ORGANISERS of Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2019 have set up a delegate vetting process to meet their target of “bringing more quality buyers from across globe, with 60 per cent originating outside of Australia”.
Described as “a first”, the “rigorous and thorough” vetting process carried out by the AIME hosted buyer manager is designed to check preliminary suitability.
Four months before the event (February 18-20), AIME 2019 says it has already confirmed more than 200 quality buyers from 32 countries, with 42 per cent having not attended AIME before.
To qualify, buyers must provide examples of budgets they manage, past events they have organised and details of scheduled events that will take place in the next five years. Additionally, they must pass up to four industry reference checks.
“Through rigorous curation, we are committed to bringing buyers and exhibitors from across the whole Asia Pacific so that AIME is reflective of the diversity and depth of the region. It’s about the right people, selling or buying, being on the show floor ready to do business”, said Matt Pearce, CEO, Talk2 Media & Events.
Brooke Cowdroy, manager, account operations Asia-PAC at Experient, Microsoft, described the vetting process as “seamless, while also being highly personalised”.
“It was great to have AIME’s hosted buyer manager contact me directly to advise that I had been successfully selected for the programme,” Cowdroy said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what AIME 2019 has to offer and how it can help drive more business outcomes.”
The vetting process has also added flexibility, allowing buyers to attend AIME 2019 either as a hosted buyer or a pre-registered trade buyer, both aimed at providing a clear and measurable return on investment.
The hosted buyer programme includes a fully curated experience, return flights and four- or five-star accommodation close to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Hosted attendees will be required to commit to 32 pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) and attend all formal networking events, as well as the Melbourne Convention Bureaus’ Uncover Melbourne Programme.
For a fee, pre-registered trade buyers have the option to select the number of PSAs they wish to make, attend all networking events, and have the flexibility to attend one, two or three days at AIME 2019.
