The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC)’s A$200 million (US$153 million) expansion is nearing completion, with the ribbon-cutting ceremony currently set on June 26.
The 20,000m2 expansion includes 9,000m2 of exhibition space plus an additional flexible, multipurpose event space, 1,000 seat plenary theatre, multiple meeting rooms, a banquet room, and the Goldfields Café and Bar. This will bring the total size of MCEC to 70,000m2.
The new space will be warmed by the inaugural Malaria World Congress, from July 1 to 5. The event is expected to attract 2,000 to 2,500 people from NGOs to government bodies, as well as scientists.
Malaria is one of the world’s leading health problems. At present, there is no mechanism anywhere in the world for all stakeholders to share information and build a solid framework for collaborative action against malaria. The Malaria World Congress aims to address this gap.
MCEC has also recently won Spineweek 2020, the Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society 2021, and General Assembly and Congress of the International Union of Crystallography 2023. Each event is expected to attract at least 2,000 delegates. The three will altogether contribute A$48 million (US$35.9 million) dollars to the Victoria state.
MCEC has also announced two new product and service breakthroughs this week – the debut of a digital portal that helps customers manage event-related documents and processes, and a collaboration with C2 International that will grant MCEC’s customers access to the latter’s experiential design platform and signature interaction labs.
myMCEC digital portal allows customers to review and upload documents tailored to their event and manage tasks such as setting email reminders and making secure payments. The portal can be accessed at any time on any device.
Developed by event management technology company Ungerboeck, Peter King, MCEC’s chief executive, describes myMCEC as the first customised technology of its kind in the meetings and events space.
Commenting on MCEC’s partnership with C2 International, which is believed to be a world’s first in the convention sector, King said: “Together with C2, we’ll work to transform our industry and reinvent the role venues play in helping deliver events that generate positive connections and meaningful experiences.”
Founded by Cirque du Soleil and Sid Lee, C2 International is a company which curates immersive and interactive experiences, compelling participants to reframe their thinking and draw on innate creativity to solve the global business challenges in this day and age.
