Aiming to promote the advantages of Macao´s convention and exhibition industry and to attract a greater number of internationally renowned MICE events to Macao, IPIM´s Executive Director, Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau, travelled to Melbourne, Australia, from 24 to 25 February, to participate in "The Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo" (AIME 2015). AIME 2015 is one of Asia-Pacific´s most influential events of the convention and exhibition industry, having attracted last year, over 700 exhibitors and more than 3,000 qualified buyers from over 50 countries and regions. AIME 2015´s exhibitors included government tourist departments, government departments for the development of the MICE industry, hotel operators, convention centres, technology providers, airlines, convention and exhibition centres, international business associations, destination management service operators, conference and public relations operators, transportation and tour operators, and also travel industry publishers. In the course of the two-day event, a press conference was organised by IPIM. Mrs. Irene V. K. Lau, Executive Director of IPIM, and Mr. Mike Williams, Senior Consultant of GainingEdge which provides MICE consultancy service to IPIM, promoted the strength of Macao's convention and exhibition industry and IPIM's "One-Stop Service" for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao respectively. Latest development in Macao's MICE industry was also mentioned in a bid to develop the international tourist market and attract to Macao the holding of greater number of international convention and exhibition events. Several media members from the Asia-Pacific region attended the press conference and respective feedback was both proactive and positive. Through this press conference, it is expected that the media will widely disseminate the services provided by Macao´s convention and exhibition sector, and thus assist in the expansion of the local MICE market. Furthermore, IPIM has set-up a promotion counter in the "Macao Pavilion" located at the AIME 2015´s venue, to promote the "One-Stop Service" for MICE Bidding and Support in Macao and to answer enquiries from the visitors. At the same time, IPIM´s delegates participated in 20 business-matching sessions arranged by the Organisers of the AIME 2015, to conduct business negotiations with potential buyers and promote Macao as an ideal destination for conventions and exhibitions. Other exhibitors in the "Macao Pavilion" included the Macao Government Tourist Office, as well as local tourist agencies and professional conference organizers.
