AIME displays renewal of industry confidence

IN many ways AIME 2002 was seen as an event delegates could use as a barometer to gauge confidence in the conference, exhibition and incentive (CEI) sector. In the immediate aftermath of the event - at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) on February 19 and 20 - delegate sentiment was positive. "The business done here this year is crucial for the future of this region for the rest of 2002 and in years to come," Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) managing director Mr Tom Nutley said the day before the show opened. "Some regions are going to recover better than others but Asia Pacific is seen as very safe." After the show, AIME exhibition manager Mr David Crooke told CEI Asia Pacific he believed AIME provided a forum for the industry to show it is united and is going forward. "I believe pre-show there was a positive vibe about AIME and this continued through the show," he said. "Exhibitors are reporting good levels of business. I was delighted to see people were united in getting behind their industry. "Delegates were doing business at the show rather than just researching or networking, showing business is picking up. "Promotional/marketing budgets are the first to go when things are tight. AIME was bigger than ever before indicating the industry itself is in good shape." Mr Nutley added while AIME was an important forum for the industry in the region, he would like to see a rapid recovery in the airline sector. "Airlines are the key to the future of the industry," he said. "People may want to have meetings and business events and they may want to have long-haul events but how are you going to get them there without a healthy airline industry? "And, of course, prices are going to go up as capacity comes down." Mr Crooke added one of RTE's goals this year was to increase the international aspect of the show, specifically in the Asia Pacific region and to improve the appointment system between buyers and sellers. He believed this was achieved and promised further enhancements next year. "Reed took on the contract to run AIME with a specific objective - to increase the Asian and international aspect of the show, we achieved this in terms of exhibitors and buyers," Mr Crooke said. "We can't lose the national aspect of the show either and will continue to introduce initiatives such as the meeting planners day in 2003. "The pre-scheduled appointment system sets this show above others and we will continue to enhance this in 2003." In terms of numbers, it was the largest AIME yet held. There were 598 exhibitors from 35 countries, 297 hosted buyers and the total number of delegates for the two days was 2,464. Next year's show at the MECC will be held on February 18 and 19.