Melbourne’s business events sector continues to thrive

The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) hosted 46 business events in May, while also securing a string of valuable events for the years ahead.

The “mega May” of events filled 61,375 hotel room nights, and contributed A$148 million (US$98.5 million) to the economy.

A highlight for the month was the 2023 Rotary International Convention, which attracted 14,000 Rotary members from over 120 countries. It delivered more than A$91 million to the local economy and supported close to 1,000 jobs, making it one of the most valuable conferences in Melbourne’s history.

Together with support from the Victorian Government, MCB has secured future events across a range of industry sectors including the World Congress on Leisure Travel 2027, the 21st International Celiac Disease Symposium 2026, and the International Conference on Ocean Energy 2024. All of them will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

This November, Melbourne will welcome the largest Indian delegation for a corporate incentive travel programme when 3,000 delegates arrive for Herbalife India Incentive 2023, thanks to support from Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program.

The Victorian Government’s National Business Events Program has also helped to drive the domestic market with funding delivered to 53 events since it launched in 2021, which has helped to sustain momentum across the sector and its supply chain.

MCB’s pipeline of business events is strong, with 147 international and national business events confirmed from now until 2028 worth more than A$821 million in economic contribution. These events will attract more than 158,000 delegates which will fill 441,000 hotel room nights – enough to fill the city 18 times over.

source: TTG MICE