The Welcome Event for the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) 2025, AIMalfi FESTA, will be held at il Mercato Centrale Melbourne on February 10.
The event will kick off AIME’s 32nd year with an Amalfi Coast theme, from 19.00 to 22.00 at il Mercato Centrale, a 3,000m2 venue in Melbourne’s CBD, a short walk from Southern Cross Station.
il Mercato Centrale
Over 2,000 attendees, including hosted buyers, exhibitors, media partners, and industry VIPs, are expected to attend. Attendees are encouraged to embrace the blue, white, and yellow colour scheme, and they can look forward to enjoying Italian-inspired food and drinks from il Mercato Centrale’s artisan food market. The evening will also feature entertainment from special guest artists.
Merging the Italian heritage of food with the experience of a contemporary hospitality hub, Il Mercato Centrale offers bespoke experiences for private and corporate events alike, with the flexibility to host small groups and large functions of more than 2,000 people.
AIME 2025 will run from February 10-12 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
EventsAir’s CEO Chris Ridd (pictured) looks forward to continuing the company’s work with ICCA
Event management platform, EventsAir, and ICCA, have renewed their strategic partnership for another year, celebrating five years of collaboration.
The continued partnership reinforces both organisations’ commitment to innovation and growth within the global association events industry.
EventsAir’s CEO Chris Ridd (pictured) looks forward to continuing the company’s work with ICCA
EventsAir’s comprehensive platform, used by event planners to streamline operations and enhance event experiences, complements ICCA’s expertise and global network within the international meetings community. The partnership focuses on addressing the evolving challenges faced by association event organisers and raising industry standards.
“EventsAir is thrilled to celebrate five years of partnership with ICCA,” said Chris Ridd, CEO of EventsAir. “This milestone reflects our mutual commitment to empowering association event planners. We look forward to continuing our work with ICCA to provide innovative tools that help create impactful and engaging event experiences.”
CEO of ICCA, Senthil Gopinath, added that ICCA is committed to providing its members with the latest event tech tools and developing partnerships that make a real difference.
ICC Sydney elevates its menu by adding live cooking stations
The International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by ASM Global, has released its 2025 Menu Collection, building on its sustainably-designed F&B portfolio with new interactive culinary experiences that enhance delegate connection at events.
ICC Sydney’s interactive cooking stations range from the Burrata Bar featuring Vannella burrata, stracciatella wrapped in buffalo mozzarella with ICC Sydney custom-blend ALTO olive oil, and the Dumpling Station comprising assorted dumplings, dim sum, gyoza and pork buns, to the Smoke House experience championing in-house smoked New South Wales beef brisket, and Spice Box that injects the flavours of India and Thailand.
ICC Sydney elevates its menu by adding live cooking stations
The venue’s award-winning beverage team will also showcase their 100 per cent Local New South Wales wine list at events with interactive Sommelier’s Wine Tasting Bars.
ICC Sydney’s director of culinary services, Lynell Peck said: “This year, we set out to inspire event delegates of all generations by providing unique food and beverage experiences. Our 2025 Menu Collection has the power to connect people through food – not only to each other but to Sydney’s vibrant culture and community.
“Our culinary approach is underpinned by our commitment to make a difference as we support organisers and attendees to not only tread more lightly on the earth by selecting lower carbon menu options, but to enjoy fun dining experiences that remove barriers to engagement.”
The full 2025 Menu Collection includes six core menus that have again undergone a carbon calculation analysis with lower carbon menu items denoted within each. ICC Sydney’s new Interactive Cooking Stations can be found on the Canapes Menu which also features Food Stations and Pop Up Dessert Experiences catering to a broad range of tastes.
The global exhibition industry is gearing up for the 10th annual Global Exhibitions Day (GED), set to take place on June 4, 2025.
UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has revealed that Exhibitions unleash potential will be the theme for this event.
Exhibition booths at FinTech Festival 2024 at the Singapore Expo pictured
Businesses and professionals across the sector are invited to participate in GED by showcasing how exhibitions drive growth across multiple industries, empower professionals, and contribute to economic and social progress worldwide.
To amplify the impact of the theme, UFI has outlined four key messages:
Exhibitions drive collaboration and innovation to transform businesses and industries.
