Where and when is AIME 2026?

AIME will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC). The program commences on 9 February until 11 February 2026: 

• Monday 9 February – Knowledge Monday (11.00am - 5.00pm) & Welcome Event (7.00pm – 10.00pm)
• Tuesday 10 February – Trade show day 1 including Ideas on the Floor (8.30am to 6.00pm) 
• Wednesday 11 February – Trade show day 2 including Ideas on the Floor (8.30am to 5.00pm)

What's the latest on Covid-19?  

Travel restrictions and Covid-19 requirements have been relaxed across Australia. It is no longer mandatory to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to enter, Australia, the state of Victoria or the AIME 2026 venue, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre. It is also no longer mandatory to wear masks, however, we recommend you make your own judgement on whether you would prefer to wear a mask. We also recommend keeping this in mind if you have an upcoming event in the weeks immediately leading up to or following AIME. As AIME 2026 gets closer, please also keep up with developments via the  https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ 

What is the basic program outline for hosted buyers? 

• Saturday 7 February - International arrivals
• Sunday 8 February - Domestic arrivals / Uncover Melbourne Experiences*
• Monday 9 February - Domestic arrivals / Knowledge Monday / Welcome Event
• Tuesday 10 February - Trade show & pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs)
• Wednesday 11 February - Trade show & pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) / Departures – domestic & international

NOTE: The information above is subject to change. 

Who can be a hosted buyer?

Domestic Hosted buyer criteria:  

• Experienced event planners with minimum 3 years’ experience who plan and manage business events from end-to-end (e.g., source, influence, make budgetary decisions, contract and deliver business events) . 
• Event planners with less than 3 years’ experience can apply for our Accelerate Program.  
• Experienced event planners who work in different sectors of the business events industry including associations, PCOs, DMCs, event management agencies, corporate in-house event planners, incentive planners etc.  
• Experienced venue ‘finders’ or venue sourcing companies for business events.
• Experienced event planners who plan and manage business events on a regular basis – minimum 6+ business events per annum / 50+ delegates.  
• Associations – hosting a convention, congress or annual scientific meeting in the APAC region .
• Business event planners are not wedding planners nor tour operators / travel agents who only organise the tour or travel component for a business event.  

NOTE: The above criteria and final decision are subject to the Hosted Buyer Team’s discretion.  

International Hosted buyer criteria:

• Experienced event planners with minimum 3 years’ experience who plan and manage business events from end-to-end (e.g., source, influence, make budgetary decisions, contract and deliver business events).  
• Experienced event planners who work in different sectors of the business events industry including associations, PCOs, DMCs, event management agencies, corporate in-house event planners, incentive planners etc.  
• Experienced venue ‘finders’ or venue sourcing companies for business events.  
• Experienced event planners who plan and manage business events outside of their own country – minimum number of events/delegates subject to application details. 
• Associations – hosting a convention, congress or annual scientific meeting in the APAC region. 
• Some business events must have been held in Australia / Asia-Pacific within the past 3 years and there are definite plans to organise business events in Australia / Asia-Pacific region. 
• Fluent in English – to be able to correspond with the hosted buyer team and conduct meetings at the trade show without an interpreter. 
• Business event planners are not wedding planners nor tour operators / travel agents who only organise the tour or travel component for a business event. 

NOTE: The above criteria and final decision are subject to the Hosted Buyer Team’s discretion.  

What countries do AIME buyers represent? 

Buyers who are selected to attend AIME are business events professionals who are looking to place business within Australia and the Asia Pacific region as well as other key regions around the world. Buyers represent and are accepted from the following countries: 

• Australia 
• New Zealand 
• South-East Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia) 
• North Asia (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea) 
• India 
• UK/Europe and the UAE  
• USA, Canada & South America  

What am I committing to if I come as a fully hosted, semi-hosted or day buyer? 

The most important commitment for fully hosted and semi-hosted buyers is to attend the trade show on both Tuesday and Wednesday to fulfil the total number of allocated pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) – this is the primary reason we host buyers at AIME. 
Day buyers must fulfil their pre-scheduled appointments on Wednesday. 

Note: Additional commitments which are mandatory for international hosted buyers include: 

• The Uncover Melbourne Experiences on Sunday, 8 February
• Knowledge Monday on Monday, 9 February
• The Welcome Event on Monday, 9 February

Note:  Whilst the Uncover Melbourne Experiences and Knowledge Monday are no longer mandatory for Australian and New Zealand buyers, they must attend the Welcome Event on Monday, 9 February.

