Taking place over five days – starting last Friday and wrapping up on Tuesday – the convention has participants from over 170 countries and is expected to generate an economic impact of $68 million for Melbourne.
Alongside the main convention, which is being held at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, other Melbourne venues are benefitting from more than 80 related events being held in conjunction with the gathering. Melbourne Zoo, Eureka89 and Crown Towers are all hosting events.
“We’re delighted to host this year’s convention in Melbourne,” said CEO of Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), Julia Swanson. MCB led the bid to bring the event to Melbourne for the first time.
“It presents an excellent opportunity for us to highlight our city’s prowess as a premier global destination for hosting large-scale conventions,” said Swanson.
“Preparations for this event have been underway for several years, and we are confident that our top-tier facilities, exceptional event infrastructure and city-wide cooperation will guarantee an unforgettable experience for all attendees.”
Aligning with the commitment to volunteering that underpins Lions Clubs, attendees of the convention are also undertaking service initiatives while in Melbourne.
At just one of the projects with Foodbank Victoria, it is estimated that Lions from around the world will pack 10,000kg of food.
Other organisations benefitting from hands-on help while the convention is in town include FareShare Meal Prep and Vision Australia.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to host this year’s Lions International Convention in Melbourne, which will provide an outstanding combination of inspiration and entertainment for our members and participants, and for those interested in learning more about us,” said chair of the host committee and chair of the Australian Lions Foundation, Tony Benbow OAM.
“It’s also an opportunity for Victorian Lions members to experience the international scope of Lions and to showcase the positive change they are bringing to communities on a global stage.”