Exhibitions enable new, emerging, and established talent to grow and succeed.
Exhibitions power economic development and societal progress for countries and communities.
Exhibitions amplify reach, build brands, foster connections, and drive revenue through face-to-face engagement.
These messages underscore the potential that exhibitions unlock for all stakeholders, from industries and individuals to communities and companies.
UFI has provided resources and tools on the official GED website to help organisations plan their celebrations. Suggestions for participation include hosting local GED activities or campaigns, engaging government officials to recognise the exhibition industry, personalising the GED toolkit, partnering with local media, and promoting initiatives on social media using #GED2025.
The Seed, a newly opened ultra-luxury beachfront estate on Bali’s tranquil east coast, is targeting corporate groups seeking privacy and bespoke experiences through exclusive buyouts.
While individual villa rentals are available, The Seed’s focus is on providing a complete takeover experience, allowing corporate bookers to enjoy the entire estate.
The Seed
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The estate features four one- and two-bedroom villas, alongside amenities such as a fitness and wellness centre, the Bloom Kitchen private restaurant helmed by culinary director Dom Marquez-Hammond, a poolside cinema, and games room. There’s even a private, soundproof nightclub, allowing for unrestricted enjoyment of music and celebrations.
A dedicated concierge service will be on hand to help corporates arrange experiences tailored to the needs of every group, ranging from organising elaborate banquet dinners to bringing in wellness facilitators.
Interested parties should contact The Seed directly for buyout pricing and availability, as these are subject to the specific requirements of each group and the time of year. For an idea, individual villa rentals start from US$3,500 in the low season, and go up to US$6,500 in the high season, inclusive of breakfast.
Global adventure travel company, Intrepid Travel, has chosen Colombo, Sri Lanka as the host city for its Global Summit 2025 – the second time the company will host its annual gathering outside of its Melbourne, Australia headquarters.
Company officials said the decision underlines Sri Lanka’s vital role within Intrepid’s global operations.
James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, will lead the company’s Global Summit to Colombo, Sri Lanka later this month
Intrepid established an office in Colombo in 2012 and has gone from strength to strength since then. With both a capability centre and a country office managing trips across the country, Sri Lanka has become a key operational centre for the company, supporting technology, revenue management, human resources, product services, finance and customer service.
Scheduled to take place from February 24 to 27, 2025, the Global Summit 2025 will bring together over 200 international participants over 50 nationalities across its 40-plus offices, including Intrepid’s board, co-founders, and core management team, alongside 300 local team members.
The four-day summit will feature strategy discussions, leadership workshops, local community engagements and fam trips.
“Our team in Sri Lanka is such an important part of our company and our customers also love visiting this incredible and vibrant country,” said James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel.
“Our vision for Sri Lanka extends beyond tourism; it’s about driving sustainable growth and creating meaningful, lasting impact. The growing number of Intrepid travellers choosing Sri Lanka highlights its immense potential, and we remain committed to ensuring local communities share in the benefits of this success.”
In 2024, Intrepid welcomed over 4,000 travellers to Sri Lanka, a 206 per cent increase from 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The company aims to welcome over 15,000 travellers to Sri Lanka by 2030.
UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has welcomed Benjamin Duclos as the association’s new research coordinator.
In his new role, Duclos will work alongside research manager Christian Druart to support UFI’s market research initiatives, providing valuable insights to help the global exhibition industry navigate future challenges and opportunities. He will also contribute to data-driven research projects that support the association’s advocacy initiatives to promote the sector’s impact on a global scale.
Duclos brings over five years of international experience in law, project management, and research, having worked with organisations such as the World Health Organization, HEC Paris Business School, and the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations.
Following stricter national regulations on whale shark conservation introduced in November last year, the government of Maldives has now moved to enforce propeller guards on all excursion boats within the next three months.
The new regulation will be expanded to areas beyond South-Ari Marine Park (SAMPA) where whale shark activity is observed. The SAMPA is a world-renowned area, and the most significant feature of this area is that whale sharks can be seen here throughout the year.
Propeller guards must be installed on all excursion boats in the Maldives within the next three months
Special speedboats will patrol areas with whale shark activity to monitor vessels that take tourists to these sites.
