This year’s show was AIME’s largest in a decade, showcasing more than 570 exhibitors, attracting 595 hosted buyers, and facilitating 17,000 meetings across the two-day event. Over 4,000 attendees graced the tradeshow floor, including 70 media representatives from around the globe. The event also saw a staggering 89,500 connections made across the show.

Post-show analysis provided further insights into the success of AIME 2024:

• Over 90% of exhibitors reported satisfaction with their AIME experience, placing the show among the top 10% of trade shows globally for exhibitor satisfaction (1).
• Similarly, over 90% of visitors were satisfied, positioning AIME in the top 10% of trade shows worldwide for visitor satisfaction (2).
• Almost 1 in 2 visitors were attending AIME for the first time.
• More than 85% of visitors confirmed their objectives for attending the event were met.
• Over 9 in 10 exhibitors expressed a strong likelihood of returning for AIME 2025.

Event Director, Silke Calder, and her team at Talk2 Media and Events, who manage the show on behalf of Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), delivered their third AIME event in 2024. Calder expressed pride in AIME’s standing as the premier business event for the international business events community in the region.

"The growth of AIME 2024 was just phenomenal, and these post-show results reflect that success," she said.
"AIME’s winning formula comes down to the rigorous process we undertake to vet our hosted buyers, coupled with the pre-qualified appointments exhibitors receive through our AI-powered meeting matching platform."

Calder also highlighted the global support AIME receives:
"AIME wouldn’t be the success it is without the tremendous backing from the international business events industry, along with the support of our fantastic sponsors. Many exhibitors have already secured their space for 2025, ensuring they don’t miss out on the connections and opportunities that AIME’s uniquely Australian flavour brings."

MCB CEO Julia Swanson emphasised AIME’s role as a driving force for business in the Asia Pacific region:
"AIME has become a powerful platform for the business events industry. This year’s results affirm its status as the go-to event in APAC. AIME and Melbourne continue to inspire collaboration, fostering economic growth for both Australia and the wider region."

AIME 2024 marked the 31st edition of the event, maintaining its position as the first major tradeshow on the global business events calendar. In 2024, AIME’s exhibitor numbers grew by 63% compared to the previous year, reflecting its growing popularity among international businesses. Exhibitors included convention bureaux, convention centres, hotels and resorts, unique venues, event technology companies, production and AV firms, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), airlines, and cruise companies. Exhibitors hailed from across Australia and international locations such as Japan, New Zealand, Africa, Fiji, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the USA, and many others.

AIME 2024 introduced two new features: The Boutique, a dedicated zone for boutique experience makers, and the DMC Network, which showcased Destination Management Companies from around the world. Both zones were highly successful, embodying the creative innovations AIME delivers annually.

The event’s much-anticipated AIME Welcome Event was held at Grazeland, themed as a vibrant ‘Neon Carnival’, attracting over 1,700 guests. Meanwhile, AIME’s educational Knowledge Program, themed The 4 Ps of Glocalisation, saw more than 1,850 participants engage in thought-provoking discussions and sessions.

Looking ahead to AIME 2025, the AIME team is excited to build on this year’s success and deliver another world-class event that continues to unite and empower the global business events community.

(1) AIME 2024 Exhibitor Survey conducted by Explori
(2) AIME 2024 Visitor Survey conducted by Explori