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GISELLE LLOYD Communications Manager Melbourne Convention Bureau

E [email protected] T +61 3 9002 2325 M +61 429 553 183

JENNY MITTEN Director of Marketing Melbourne Convention Bureau

E [email protected] T +61 3 9002 22278 M +61 409 151 603

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 2 ABOUT MELBOURNE CONVENTION BUREAU

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 3 WHO WE ARE

With over 40 years’ experience, Melbourne MCB works collaboratively on each incentive Convention Bureau (MCB) is an economic proposal, tailoring its approach to guarantee the business development organisation in , best possible experience for delegates, as well Australia. Its core function is to secure incentive as deliver real business outcomes for companies travel reward programs and other business that choose to host in Melbourne. events for the state of Victoria by working with corporate organisations and event planners from The successful ‘Team Melbourne’ approach around the world. enables MCB to deliver exceptional events for clients and delegates to motive and reward staff As part of Visit Victoria, MCB partners with the and leave long lasting memories. Victorian State Government, , Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as well as private enterprise that includes over 250 industry partners to secure and deliver outstanding and memorable incentive events for Melbourne and Victoria.

MCB ASSISTS INCENTIVE AND CORPORATE PLANNERS WITH:

Accommodation and venue Promotional and recommendations marketing support

Support from State and Coordination of site inspections Local Government

Sample itineraries, social programs Customs and immigration and proposal presentation procedures

Sourcing of suppliers and contractors and referral to inbound tour operators

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 4 WHY MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 5 MELBOURNE AT A GLANCE

Set on the shores of picturesque Bay, the southern-most city of mainland Australia is rich in aesthetics, with its beauty enhanced by the meandering , immaculate parks and gardens, public art, classical buildings and innovative design.

STABLE AND PROSPEROUS Melbourne’s climate is characterised by low humidity and little rainfall, with four distinct Innovative City - Melbourne has been named seasons to enjoy. Average temperatures are Australia’s most innovative city in the annual listed below. ‘2thinknow Innovation Cities Global Index’. 25°C/78°F Enviable business environment - According to December - February the World Bank, Australia’s business climate is in the top ten in the world regarding ease of Autumn 21°C/69°F doing business. March - May

Thriving - Melbourne is ranked eighth in the Winter 16°C/58°F global ‘city prosperity index’ by the June - August United Nations. Spring 20°C/67°F September - November ENVIABLE LIFESTYLE World’s Most Liveable City - Melbourne 24/7 INTERNATIONAL AIR ACCESS was voted the World’s Most Liveable City - Operates 24 hours a day, seven times by the -based Economist seven days a week. Its integrated international Intelligence Unit. and domestic terminal precinct provides passengers with the maximum flexibility in Multicultural - Melbourne is one of the most scheduling domestic and international travel. cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in Melbourne Airport is a 20-minute drive via the world. Victorians come from over 200 freeway from the city centre and is curfew free, countries, speak over 180 languages and providing more arrival and departure options dialects and follow over 110 religious faiths. for visitors. AUSTRALIA’S PREMIER INCENTIVE STATE The airport offers 69 air routes with 35 airlines Award-winning – Melbourne was voted flying direct from 42 destinations, 598 times Oceania’s Leading Meetings and Conference per week. Destination in the 2019 World Travel Awards. DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCES An abundance of facilities - Melbourne boasts the country’s highest concentration of Planners are spoilt for choice when developing conference facilities, conveniently located in incentive programs. From city experiences to the centre of the city. regional Victoria, the State offers immersive, cultural and memorable experiences, only A plethora of accommodation – The available in Melbourne. convention district boasts over 36,900 accommodation rooms, ranging from luxurious ACCESSIBILITY to more budget-friendly options. Melbourne is a well-connected, accessible city making it easy and enjoyable for delegates to SAFE CITY travel in and around. Melbourne has been accredited an international ‘Safe City’ by the World Health Organisation. WORLD-CLASS FOOD SCENE FREE WI-FI Melbourne is renowned as a foodie haven with a diversity of cuisine that makes it a very enticing Melbourne’s city centre has Australia’s largest destination for incentive groups. There are a and fastest free Wi-Fi network. myriad of , food tours and immersive food experiences in Melbourne to indulge in the famous culinary delights of the city.