Minister of climate change, environment, and energy, Thoriq Ibrahim, remarked: “Sometimes, over 100 tourists swim after a single whale shark; with no set policy. Even speedboats venture into this area.”
“By mandating propeller guards, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring the safety of both whale sharks and those who admire them. This measure reflects our commitment to sustainable tourism and the preservation of our marine environment.” added Ibrahim Shiuree, CEO & managing director of Visit Maldives.
Melbourne (pictured) will host significant global conferences on gender equality and women’s rights in 2026
Melbourne has been selected to host Women Deliver 2026, a global conference on gender equality and women’s rights.
Scheduled to take place from April 27-30, 2026, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will host over 6,500 delegates from 170 countries.
Melbourne (pictured) will host significant global conferences on gender equality and women’s rights in 2026
The triennial conference – held for the first time in the Oceania Pacific region – will serve as a crucial platform for advancing gender justice and reproductive health, facilitating critical dialogue, knowledge sharing, and networking among global leaders, advocates, and organisations.
This builds on the Australian city’s successful hosting of a smaller regional Women Deliver convening in 2023.
Women Deliver is dedicated to promoting the health and rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people worldwide. The conference will address key issues such as reproductive health, the empowerment of marginalised communities, and building a more equitable world.
The successful bid was a collaborative effort involving the Melbourne Convention Bureau, the Victorian State Government, the Federal Government, Tourism Australia, and key stakeholders across the region.
Oakwood launches brand campaign All You Knead is Comfort, inviting guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations
Riding on a proven rise in bleisure travel and the pivotal role food plays in travel experiences, Oakwood is taking a strategic position to cater to the evolving needs of travellers seeking the perfect blend of business and pleasure.
In a press statement, Ascott’s Oakwood noted that bleisure travel is currently a global market valued at nearly US$600 billion, based on Forbes research, while American Express Travel’s 2023 Global Travel Trends Report had highlighted the influential power of food experiences in travel, with 46 per cent of respondents saying they would sign up for cooking classes to engage with the culture of the destination, while 34 per cent would shop for groceries while travelling.
Oakwood launches brand campaign All You Knead is Comfort, inviting guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations
In line with these findings, all new Oakwood properties will feature on-site dining options. Following last year’s brand refresh, more than half of Oakwood properties today offer the convenience of dining on-property, featuring a variety of culinary options that focus on comfort food.
Furthermore, the Oakwood brand’s All You Knead is Comfort brand campaign 2025 will tap into the universal power of comfort food to soothe the soul and satisfy the palate. The campaign invites guests to experience the comforts of home through food-inspired activations, including cooking classes, celebrity chef collaborations and limited-time offerings at on-property restaurants, available through March 31 this year.
As part of this campaign, Oakwood is also showcasing its culinary capabilities with the launch of its first digital cookbook, Comfort, Curated. Featuring recipes by Oakwood chefs from all 12 countries that the brand currently operates in, the cookbook presents a collection of dishes from various regions, and is available for free download on the brand campaign webpage. Through this initiative, Oakwood invites guests to recreate a taste of home no matter where they are, and when they return home, a taste of the destinations they have visited.
Alongside the digital cookbook, Oakwood properties have teamed up with local culinary experts to offer exclusive, limited-time menus and masterclasses for guests.
Tan Bee Leng, chief commercial officer, Ascott, said: “As bleisure travel continues to grow, our guests are increasingly seeking distinctive culinary experiences. This reflects a broader shift towards experiential travel, where food acts as a gateway to understanding and appreciating the culture and heritage of each destination. Oakwood is well-positioned to ride this trend and distinguish itself with its multi-faceted approach to culinary tourism.
“With Home on a Plate as one of our brand signatures, Oakwood apartments are equipped with kitchens, allowing guests to prepare local dishes using ingredients sourced from the region. This hands-on approach not only fosters a deeper cultural connection but also offers flexibility in dining choices.
“Additionally, our F&B programme, All You Knead is Comfort, goes beyond the physical dining spaces by offering guests interactive culinary events like cooking classes, food tastings and seasonal offerings. These activities enable guests to engage directly with local chefs and food traditions, enriching their stay and creating lasting memories.”
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