AIME 2024 has been touted as “The biggest AIME in a decade” with 33 countries represented at AIME, 17,000 meetings, over 4,000 visitors, more than 570 exhibitors, 600 hosted buyers, 22,000 badges scanned and 89,500+ connections made.

Although the exhibition space is nowhere near what it was over a decade ago the amount of business written is what counts in the end. As Matt Pearce says in the interview below, to judge the success of a show “we look at the number of visitors per exhibitor”

The benchmark for any expo, conference or event in 2024 is to compare to pre-COVID events.

AIME 2024 figures show more exhibitors than pre-COID levels. The actual exhibition space is smaller than 10 years ago because the big flashy stands, by the likes of south-east Asian countries in particular, are now replaced by more business like stands with multiple exhibitors.

Overall the buzz was certainly up.

ASE spoke to the key stakeholders in AIME, and an exhibitor.  

The Organiser: Matt Pearce – Talk2Media & Events

Key points

• Talk2Media have been running AIME for six years
• 200 more exhibitors
• 600 hosted buyers
• Biggest challenge – getting the system right to match buyers to sellers
• Logistics – less than a week out roads closed along the route to the Welcome function
• Flights and accommodation – Taylor Swift and Sydney storms
• Trends in exhibitions – globally and local, B2B and consumer

The Client: Julia Swanson – CEO Melbourne Convention Bureau

Key points

• Welcome function with 1800 participants
• Biggest event in 2023 – Rotary international
• Biggest event in 2024 – World Lions Convention
• Impact of large conferences on Melbourne
• First Peoples Engagement Guide
• Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre

The Venue: Natalie O’Brien – CEO MCEC and Angie Becker – Chief Sales and Customer Experience Officer MCEC

Key points

• Angie Becker explains her new job role
• Natalie reflects on a year in the job as CEO
• Her favourite places in the MCEC
• Prioritising customer needs
• Creation of The North Star – purpose and values
• Installed experiences
• Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
• How MCEC will work with Nyaal Banyul and the new Geelong Arts Centre
• Both centres have a large roof area – great for solar panels
• Sourcing local produce
• What excites each of them

The Exhibitor: Lorelle Chittick – General Manager – Tourism, Business & Major Events, Brisbane Economic Development Agency

Key points

• What is BEDA?
• What is the purpose of BEDA?
• Who sets the agenda?
• Integration with city event teams
• Favourite events
• Queens Wharf development
• Top recent events
• Why Brisbane for events?