Amway Delegates Make Australian History in Melbourne

	More than 4,000 Indian delegates arrived in Melbourne today for the Amway India Leadership Seminar 2012 in what will be the largest Indian incentive group ever to be hosted in Australia. A global leader in direct selling with over three million independent business owners (IBOs) in over 80 countries, Amway will use the event to reward successful Indian IBOs over the seven-day itinerary that will see them attend a business session at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), enjoy exclusive access to Phillip Island Nature Parks and participate in a cricket match on the hallowed turf of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during a gala dinner. Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) won the rights for the city to host the Amway India Leadership Seminar not only due to its sophisticated events infrastructure, but also the calibre of nearby experiences and attractions. “Winning the bid to host the Amway India Leadership Seminar in Melbourne was a major coup for MCVB and Victoria, and showcases that we are well and truly set up for this market,” said MCVB’s Chief Executive Officer, Karen Bolinger who notes that the Indian market is a major business events target for the organisation. “The Indian market is a long term investment for us as we continue to maintain strong relationships and build new ones with key trade partners and corporate clients through regular in-market visits, familiarisation programs and other marketing channels in partnership with Tourism Australia and Tourism Victoria,” Ms Bolinger said. “The fact that we will accommodate the Amway India Leadership Seminar in one wave speaks volumes for the city’s world-class infrastructure, facilities and suppliers - particularly given the itinerary was tailor-made specifically for this group.” To capture this, MCVB has been working in partnership with Business Events Australia, the specialist team within Tourism Australia, dedicated to promoting the country as a business event destination internationally. Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said the visit by the Indian delegation was an enormous opportunity to demonstrate Australia’s expertise in staging world-class business events “India is a valuable market for Australian tourism, offering strong future potential for both business and leisure travel thanks to the nation’s rapid economic rise through this Asian Century,” Mr McEvoy said. “We also know business events visitors in particular are high yielding and critical to helping the industry achieve our 2020 goals, which includes doubling the overnight expenditure generated by business events visitors to Australia to $16 billion annually by the end of the decade. “During the visit we really want to ensure that the Indian delegation not only experience our world-class venues and meeting facilities, but also a taste of Australia’s incredible outdoor lifestyle, our fresh and diverse food experiences, and the welcoming can-do attitude of our people,” Mr McEvoy said. Melbourne - world-renowned for its sophisticated city restaurants, global major events calendar and maze of laneways that waft with the aroma of coffee - was voted the world’s most liveable city again in 2012 by the Economist Intelligence Unitis. Amway delegates will not only get to enjoy Melbourne’s vibrant atmosphere, but will also take in a range of city and natural attractions, including Phillip Island which is home to significant populations of little penguins, short-tailed shearwaters, pacific bulls, wallabies, kangaroos and the largest colony of fur seals in Australia. Fully equipped for association events, Melbourne boasts Australia’s highest concentration of convention facilities, located in its central business district. The MCEC is the world’s first ‘Six Star Green Star’ environmentally-rated convention centre and is within walking distance to 5,400 hotel rooms and just 20 minutes by road from Melbourne Airport. The 2012 Amway India Leadership Seminar follows the hosting of a number of successful corporate incentive programs for Amway in the Asia region. In 2008, Melbourne hosted a total of 7,200 delegates from Amway China (in several waves) and previous to that, the Victorian city hosted groups from the Philippines, Indonesia and Korea. The event concludes on 15 December with many delegates expected to explore more of Victoria and Australia before travelling home. In the year ending September 2012, 6,450 Indian delegates arrived in Australia for a convention or conference and 26,450 arrived for the purpose of business.