ibtm events Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions are available upon request via the media contacts listed below.
Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME), 23 – 24 February 2016, Melbourne
AIME is where meetings, events and incentives industry decision makers meet for business adventures across Australia, Asia-Pacific and the rest of the globe. AIME is owned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), a business development organisation, with its core function to secure international and national conferences, incentive travel reward programs and other business events for the Australian state of Victoria.
AIME is managed by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world's leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry, with a wide-ranging portfolio of 20 international events in 13 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa.
In 2015, AIME attracted 4,776 attendees including 2,574 international and domestic trade visitors, 488 hosted buyers from 19 different countries and exhibitors from 37 countries.