CLIMATE MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 6 A CITY THAT SUPPORTS INNOVATION IN BUSINESS

AN ECONOMY WITH STRONG AND CLEAN AND GREEN VICTORIA CONSISTENT GROWTH Our global reputation as exporters and The state of Victoria represents 3 per cent of suppliers of some of the world’s cleanest, Australia’s total land mass, accounts for 22 per greenest and safe food and fibre products cent of national GDP and competes with the is built on the highest quality biosecurity, largest economies in South East Asia. For more safety and reliability standards, and strong than two decades, the Victorian economy environmental protection. has delivered strong and consistent growth Home to over 40 food research centres, our supported by a diverse economy and a long food producers are early adopters of cuttingedge history of prosperity across many industries. technologies in areas such as water management, THE WORLD’S TOP PERFORMING COMPANIES food manufacturing and packaging. Melbourne continues to be the number one AUSTRALIA IS AN OPEN AND choice for a large number of both domestic INTERNATIONALLY ENGAGED ECONOMY and foreign-owned businesses. Six of the Australia has well established open-market world’s top 10 and 29 of Australia’s top policies, large global trade and investment 100 companies choose to establish their flows, and a dynamic and resilient economy. headquarters and conduct their business in Melbourne consistently ranks highly on the Melbourne above any other state in Australia. Index of Economic Freedom and currently sit AUSTRALIA’S MOST EDUCATED STATE 5th in the world reflecting Australia’s strong regulatory efficiency and rule of law, high Victoria is the most educated state in Australia. trade, investment and financial freedoms. Over half of all Victorians aged between 15-64 Australia is closely engaged with our Asia hold a post-secondary qualification, and over a Pacific neighbours. quarter hold a university degree – the highest proportion in Australia. In its Global Talent Index the EIU ranks Australia 2nd in Asia Pacific, and globally we are ranked 6th.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 7 GETTING AROUND MELBOURNE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 8 A TRANSIT FRIENDLY CITY

PERFECT WALKING CITY FREE TRAM TRAVEL Melbourne is set in a compact grid layout, The City of Melbourne offers free tram travel making it very easy to navigate by foot. The within the city centre year-round. City of Melbourne has developed a series of self-guided walks to help visitors explore the FREE city by foot. The City Circle Tram travels the perimeter of the city centre, taking in many of MELBOURNE BIKE SHARE SCHEME Melbourne’s landmarks. The City Circle Melbourne offers a Bike Share Scheme, route uses iconic heritage trams, offering allowing users to hire one of 600 bikes passengers a historical experience, while at the 50 docking stations around the automated commentary announces points of city centre. interest along the route.

RIVER CRUISES With the Yarra River running through it and a bay next door, Melbourne is a great city to make your way around by boat. Jump on a Melbourne Water Taxi or take a scenic cruise departing from Southbank.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 9 EXPLORATION STARTS HERE

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 10 THE HOME OF MAJOR EVENTS

Melbourne is Australia’s event capital, featuring everything from sport to fashion on its year- round calendar.

MELBOURNE FASHION FESTIVAL AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL Known for its consumer friendly events Passions run high during the seasons where the public get a chance to mingle of Australia’s own football game, with with the fashion elite and where Melbourne’s its spiritual home at the world-famous own designers have the opportunity to , also home to the showcase the city’s distinctive edge National Sports Museum. and style. FORMULA 1® The world’s fastest cars and adrenalin junkies Famous the world over as the most stylish alike head to the usually tranquil Albert Park and revered horse racing carnival in the Lake for a weekend in March sure to get the world, culminating in the heart racing. Carnival each November. MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL TENNIS Dive into the Melbourne Food and Wine CHAMPIONSHIPS Festival; an annual celebration of the Victorian The biggest sporting event in the Southern food and wine industry. From large scale free Hemisphere and the first Grand Slam of the events like River Graze to intimate dinners and year, visitors fly in from all over the world for immersive festival hub at the House of Food two weeks each January to get a slice of and Wine Hotel, there’s something for every the action. food lover.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 11 DESTINATIONS AFTER DARK

Melbourne’s culture is an adventure in discovery; as with the retail outlets during the day, some of the best bars can be found down an unassuming laneway or on the city’s rooftops.

