Conference organiser Tour Hosts brought together all its services - conference and exhibition management, accommodation, interpreting and translation, tours, transport, special events and IT - for one of the world's elite "mega-events" in Melbourne recently.

The International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (AIPPI*) gathers every three years to discuss issues of great importance intellectual property law. It was among the most prestigious international conferences to be held in Australia during this Centenary of Federation year.

Some 2,200 of the world's leading patent attorneys, intellectual property lawyers, exhibitors and accompanying persons from 56 countries attended the meeting at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Tour Hosts Conference Manager Susan Coote, said the meeting posed some unique and exciting challenges. "We had plenary and workshop sessions running concurrently and only certain delegates would vote on the various issues.

Once decisions were taken, we would have just a few hours to have all the relevant text translated, checked, printed and delivered. Over the five days we generated some 40,000 copies of the various reports and we were delighted that not a single paper arrived late.

Conference Interpreter Services (Tour Hosts specialised language division), headed by Dr Yvonne Hu, provided translation and interpretation services. Proceedings were interpreted into French, Spanish, German and English.

Tour Hosts is Australia's only conference management company to provide in-house language services. A small custom-built exhibition area along the theme of a village environment was a feature of the conference that was held in its entirety at the Melbourne Convention Centre

Melbourne's efficient public transport system and the close proximity of the Centre to the leading hotels made it possible for the delegates to manage their own transfers to and from the venue each day.

The Opening Ceremony was held at the Victorian Arts Centre and featured some of Australia's finest young talent in Slava Grigorian (guitar) and Simon Tedeschi (piano).Jazz trumpet virtuoso James Morrison and didgeridoo legend Alan Dargan gave delegates a taste of contemporary Australian music.

After the ceremony, a lavish reception for more than 2,000 was hosted at the Palladium at Crown Towers where the room was draped royal blue and cream cloth.

On offer was a buffet featuring the best of Victorian fresh produce; food stations where chefs prepared sushi and teppanyaki as well as a dessert buffet with coffee and premium cheese. "We designed the evening so people could move around informally to meet and greet their fellow delegates," said Tour Hosts' Events Manager Nicole Turner

The following day the Australia/New Zealand Contemporary Experience, a celebration of trans-Tasman culture, food, wine and song was presented at the newly opened Melbourne Museum, giving the many first time visitors an opportunity to learn more about the region in a stylish, sophisticated environment.

One day of the conference was given over to horse racing at the picturesque Yarra Glen Race Club. Ahead of the running of the AIPPI Cup - a Melbourne Cup qualifier - a marquee was erected for a sit down lunch for 2,000. Roving jazz bands, street theatre characters and woodchoppers kept the punters entertained between races.

The guests also had the opportunity to visit some of the boutique wineries of the Yarra Valley and the famous Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary en-route to the races. The Accompanying Persons Program showcased the highlights of Melbourne and regional Victoria to a standard significantly exceeding the service provided by regular tour companies.

"Marvellous Melbourne" was the theme for the gala dinner at the historic Royal Exhibition Building where 1,700 gathered for a night of fine food, entertainment from satellite stages around the venue and plenty of dancing after a busy week of deliberation.

Founder and Managing Director of Tour Hosts, Roslyn McLeod: "AIPPI brought some of the most influential minds in the intellectual property profession to Australia.

We were delighted to have the opportunity to develop a strong business program, create fabulous social and networking events and a unique trading environment with the exhibition village - a first for our industry.

In addition we had the chance to work with many of Australia's leading suppliers - a magic combination when combined with the hard work and dedication of all our staff. "Tour Hosts is an award-winning Sydney-based conference, destination management and interpreter services company.

For more information or images contact Rosemary Ryan, Tel.: (02) 9262 2277. *AIPPI is a French acronym for the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property.