The Asia Pacific Incentives Meetings Event (AIME), Australia’s biggest business events trade show held in Melbourne, commenced on Monday with more than 300 exhibitors from around Australia including convention bureaux, convention centres and products coming together to do business with domestic and international business events planners.

Business Events Australia, which is hosting the Australia stand, announced at the event that the value of business events secured with the help of Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund has almost doubled in the past three months to reach a new milestone of $187 million.

Australia’s Minster for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said the Bid Fund Program is providing a significant boost to Australia’s lucrative business events industry by attracting international events to our shores.