Melbourne
Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) Chairman, Chris Barlow, has today
announced another year of impressive results for the organisation,
with the 2011/12 financial year.
MCVB
deliver its best results on record in terms of estimated room nights
and forecasted economic impact.
“Across
the business MCVB
secured 210 international and national business events
for Victoria-
a 62 per cent increase on the 2011/12 full year target. These events
will deliver an estimated economic impact valued at $361 million,”
he said.
Mr
Barlow added that one of the year’s most significant achievements
was that Melbourne will host the International AIDS Conference 2014.
As the largest medical conference ever to be held in Australia, the
conference is expected to bring 14,000 delegates and generate an
estimated $80 million in economic impact for the state of Victoria.
Announced
in May, the new Strategic Business
Plan was developed in consultation with staff and
stakeholders across the business, aiming to position Melbourne
as the premier destination for business events in the
world.
One
of the most significant changes to have been implemented to date was
a recent organisational restructure of theMarketing
and Communications department which is now
operating under the title; Commercial Partnerships, headed up by
Edwina San.
Other
key activities during the year included the celebration of the 20th
anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME),
the introduction of the organisation’s new positioning campaign:
Melbourne IQ: The Intelligent Choice for Conferences, while the 2011
annual Asia Roadshow visited Shanghai, Hong Kong, and for the first
time, Mumbai.
Financial
Year 2011/12 also saw Melbourne officially acknowledged as the
conference capital of
Australia by the International Congress and Convention Association
(ICCA), while the organisation’s award cabinet continued to fill,
with six major industry accolades awarded, including being named
winner in the Meetings and Business Tourism category at the
RACV 2011 Victorian Tourism Awards, and consequently receiving Hall
of Fame status.
