In 2022-23, the first full year of operation since the pandemic, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) exceeded expectations, hosting 694 events, welcoming more than 2.6 million visitors, and generating A$805 million (US$517.3 million) in economic impact for Victoria.
During the year, 21 international, 70 national and 124 local meetings, conferences and exhibitions were hosted, alongside 79 concerts and ticketed events. These were a diverse mix, from a Business Leaders lunch with Barack Obama, Global Botanic Gardens Congress and International Air Transport Association through to THE LUME Melbourne’s Monet & Friends experience, Gift Fairs and Bluesfest.
May 2023 was the biggest month in MCEC’s history, with 89,000 visitors coming through the doors to attend 76 events. The major May drawcards were Spineweek, Australian Manufacturing Week, The Good Food & Wine Show, and the Rotary International Convention.
MCEC also sponsored over A$2.2 million of in-kind value for community organisations. This included hosting the Good Friday Appeal Kids Day Out for the ninth year, raising a record-breaking A$23 million for the Royal Children’s Hospital.
MCEC’s Club Melbourne Ambassadors, in collaboration with the Melbourne Convention Bureau, continued to promote Melbourne and secure major international conferences for the centre. MCEC also established formal partnerships with the Victorian Tourism and Industry Council to collaborate on opportunities to support the tourism and business events sector, and with The Startup Network to help shape the MCEC customer experience.
Sustainability remained a focus as MCEC launched a reusable cup programme that will save over 1.3 million disposable cups each year and help achieve the goal of eliminating single-use plastic and diverting 90 per cent of our waste from landfill by 2025.
_MCEC’s chief executive, Natalie O’Brien, stated: “_As demand for in-person events returned stronger than expected, MCEC was able to once again welcome events from across the nation and the globe and contribute to the Victorian economy. We’re proud of the MCEC team and our partners, who delivered extraordinary events and exceptional customer experiences throughout the year.”
