financial excesses

Australia we have to promote.
There are so many
truly Australian experiences
that are only available in
Melbourne and capitalising
on these is giving us our
commercial edge.
TW: ... and of Melbourne’s
success in general?
Chipchase: The new
world’s first Six Star Green
Star Energy Rated Convention
Centre is the linchpin of
Melbourne’s success. In addition,
the vision and planning
of the State Government
and the City of Melbourne
in making our city
and our State a great place
to live, work and play. The
business event suppliers in
A great place to
live, work and play
Melbourne who are constantly
looking at ways to
develop their product, improve
it and innovate means
that there is always something
new in our city.
TW: How is fiscal 2009/2010
progressing for the MCVB?
Are you on track to present
another set of record figures?
And if so, how do
you do it?
Chipchase: The GFC has
certainly impacted across a
range of corporate events
and unfortunately we have
had several pieces of business
move their decision
dates from the current financial
year into the next financial
year. However, that said,
there have been many KPIs
that have been met or exceeded
by the MCVB team
in 2009/10 and we already
put in a lot of ground work to
ensure that 2010/11 delivers
record success for the
MCVB.
TW: Another question on
AIME. You are having
AIME, the rights to which
are held by the MCVB, organised
by Reed Travel Exhibitions
for another five
years. Doesn’t it concern
you at all that Reed stages
rival events with the same
format the world over,
which are attended one after
another by similar – if
not, indeed the same –
troupe of hosted buyers?
And given the similarity of
the exhibition models, do
you not see a potential
danger of competition for
exhibitors and attendees
arising between Melbourne
and say, Beijing
(CIBTM)?
Chipchase: We are delighted
to have REED Travel Exhibitions
as our partners and in
fact one of the key advantages
of that partnership are the
existing and new exhibitions
developed by REED. AIME
is promoted at EIBTM,
GIBTM and of course will be
featuring more heavily with
American buyers at the new
AIBTM in Baltimore. Buyers
who are really interested in
the Asia Pacific region come
to AIME and we have an established
track record of
more than 18years of delivering
a quality event.
Our Welcome Reception is
world renowned. There is no
other trade show that runs
an event of similar size or
calibre. In addition, REED’s
other shows give us access
to buyers who may be considering
attending AIME for
the very first time and the
growth and development of
AIME is a key goal, not only
for MCVB, but for all exhibitors
who are investing in the
AIME Trade event.
Interview: Hans Thurn
2/2010 109