Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) secured the event with support from Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB).
The conference will be held on February 13 and 14, 2025, following on directly from Australia’s largest annual industry gathering, the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME). Meanwhile, new local industry association, the Australian Business Events Association, will also host a meeting at MCEC the same week.
UFI has over 850 member organisations in 87 countries, which employ 50,000 people in the exhibitions industry.
The 2024 UFI Asia Pacific Conference was held in Macao last week and attracted 300 attendees from 22 countries.
“We are thrilled to be bringing this flagship event to Australia for the first time, and look forward to connecting the Australian expo professionals with their international peers,” said UFI CEO, Kai Hattendorf.
“UFI’s Asia-Pacific Conference is our central annual event for the exhibition and business events industry from across Asia Pacific, and it attracts participants from the rest of the world as well.
“By bundling AIME, UFI, and ABEA activities within one week, we will create an international industry hot spot, and a not to be missed opportunity for everyone in the sector to come together to network, learn, and do business.”
MCEC’s chief executive, Natalie O’Brien AM, said the week of AIME 2025 will be “a momentous week” for business events stakeholders in the local region.
“Coordinating these three events to be held in the same week and in the same location is an incredible outcome achieved through outstanding collaboration and partnership,” she said.
Talk2 Media, who organise AIME on behalf of its owner MCB, are also pleased with the event win.
“We are committed to strengthening connections with our global colleagues, and with the UFI AP Conference taking place straight after AIME, we couldn’t be more thrilled to give our Asia Pacific community another opportunity to explore our vibrant city and mingle with the business events community,” said AIME’s event director, Silke Calder.
