Expect to see a lot of new product and new exhibitors at AIME 2005 when it opens at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on 22 & 23 February. At last count, 162 new exhibitors had taken stands with more last-minute expressions of interest still being processed.

With 800 exhibitors, 425 Hosted Buyers and the total attendance predicted to rise to 2,800, AIME looks set to break last year’s record numbers.

In 2005, AIME’s largest exhibitor will be the combined Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and Regional Victoria Conference Group whose stand will cover nearly 250 square metres and include Café 1. There are 21 Melbourne exhibitors and 20 Regional Victorian exhibitors.

New Zealand exhibitors will cover the second largest amount of space and have the country’s biggest display at AIME to date. Twenty-eight New Zealand based companies will exhibit including all major regions such as Auckland, Christchurch and Canterbury, Wellington, Queenstown and Rotorua and five new exhibitors - Eventionz, Heritage Hotels, InterContinental Wellington, Langham Hotel Auckland and Terrace Downs High Country Resort.

Thailand and Hong Kong will both have 180 square metres of space, with Malaysia and Singapore on slightly smaller stands respectively. India, China, Korea and the Sultanate of Oman have all taken larger stands than at AIME 2004.

The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau will host the Thailand stand with 21 partners from Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will be joined by 21 industry partners including Cathay Pacific Airways, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 14 of Hong Kong’s leading hotels, three destination marketing companies, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport.

Tourism Malaysia will have 32 companies represented including Malaysia Airlines and the Sabah and Sarawak Tourism Boards, and exhibitors from Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is hosting a stand with 26 co-exhibitors reflecting the world-class attractions, venues and services available in Singapore.

Fiji has again increased its space, this time to 90 square metres, and will have the same size presence as Perth, Sydney, the Gold Coast and Cairns.

AIME 2005 has also attracted more than 160 new exhibitors from throughout the world. They include: Visit Britain; Air Mauritius; Abu Dhabi National Hotel Company and Al Diar Gulf Hotel and Resort; Amazing Wild Nature Co Ltd (Mongolia); Antartic Shipping SA; Around the World Cruises; Cancun Tropical Incentives DMC; Czech Tourist Authority; Fourth Dimension Italy; Holden Performance Driving Centre; LAN Airlines and Latitud 90 (Chile); Orion Expedition Cruises and The Leading Hotels of the World.

There are also more than 50 new exhibitors from Australia and more exhibitors of incentive and corporate gift products than ever before.

Corporate gift and incentive product will be on show from the following exhibitors: Branded Products; Exec-U-Gifts; Eye For Detail Promotional Products; Ezicomms;

EziTag Systems; GPI Corporate; Harvest Art Australia; IPR International Promotional Resource; Ken Duncan Australia Wide; Plus One Promotions; Productology; Stikki Products and Wine By Design.

AIME Exhibition Manager, Rosemarie Sama, said that the growth and development of AIME 2005 has been driven by the excellent results achieved by exhibitors at AIME 2004, and continued growth in the Asia Pacific.

“The Asia Pacific business events industry is extremely strong with many countries investing in new convention and exhibition infrastructure in order to attract large events from around the world,” Ms Sama said.

“AIME has become a fundamental part of many companies and bureaux marketing plans, as it attracts qualified buyers from around the world with a real interest in booking events in the Asia Pacific region.

“AIME’s reputation as the region’s most important event for the business events industry continues to grow. The success of AIME 2004 has undoubtedly increased interest from new exhibitors for 2005.”

AIME’s floorplan has been extended to cope with the growth. Increased space has been allocated for international, Asian, Australian and New Zealand exhibitors.