Other activities available to all hosted buyers on a non-mandatory basis include: 

• Special 'invite only' events from partners, sponsors and hotel partners.
• Post trade show famils from Wednesday or Thursday (subject to destination requirements and availability).

As a hosted buyer, how long do I have to be at the trade show? 

Fully hosted and semi-hosted buyers must: 

• Participate in the Uncover Melbourne Experiences on Sunday, 8 February
  (Uncover Melbourne Experiences are optional only for Australian and New Zealand hosted buyers). 
• Attend the Welcome Event on Monday, 9 February.
• Be on the trade show floor all day Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 February.

Day buyers must: 

• Attend the Welcome Event on Monday, 9 February.
• Be on the trade show floor all day Wednesday, 11 February.

What is the cost to attend AIME as a fully hosted buyer?

It is complimentary to attend AIME, and as a fully hosted buyer you can take advantage of: 

• Economy flights to/from Melbourne.
• Group coach transfers to/from Melbourne airport.
• Accommodation – total number of nights (2 to 5) dependant on your location, flight availability and mandatory events.
• Hotel buffet breakfast each morning.
• The educational Knowledge Monday sessions and networking lunch on Monday.
• The Welcome Event on Monday evening.
• Morning/afternoon tea and lunch on trade show days - Tuesday / Wednesday – in the Hosted Buyers’ Lounge.
• ‘Invitation’ only special events on Tuesday evening.

Semi-hosted buyers are provided with the same benefits above, with the exception of flights and transfers – these are covered at your own expense. In return you will be required to conduct less exhibitor pre-scheduled appointments (20 PSAs instead of 32 as a fully hosted buyer). 

Day-Buyers are only required to do 10 pre-scheduled appointments on Wednesday, 11 February – in return they receive access to: Knowledge Monday, Welcome Event, trade show floor on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Hosted Buyer’s Lounge and invitation only special events. 

What is not included in the cost of attending AIME? 

The below costs are not included in the hosted buyer program: 

• Additional accommodation over and above the nights covered by AIME (see travel and accommodation section below).
• Meals outside those provided in the catering provisions.
• Personal extras at the hotel e.g., early check-in / late check-out, room upgrade, extra meals, snacks, mini bar etc., these will be settled by you on departure from the hotel.
• Transfers to/from Melbourne airport if arriving outside the nominated group transfer times on Saturday 7, Sunday 8, Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 February (more info will be provided in January 2026).
• Visa application / re-application costs.
• Travel insurance.

What are the benefits in attending AIME? 

The benefits in attending AIME are numerous including: 

• Pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) with exhibitors.
• Meeting and networking with exhibitors and buyers from around the globe to strengthen your business and expand your network.
• Increasing your brand awareness and positioning within the global business events industry.
• Keeping up with the latest trends and developments within the business events industry.
• Having fun – celebrate and connect at the Welcome Event on Monday evening.
• Attending educational sessions at Knowledge Monday on Monday 9 February.
• Access to Ideas on the Floor on Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February.

What catering is included for hosted buyers? 

Fully hosted and semi-hosted buyers are provided with: 

• Buffet breakfast in the restaurant of your allocated hotel.
• Lunch on Monday 9 February for those attending Knowledge Monday.
• Casual dinner at the Welcome Event on Monday 10 February.
• Morning, afternoon tea and lunch in the Hosted Buyers Lounge on Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February.

Day Buyers are provided with: 

• Lunch on Monday 9 February for those attending Knowledge Monday.
• Casual dinner at the Welcome Event on Monday 9 February.
• Morning / afternoon tea and lunch in the Hosted Buyers Lounge on trade show days – Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February.

What is the difference between fully hosted, semi-hosted and day buyers? 

Fully hosted buyers have flights, group transfers and accommodation included and in return, agree to completing 32 pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs). 

Semi-hosted buyers are provided with accommodation and pay for their own flights and transfers - they only commit to 20 pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) providing a little more flexibility in their day. 

Day buyers commit to 10 pre-scheduled appointments (PSAs) on Wednesday 11 February and are not provided with flights, group transfers or accommodation. 

All hosted buyer types are provided with: 

• A ticket to Knowledge Monday on Monday 9 February (education sessions).
• A ticket to the AIME Welcome Event on Monday 9 February.
• Morning / afternoon tea and lunch on trade show days – Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February.
• Access to the Hosted Buyers Lounge on Tuesday 10 & Wednesday 11 February.

