ICCA and AIME Forge Industry Partnership to Drive Growth in the Asia-Pacific Business Events Sector

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has announced a new Industry Partnership with AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event), reinforcing a shared commitment to expanding business opportunities for ICCA members in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and beyond. This collaboration will enhance destination promotion and strengthen the voice of the international business events (BE) industry through AIME’s advocacy efforts.

AIME, owned by the Melbourne Convention Bureau and managed by Talk2Media Events, will act as a strategic partner, driving growth and supporting ICCA’s mission to develop the Asia-Pacific meetings industry.

Partnership Sealed at AIME 2025:

During AIME 2025, held from February 9-11, 2025, in Melbourne, ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath signed the agreement alongside Matt Pearce, Director of Talk2Media Events, and Julia Swanson, CEO of the Melbourne Convention Bureau.

“This partnership underscores ICCA’s dedication to fostering the growth of the Asia-Pacific meetings industry, which has witnessed remarkable expansion in recent years,” stated Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA.

Engaging Discussions at the AIME Leaders Forum 2025:

At AIME 2025, ICCA also participated in the AIME Leaders Forum, hosted by the Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) on February 13, 2025. The forum featured emerging leaders sharing insights on the future of the business events industry, with interactive discussions on:

• Advocacy and industry impact
• Business event legacies and economic growth
• The value of business events in driving global collaboration

Key Initiatives Under the ICCA-AIME Partnership:

The collaboration will introduce new programs to develop talent and drive industry excellence, including:

• Bidding BootCamp – A specialized program to enhance bidding skills for securing major events.
• AIME Scholarship – Aimed at nurturing the next generation of business events professionals.
• Presence at ICCA Congress 2025 – AIME will be showcased at the 2025 ICCA Congress in Porto, Portugal (November 9-12, 2025), fostering further international engagement.

This strategic alliance between ICCA and AIME reflects a joint vision for innovation, professional growth, and stronger global connections within the business events sector.