BUSINESS
EVENTS
IN THE
DRIVER’S
SEAT
M
elbourne boasts a sophisticated business
events offering. Its knowledge capacity,
infrastructure, prosperity, accessibility and
citywide collaboration create the ideal
ecosystem for business events.
Karen Bolinger, CEO of Melbourne Convention
Bureau (MCB), says Melbourne is fortunate that
it ticks all the boxes because of its academic,
economic and industry sector strengths. “But as
a progressive destination in such a competitive
landscape we needed to identify what’s next,”
she says.
The Victorian Government recognises that
the business events sector is a gateway to
trade and investment, an opportunity to evolve
priority industry sectors through research and
development and a platform to harness and
expose local talent.
“Ultimately business events accelerate
innovation, and this is why Melbourne is seeing
unprecedented government support,” says
Bolinger.
Business events in Melbourne have been
identified as drivers of economic growth,
beyond the direct dollar impact, and are written
into two government portfolio strategies across
seven industries.
“Only two years ago we were written into one
government portfolio strategy and today we
are a core strategy pillar in the department of
Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and
Resources and the Department of Health and
Human Services,” says Bolinger.
“This is an important statement by government
of the value of business events. They are not just
talking the talk, they are walking the walk.”
Business events are heavy on the State
Government agenda and this is good news for
clients, she says. “Our clients can be confident of
government support for their events, get access
into the relevant government department,
rely on government for advocacy and bid
support and hold a reasonable expectation for
government participation at their event.”
2 AIMEDaily Day 1, 2018