Conversations during the exhibition have yielded over $330 million worth of business for the next year, up from $200 million off the back of the 2023 event.
During AIME last month, both Talk2 Media’s director, Matt Pearce, and Silke Calder, who directs the show on behalf of Talk2 Media and show owner Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), were both optimistic for a strong economic result from this year’s show.
Pearce said they were “bullish that it will be an awful lot more” than the 2023 result, at the opening press conference.
“I’d like to think we’re at least touching the $300 [million mark]” Calder told AIME exclusively on the first day of the show.
With the 2024 event tipped to be the biggest in a decade, there were 570 exhibitors, 595 hosted buyers and 70 media, with more than 4,000 people attending the show altogether.
“The growth of AIME 2024 was just phenomenal, and we are thrilled that these post-show results confirm that success,” said Calder of the just-released figures.
“AIME’s winning formula comes down to the unmatched lengths we go to vet our hosted buyers, together with the pre-qualified appointments exhibitors receive through our AI-powered meeting matching platform.
“AIME wouldn’t be the success it is without the great support of the global business events industry and, of course, our incredible sponsors who help us to deliver an outstanding event.
“So many of our exhibitors have reserved their space again for next year so they don’t miss out on the connection-building that AIME’s unique Australian flavour facilitates. We cannot wait to welcome everyone back for 2025.”
Other insights from the post-show analysis released by AIME show over 90 per cent of both exhibitors and visitors were satisfied with the 2024 event and that more than 90 per cent of exhibitors are likely to participate in AIME 2025.