MUSIC AND COCKTAILS , ETIHAD STADIUM AND THE SIDNEY MUSIC BOWL Melbourne has been at the heart of Australia’s live music scene since the heady These large venues host the world’s most days of the 60s and 70s. There are hundreds famous music and entertainment stars all of gigs offered each night across any year round. music genre. NIGHTCLUB SCENE If dancing from dusk to dawn is on the Part of the arts precinct, the Centre is an agenda, Melbourne is the poster child for the acclaimed music destination, combining best nightclubs and night life in Australia. architectural innovation and acoustic There are no lock out laws meaning visitors perfection to showcase the best music, have all night to explore the city’s artists and ensembles from around dance floors. the world.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 12 A HAVEN FOR FOOD LOVERS

Surrounded by the highest quality natural produce and innovative, entrepreneurial chefs, Melbourne serves up some 75 ethnic cuisines, with over 3000 restaurants, cafés, bistros and bars in the city offering the best food in the Southern Hemisphere.

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN CUISINE BEST IN BRUNCH Articulating Australian cuisine has always Melbourne has been renowned for brilliant been a challenging prospect with unique brunch experiences for a number of years produce from both sea and land, decades now. While artisan breads and single origin of migration and a geographic distance all coffee are now a basic expectation – artfully shaping what and the way Australian’s eat. designed and flavoursome dishes created using ingredients of the highest standard are Melbourne’s exponential growth as a food served in high-end architecturally designed city is driving an awareness globally of what settings are further challenging the breakfast Australian food is – innovative, constantly status quo. evolving, not tied to any one culture or creed, except for a dedication to quality HERITAGE ON A MODERN PLATFORM experiences delivered using some of the Melbourne’s top culinary innovators are best produce the world has to offer. taking inspiration from the past to provide unique dining experiences. LOCALLY DISTILLED, LOCALLY BREWED Widely renowned for some of Australia’s top EXTREME ICE-CREAM micro-breweries, Victoria’s thirst for local, Rain, hail or shine, Melbourne’s propensity hand-crafted drinks is still on the rise. for icy treats does not wane. A number Over the past couple of years a number of of new additions to the gelato scene are distilleries offering everything from gin using popping up around town treating lovers to native botanicals to small-batch whiskey fresh hand made products, quirky serving have emerged to be readily embraced by the techniques and a bounty of flavours. bartending community and the public.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 13 INSPIRING ARTS AND CULTURE

As Australia’s centre of arts and entertainment, visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to attractions and the performing arts in Melbourne.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA (NGV) EAST END THEATRE DISTRICT Australia’s oldest and largest public art Catch a blockbuster show at Australia’s gallery, the NGV showcases over 68,000 only theatre district, the East End of art from around the world and District, which is home to the heritage regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. The listed Princess Theatre, Regent Theatre, NGV also has a home in , Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, the which exhibits remarkable Australian art. Athenaeum and the Forum.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE INDIGENOUS MELBOURNE With its iconic spire, the Arts Centre Discover Australia’s Indigenous history, Melbourne is the home of the performing which reaches back more than 60,000 years arts in Victoria and has many live shows as the original settlement of the including musicals, ballets and orchestras People. Visit the NGV, each night. and Royal Botanic Gardens to learn about the unique traditions and spiritual beliefs of Victoria’s first people.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 14 FASHION FORWARD

Melbourne is known as a well-dressed city, where shopping has been elevated to a new art form. Losing oneself amongst the laneways and arcades in the centre of town is just about the best way of getting to know the city, which is brimming with quirky boutiques, street markets, department stores and shopping centres.

LUXURY GOODS The top end of Collins Street is where to One of Australia’s longest running and most head for designer brands such as Prada, beloved shopping experiences, visitors can Gucci, Chanel, Bvlgari, Hermes and browse the aisles of fashion, shoes, leather Ralph Lauren. and sheepskin goods, furniture, toys and Australian souvenirs, as well as a specialty CHADSTONE FASHION CAPITAL food market. The biggest shopping centre in the Southern SOUTH WHARF DIRECT FACTORY Hemisphere features over 550 stores, OUTLETS (DFO) designer boutiques and 32 luxury brands as well as homewares, health, beauty and more. Located in the vibrant South Wharf precinct, this ideal shopping destination offers brand A new Tourist Lounge is available for name bargains, up to 70% off. visitors to enjoy, as well as exclusive Tourism Passport featuring over 100 special offers.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 15 SEE YOU IN MELBOURNE

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