Note: Regional restrictions apply to certain hosted buyer types – for more information contact the Hosted Buyer Team.

What is the application process?

• Anyone can apply via the application link on our website if they meet the hosted buyer criteria. Invitations are also sent from our AIME database, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), hotel partners and exhibitors.
• If you receive an invitation and you'd like to be a fully hosted buyer, semi-hosted, or day buyer, please complete the online application form. All hosted buyer types apply through the same form, and you will be asked to nominate your hosted buyer type preference on the form. 
• Once your application is received, the hosted buyer team will check and verify the information provided. This will involve contacting the venues outlined in your application to verify your events. Reference checks will be undertaken if necessary, and you may be contacted to provide more information on clients, venues or suppliers who can verify your event management credentials. This process can take time, however hosting buyers is a significant investment and we need to ensure that we are providing our exhibitors with quality hosted buyers with purchasing power. 
• If your application is approved, you will receive an email with instructions to read in full and accept the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) for being a hosted buyer. 
• Once your T&Cs are signed you will receive an email confirming your application, together with an indication of the next steps in the process (e.g., flight information, visa requirements, exhibitor preferences for your PSAs, dietary requirements etc.). 
• If your application does not meet our assessment criteria you will be notified and invited to register as a self-funded ‘visitor buyer’ - visitor applications will open on our website at the end of 2025. 

How are hosted buyer applications assessed? 

All applicants must meet the Hosted Buyer criteria. 

To assess whether an applicant meets our hosted buyer criteria, we take the following into consideration: 

• Your current role and responsibilities as per our hosted buyer criteria.
• Your strong history in the business events industry - your LinkedIn profile is very useful in this regard.
• Your organisation / association and their business events.
• Your past and planned events in the Asia-Pacific region (number of events, type, size, location, proof required – e.g. program, website, run sheet).
• Your referees (e.g., venue or hotel contact).
• Business events industry association memberships.

What is the cut-off date for hosted buyer applications? 

The cut-off date for 2026 hosted buyer applications will be announced once applications open. 

Make sure you apply early to secure your preferred hosted buyer type and not miss out due to the regional/country limits. 

Applications will not be accepted after the cut-off date. 

What happens if my application is unsuccessful? 

If your application does not meet our assessment criteria, you will be notified and invited to register as a self-funded ‘visitor buyer’ – visitor buyer applications will open on our website at the end of 2025. 

What is a PSA?

A PSA is a Pre-Scheduled Appointment with an exhibitor. 

At AIME, hosted buyers filter through exhibitors by selecting their preferences, and we curate a diary of PSAs for you using our state-of-the-art software, reducing the time and pressure on buyers and sellers to create and fill their own diary. 

• Fully hosted buyers commit to 32 x 15-minute PSAs on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 February. 
• Semi-hosted buyers commit to 20 x 15-minute PSAs on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 February. 
• Hosted day buyers commit to 10 PSAs on Wednesday 11 February. 

A five (5) minute break will be provided between appointments. 

No PSAs are scheduled during morning / afternoon tea or lunch breaks - although many buyers use some of this free time to meet exhibitors not scheduled in their diary. 

All appointments are conducted in English and interpreters are not provided. 

What is the structure of the appointments? 

• Tuesday 10 February 
  • Trade show hours are 8:30am to 6.00pm  
  • 16 PSAs between 9.00am and 5.00pm* 
• Wednesday 11 February 
  • Trade show hours are 8:30am to 5.00pm 
  • 16 PSAs between 9.00am and 5.00pm* 

Note: All timings are subject to change, any changes will be communicated as they are confirmed. 

Do I have to complete my full diary of appointments? 

Yes. It is a condition of being hosted that you complete a full diary of appointments – 32, 20 or 10 depending on your hosted buyer type (i.e. fully hosted – 32 appointments, semi-hosted – 20 appointments or hosted day buyer – 10 appointments).  

In return you receive return economy flights and group transfers (fully hosted buyers only), accommodation (fully and semi-hosted buyers only, not hosted day buyers), meals, networking events and access to the Uncover Melbourne Experiences, Welcome Event, Knowledge Monday and all exhibitors on the trade show floor. 

Please note that failure to complete your PSAs will mean you won't be able to attend AIME in the future and international buyers will not receive their flight reimbursement. 

Can I share my appointments with a colleague? 

