AIME Crowned Australia’s Best Business Event as Momentum Builds for 2026

Australian Business Events Awards

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event has cemented its position as the powerhouse of the business events industry, earning top honours at the Australian Business Events Association Awards. Named Best Event in 2025 and Best Trade Show in 2025, AIME continues to set the benchmark for excellence, innovation and global connection within the Asia Pacific meetings and incentives sector.

The dual awards recognise a year of exceptional growth and influence, as anticipation builds for what is shaping up to be AIME’s largest and most ambitious event yet in 2026.

Australia’s Leading Business Events Showcase

AIME is the premier platform connecting international and local buyers with world-class exhibitors from across Asia Pacific and beyond. The event has become a vital meeting point for decision-makers across incentives, meetings, exhibitions and corporate travel, creating opportunities that drive business growth and long-term partnerships.

The awards celebrate not only the scale of the event, but also its strategic impact on the global business events landscape. AIME’s ability to evolve with industry needs while maintaining strong commercial outcomes has positioned it as a must-attend trade show on the international calendar.

Industry Recognition at the Australian Business Events Awards

The Australian Business Events Awards 2025 were held in Melbourne on Thursday 4 December, bringing together leaders and innovators from across the sector. Hosted during the ABEA Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the ceremony celebrated excellence across exhibitions, conferences, incentives, venues, teams, innovation and sustainability.

AIME’s recognition as both Best Event and Best Trade Show highlights the breadth of its contribution and the collaborative spirit that underpins its success. Event Director Silke Calder acknowledged the collective effort behind the achievement, noting that industry partnerships and a passionate team are central to AIME’s continued growth.

AIME 2026 Set to Break Records

Australian Business Events Awards

The award wins arrive as preparations accelerate for AIME 2026, scheduled to take place from 9–11 February 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. The three-day event is expected to be the biggest in the show’s history, reinforcing Melbourne’s status as a leading destination for major business events.

AIME 2026 will welcome more than 4,500 attendees, including over 700 exhibitors and 700 hosted buyers, with more than 20,000 pre-scheduled appointments planned. These figures underscore the event’s role as a high-value marketplace where meaningful connections translate into real business outcomes.

Leadership Driving Global Impact

Delivered by Event Director Silke Calder and the experienced team at Talk2 Media and Events on behalf of Melbourne Convention Bureau, AIME continues to evolve as an industry-led platform. Talk2 Media & Events CEO Matt Pearce highlighted that AIME’s success is driven by shared ownership within the business events community, where ideas are exchanged and professional growth is fuelled through collaboration.

As the industry looks ahead to 2026, AIME’s latest accolades confirm its standing as Australia’s flagship business events trade show and a vital connector for the global meetings and incentives sector.

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME)
Website: https://aime.com.au

Australian Business Events Association
Website: https://www.abea.org.au

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Website: https://www.mcec.com.au

For more travel inspiration read the daily online "The Holiday and Travel Magazine"