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GISELLE LLOYD COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER MELBOURNE CONVENTION BUREAU

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

JO TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING MELBOURNE CONVENTION BUREAU

E [email protected] T +61 3 9002 2324 M +61 437 257 071

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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 a subsidiary of Visit Victoria, MCB partners and leave long lasting memories. with the 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 Port Phillip Bay, the southern-most city of mainland Australia is rich in aesthetics, with its beauty enhanced by the meandering , immaculate parks and gardens, public , classical buildings and innovative design.

STABLE AND PROSPEROUS CLIMATE Uninterrupted growth - Australia is a CRT- Melbourne’s climate is characterised by low 1 country with very low levels of economic, humidity and little rainfall, with four distinct political and financial system risk. The nation seasons to enjoy. Average temperatures are has experienced 27 years of continuous listed below. economic growth. Summer 25°C/78°F Enviable business environment - According to December - February the World Bank, Australia’s business climate is Autumn 21°C/69°F in the top ten in the world regarding ease of March - May doing business. Winter 16°C/58°F Thriving - Melbourne is ranked eighth in the June - August global ‘city prosperity index’ by the United Nations. Spring 20°C/67°F September - November ENVIABLE LIFESTYLE 24/7 INTERNATIONAL AIR ACCESS World’s Most Liveable City - Melbourne was voted the World’s Most Liveable City Melbourne Airport - 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 35 international airlines flying direct to 40 destinations, 523 times per week. Award-winning – Melbourne was voted Australasia’s Leading Meetings and Conference DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCES Destination in the 2018 World Travel Awards. Planners are spoilt for choice when developing An abundance of facilities - Melbourne incentive programs. From city experiences to boasts the country’s highest concentration of regional Victoria, the State offers immersive, conference facilities, conveniently located in cultural and memorable experiences, only the centre of the city. available in Melbourne. A plethora of accommodation – The convention district boasts over 33,000 ACCESSIBILITY accommodation rooms, ranging from luxurious Melbourne is a well-connected, accessible city to more budget-friendly options. making it easy and enjoyable for delegates to travel in and around. SAFE CITY Melbourne has been accredited an international WORLD-CLASS FOOD SCENE ‘Safe City’ by the World Health Organisation. Melbourne is renowned as a foodie haven with a

diversity of cuisine that makes it a very enticing FREE WI-FI destination for incentive groups. There are a Melbourne’s city centre has Australia’s largest myriad of restaurants, food tours and immersive and fastest free Wi-Fi network. food experiences in Melbourne to indulge in the famous culinary delights of the city.

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® AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX SPRING RACING CARNIVAL 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 Melbourne Cup heart racing. Carnival each November. MELBOURNE FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL AUSTRALIAN OPEN 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 bar 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 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 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 public art gallery, the Catch a blockbuster show at Australia’s NGV showcases over 68,000 works of art only theatre district, the East End Theatre from around the world and regularly hosts District, which is home to the heritage temporary exhibitions. The NGV also has a listed Princess Theatre, Regent Theatre, home in , which exhibits Comedy Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre, the remarkable . 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 Wurundjeri 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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