No. If there are two of you from the same company, you will need to have your own personalised set of appointment schedules. 

Only those who are part of the Accelerate Program – Rockets – are able to share in their manager’s appointment by shadowing them. 

What is the timeframe for nomination of preferences and meeting matching? 

We cannot start the process until all buyers and all exhibitors are confirmed mid-December 2025. We will provide timeline updates over the next few months. 

Can you provide information on companies who will exhibit? 

A list of 2026 exhibitors will be available in January 2026 and will only be made available to confirmed hosted buyers. 

Is accommodation provided for hosted buyers?

Both fully hosted and semi-hosted buyers receive complimentary accommodation and buffet breakfast at a 4 or 5-star hotel in Melbourne within proximity to the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. 

• Domestic hosted buyers are provided with 2 nights' accommodation (Monday 9 & Tuesday 10 February). Only those domestic hosted buyers who are both: 
  • not Victoria-based* and
  • are attending Uncover Melbourne Experiences

    will be provided with a complimentary Sunday night 9 February as well.  

• International hosted buyers are provided 4- or 5-nights’ accommodation – Saturday 7, Sunday 8, Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 February nights with check out Wednesday, 11 February morning. If there are no return flights available after 9.00 pm (21:00) on Wednesday night, 11 February after the trade show, one extra night of accommodation – Wednesday night, 11 February – will be covered by AIME (this must be requested from and approved by the Hosted Buyer team prior to flight bookings). 

Additional nights over and above those listed above will be at the individual hosted buyer's personal expense.  

Is breakfast at the hotel included for buyers? 

Yes, a single buffet breakfast per day in the hotel restaurant is included with accommodation. Any in-room dining, additional person breakfasts, other meals (e.g., lunch, dinner) or snacks, mini-bar etc., will be at your own expense and paid direct to the hotel. 

Can I extend my stay in Melbourne? 

Yes, however additional accommodation nights are at your own expense. 

Should you wish to extend your stay at your AIME allocated hotel, contact details will be provided to you once the allocations have been completed in January. Please note that availability at our partner hotels outside of the AIME provided nights is not guaranteed. 

Can I choose the hotel where I’d like to stay? 

No. Your accommodation is covered by AIME and taking into consideration all the different requirements from the domestic and international hosted buyer matrix as well as fairness to our accommodation partners, the hosted buyer team will allocate each buyer to a hotel. This is done once the applications have closed and we know exactly how many buyers are attending AIME, what other considerations must be taken into account and how many room nights are required from the blocks we have negotiated with our partner hotels. 

It is not an option to swap hotels once they have been allocated by the hosted buyer team. 

In some instances, where you are a regular or frequent user of a particular hotel or chain, you may be personally invited by them to stay at their property. In that situation the hotel will provide us with the names of those hosted buyers who have accepted their invitation, and – in light of all requirements that must be considered for all hosted buyers – we will try our best to allocate those accordingly.  

When will I be notified about my accommodation? 

Fully and semi-hosted buyers will be notified of their accommodation in January 2026. 

We allocate accommodation once the applications have closed, and we know exactly how many buyers are attending and what kind of requirements must be taken into account. 

Are flights included for hosted buyers?

Return economy flight costs are included for fully hosted buyers only. Semi-hosted buyers are required to pay for their own flights. 

More information will be provided once your hosted buyer application has been confirmed. 

Are transfers included for hosted buyers? 

Group coach transfers are included to/from Melbourne Airport to the CBD hotels for hosted buyers only on:

• Saturday 7 February
• Sunday 8 February
• Monday 9 February
• and Wednesday 11 February

If your flights are outside the group transfer times, you will be required to fund your own transfers to/from Melbourne airport.

Semi-hosted buyers cover their own transfers but are welcome to take advantage of a group transfer if there is one available coinciding with your flight. 

The group transfer schedule will be made available closer to the event. 

Can I book my own flights? 

International hosted buyers are required to book their own flights to/from Melbourne and will have their flight costs reimbursed after AIME 2026, once we’ve established that all PSAs – as per their hosted buyer commitment – were undertaken during the trade show. 

Domestic hosted buyers must book their flights via Reho Travel and Reho’s AIME-designated travel portal. Detailed instructions are provided after the successful completion of the approved Hosted Buyers’ T&Cs. 

When should international hosted buyers fly in/out of Melbourne? 

International hosted buyers are required to arrive on Saturday, 7 February prior to the commencement of the Uncover Melbourne Experiences on Sunday 8 February (exact time TBC). 

