Skip to main content

Hosted Buyer

Sample Image

Would you like to build your network, find new destinations, venues, activations, and event suppliers in one place? Get access to the latest trends and insights from inspirational speakers?

Then AIME – The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event – is the place for you! Taking place on the 10-12 February 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this inspirational event is designed to help you source new suppliers, learn and network. We have a range of attendee options for buyers, all designed to give you control of your AIME experience.

Hosted buyer applications are now closed. You can still register as a visitor buyer and get the opportunity to meet over 600 exhibiting companies, attend the AIME Ideas Academy presented by Spice, and upgrade your pass to attend the AIME Knowledge Program and Welcome Event.

Register as a visitor buyer

AIME 2024 Wrap-up

AIME at a glance

AIME at a glance graphic

Source New Suppliers

Hosted Buyers Meeting an Exhibitor at AIME

Using a seamless blend of human expertise and cutting-edge artificial intelligence we match our Hosted Buyers with the right partners from the 600 exhibiting companies, 90% of whom are from the Asia Pacific region. Meetings take place in the exhibition and are managed through our state-of-the-art meetings technology. We fill the diaries of both exhibitor and hosted buyers, taking the pressure away from you to choose who to meet.

Meet exhibitors and live activations from:

Leading destinations

Event technology companies

Convention bureaux & tourism offices

Destination Management Companies

Convention centres

Travel and tour operators

Hotels and resorts

Production and AV suppliers

Boutique venues

Airlines

Attractions and activities

Cruise companies

Caterers

Support services for events

 

Learn and be inspired

Held on day one of AIME, the Knowledge Program offers you the opportunity to learn with other hosted buyers and exhibitors attending AIME. The Knowledge Program features inspiring keynote speakers, networking events, and breakout sessions.

The Knowledge Program is curated by BEAMexperience with input and advice from the AIME Knowledge Program Advisory Committee, which is comprised of leading figures in the business events sector. 

The AIME Ideas Academy presented by Spice Magazine is held on the show floor on the two days of the AIME trade exhibition. The sessions are designed to offer hands-on, practical advice to event professionals, giving them ideas and tips that they can use to enhance their events.

The AIME Ideas Academy presented by Spice agenda can be viewed here.

Connect and grow your network

AIME provides multiple opportunities to network and to grow your network.

The pre-AIME Uncover Melbourne famil run by the Melbourne Convention Bureau is attended by all International hosted buyers and is open to ANZ hosted buyers. This takes place on Sunday 9 February 2025.

All 650 hosted buyers and 600 exhibiting companies attend the legendary AIME Welcome Event taking place on the evening of Monday 10 Feburary. An exciting night of great food, drink, entertainment, and a chance to meet friends new and old. The Welcome Event follows on from the Knowledge Program, which also includes opportunities to meet with hosted buyers and exhibitors.

Days 1 and 2 of the AIME trade exhibition is where the pre-scheduled meetings between hosted buyers and exhibitors take place. The exhibition takes place on Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 February. Hosted buyers have access to the Hosted Buyer Lounge, which allows them to take refreshments, relax and meet with other hosted buyers.

All hosted buyers get access to our state-of-the-art meetings technology, allowing you to connect with other buyers and exhibitors of interest to you. Using this technology around 20,000 meetings are expected to be held at AIME 2025.

Hosted buyer attendee types and what's included

 

FULLY HOSTED BUYER

SEMI-HOSTED BUYER

DAY-BUYER
 

32 Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSAs) 20 Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSAs) 10 Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSAs)

Like to maximise your time?

Prefer some flexibility?

Time poor?

Fully hosted buyers commit to 32 x 15-minute PSAs with exhibitors.

Semi-hosted buyers commit to 20 x 15-minute PSAs with exhibitors.

Hosted day buyers commit to 10 x 15-minute PSAs with exhibitors on Wednesday, 12 February.

  • Return economy flights to Melbourne from a major city location
x
  • Group coach transfers to/from Melbourne airport to your hotel
x
  • Two or three nights accommodation in a 4 or 5-star hotel in Melbourne (4 nights accommodation for international buyers)
x x
  • Buffet breakfast each morning
x x
  • Invitation to participate in the MCB Uncover Melbourne experience on Sunday 9 February – showcasing hidden gems and unique event experiences*
x x x
  • A ticket to the Knowledge Program on Monday 10 February*
x x x
  • A ticket to The AIME Welcome Event on Monday 10 February
x x x
  • Morning, afternoon tea and lunch on show days – Tuesday 11 & Wednesday 12 February
x x x
  • Tickets to ‘Invite Only’ exclusive events
x x
  • Access to the ‘Hosted Buyers Lounge’
x x x
  • An online meeting platform providing flexibility and control over your meetings
x x x

  • An open diary to schedule additional appointments with exhibitors
x x x
  • Access to the AIME Hosted Buyer Hub
x x x

 

*The Uncover Melbourne Experience and Knowledge Program are no longer mandatory events for Australian and New Zealand buyers.

Note: Hosted day buyers are welcome to attend the tradeshow on Tuesday 11 or Wednesday 12 February and meet as many exhibitors as you wish, however PSAs will be scheduled on Wednesday only.

Hosted buyer criteria

Click here to view >>

Hosted Buyers (HBs) are:

  • Experienced and senior event planners with at least 5 years’ experience in the business events industry organising events.
  • Experienced planners who can come from different sectors of the business events industry including, associations, PCOs, event management agencies, corporate in-house event planners, incentive planners etc.
  • Event planners who research, organise, influence, contract and make budgetary decisions for business events.
  • Planning and/or booking business events on a weekly or monthly basis - at least on average 6+ per year with 50+ attendees.
  • Venue ‘finders’ or venue sourcing companies with a history sourcing venues for business events

Note: in addition planners from outside Australia must be:

  • Organising 6+ business events per year outside their home country with at least 50+ attendees at each event.
  • Some of the events must have been held in Australia in the past or there are definite plans to organise events in Australia as well as the Pacific or Asian destinations in the next two years.
  • Business event planners and not wedding planners, tour operators who are just organising tours for a business event, or travel agents organising group travel for a business event.
  • Relatively fluent in English - enough to correspond with the hosted buyer team and conduct meetings at the show without an interpreter.

Note: Business events are association or corporate conferences, corporate incentives, corporate events. We do not consider weddings, school groups, community / special interest networking groups etc. to fall under the umbrella of business events.

Accelerate program for junior employees

This new initiative was launched at AIME 2024 to assist junior members of the industry who would not normally qualify for the Hosted Buyers Program because they had less than five years events industry experience. These junior buyers – called “Rockets” – shadowed their managers on their Pre-Scheduled Appointments (PSAs) with the AIME exhibitors.

The program will give valuable relationship introductions to suppliers and allow participants to learn from their manager on the job. The program also gives free access to the Knowledge Program, Ideas Academy, the legendary AIME Welcome Event and many more learning and networking opportunities. It also offers the “Rockets” access to the Hosted Buyers Lounge, where they can meet experienced event professionals.

The Accelerate Program is now full. You can still attend as a visitor buyer by using the link below.

Register as a visitor buyer

Accelerate Program members at AIME 2024

Frequently asked questions

AIME welcome party

We've collated the most frequently asked questions and put them into a handy guide for you with FAQs on:

  • General Information About AIME
  • Buyer Commitments
  • Hosted Buyer Benefits & Costs
  • Application Process
  • PSAs & Meeting Matching
  • Accommodation
  • Flights & Transfers
  • Exhibitors
  • Passport & Visas
  • Terms & Conditions (Ts & Cs)
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Contacts & More Information
     

Read hosted buyer FAQs

Trustworthy with a proven track record of success

Australian Event Awards Winners Logo

Australian Event Awards:

Best Exhibition or Trade Show Winners: 2024, 2023

Best Congress, Conference or Exhibition Winners: 2022

Australian Event of the Year: 2022

UFI approved event logo

Hosted buyer testimonials

  • “On behalf of all the team at CBD Events, thank you for hosting us. We've really benefited from meeting the suppliers and have already been able to confirm work with new suppliers that we've met this week.”
    Belinda Adderton
    CBD Events

Apply Now!

AIME Welcome Party

Join us at AIME 2025, Asia Pacific's largest and longest running event for the business events sector.

  • Find inspiration with over 600 exhibitors showcasing the latest venues, activations, technology and much more. We'll organise your meetings for you.
  • Network with over 600 domestic and international hosted buyers, share experiences and ideas with your peers - including our legendary Welcome Party!
  • Learn at the AIME Knowledge Program and the Ideas Academy presented by  Spice Magazine
  • Choose your level of attendance - fully-hosted, semi-hosted or a day-buyer.

Hosted buyer applications are now closed. You can still register as a visitor buyer and get the opportunity to meet over 600 exhibiting companies, attend the AIME Ideas Academy presented by Spice, and upgrade your pass to attend the AIME Knowledge Program and Welcome Event.

Register as a visitor buyer

Sign up to the AIME Newsletter

Keep up to date with all the latest show news and offers.