New Zealand hosted buyers: 

• Attending Uncover Melbourne Experiences should arrive on Saturday, 7 February (exact time TBC).
• NOT attending Uncover Melbourne Experiences should arrive on Sunday, 8 February (exact time TBC). 

The trade show concludes at 5.00pm on Wednesday 11 February and flights should be booked departing after 9.00pm on Wednesday evening 11 February. 

When should domestic hosted buyers fly in/out of Melbourne? 

Domestic hosted buyers: 

• Attending Uncover Melbourne Experiences should arrive early on Sunday morning, 8 February.  
• NOT attending Uncover Melbourne Experiences should arrive early on Monday morning, 9 February – in time for Knowledge Monday – or Monday, 9 February early afternoon in time for the AIME Welcome Event. 

Departures should be on Wednesday night, 11 February after the conclusion of the trade show at 5.00pm AEDT. Group airport transfers will commence at 5.15pm from the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. 

Are the transfer costs in my own country to/from office/home and airport reimbursed? 

No, the transfers in your home country are at your own expense. 

What are the transfer options to/from Melbourne airport outside the group transfer dates/times? 

Alternative transfer options to/from Melbourne airport: 

• Uber  
• Taxi 
• SkyBus - which departs Melbourne airport every few minutes and will take you to Southern Cross train station for a cost of AUD$24.60 one way or AUD$41.20 return (pricing subject to change).

When can I view the list of exhibitors for AIME 2026?

The exhibitor list for AIME 2026 will be provided to confirmed hosted buyers only in January 2026. 

Below is an overview of the types of exhibitors who attend AIME:  

• Destinations – Australia, Pacific, Asia are the majority with some additional destinations in Europe and the Americas
• Convention bureaux or tourism offices with a business events focus
• Convention centres
• Hotels and resorts 
• Boutique and specialty venues 
• Attractions and activities relevant for groups and events 
• Caterers – many offering unique venues as part of their portfolio 
• Event technology companies inc. registration platforms, apps, video conferencing etc – from within Australia and around the globe 
• Production and AV suppliers 
• Destination Management Companies (DMCs) 
• Travel and tour operators 
• Airlines
• Cruise companies
• Support services for events e.g. promotional goods, photographers and videographers, event designers and stylists, florists etc. 

It is important to note that as a large number of the exhibitors are from Australia / Asia-Pacific region, you must have some upcoming business events planned for Australia / Asia-Pacific region so you can fulfil the commitment of 32 or 20 quality PSAs. 

What are the passport and visa requirements for travel to Australia?

The Australian government website provides all relevant information for those who wish to enter the country on a temporary basis. Please make sure you read and understand the relevant information and requirements thoroughly.

Make sure your passport is valid before applying to become a hosted buyer, as there may be long delays to have a passport reissued. The Australian government does not impose six-month passport validity for travellers entering the country however, some airlines insist on the validity as part of their terms and conditions to board a flight – please ensure you have checked this. 

Please check visa requirements for entering Australia on the Australian government website here - visas are dependent on which country issued your passport. 

You will need to select ‘attending a conference or expo’ as the main purpose of your visit to Australia from the list provided on the government website. 

Visas applications must be covered at your own expense, and you should apply immediately once your hosted buyer application has been approved and confirmed by signing the T&Cs. Please be advised that, due to high demand, visas may take longer to process – even months in some cases.  Please apply early to avoid disappointment. 

If you require a visa support letter for your visa application, please advise the Hosted Buyer Team ASAP. Please note that a visa support letter can only be issued to a confirmed hosted buyer. 

Where can I view the hosted buyer terms and conditions?

Full Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) will be provided once your application has been approved. Much of the information contained in the T&Cs document has been outlined in these FAQs. Once you have understood and signed the terms and conditions your hosted buyer status will be confirmed and next steps emailed through to you. 

What if I can no longer attend?

You must notify the Hosted Buyer Team immediately (see contact details below). If you cancel after December 2025 – penalties apply. These are fully outlined in the T&Cs which will be provided to you once your application has been approved. 

Can a colleague attend in my place?

If you need to cancel for some reason, then it will be acceptable to have a colleague from your company to replace you. However, the colleague should be a senior team member, who meets the criteria and will still need to be approved by the Hosted Buyer Team. 

Once your participation has been confirmed you can access the Hosted Buyer Hub to find answers to most of your questions.

If you have any additional queries please contact: