China's Biggest Stars Help Bring Aussie Hotspots to Asian Screens

TWO of China's biggest heart-throbs have wandered around Federation Square, explored graffiti-filled city lanes and filmed in St Kilda over the past few days, barely raising an eyebrow.
But when their Taiwanese online drama series - a modern love story with a little bit of suspense - screens in China in April it will be seen by about 10 million people hanging on their every word and kiss.
Tourism authorities have funded the Australian visit of the celebrities Show Lo and Rainie Yang with more than $1 million and hope that many of their Chinese fans will want to copy them and visit here.

Tourism Australia managing director Andrew McEvoy said the two Taiwanese stars have a combined following of more than 25 million fans on online channels and microblogging sites that have exploded in popularity in China.

''Through the ages, tourism has generally been about word of mouth and in a digital age people like Show Lo and Rainie Yang are word of mouth personified,'' he said.

''The power of celebrity and the power of new channels to reach more people more often is huge. It creates a great platform for us to promote Australia.''

China is Australia's fastest growing market for international visitors. Last year 540,000 Chinese visited, generating $3.6 billion in spending, a 20 per cent increase from 2010. Tourism Australia says the potential for growth is $9 billion by 2020.

Lo and Yang are filming five 10-minute episodes of the drama series in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW. Each episode will also include a five-minute vignette about the tourist attractions featured.
Additionally, Lo will shoot footage for a series of music videos with Australian backdrops to promote his new album. The music videos will screen on Asia's major TV channels.

''Creating relationships with international opinion leaders and celebrities like Show Lo who advocate Australia as a holiday destination has become a major part of our marketing and public relations strategy,'' Mr McEvoy said.

Previously, Tourism Australia has used Indian Bollywood stars as part of its advocacy program, opinion leaders such as Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey, who visited in December 2010 to film four episodes of her show.

''Oprah Winfrey is a great example of advocacy,'' Mr McEvoy said. ''The shows have been seen in 145 countries by 70 million people.''

Tourism Australia recently surveyed 500 Americans holidaying in Australia and 63 per cent said they had been directly influenced to come here by Oprah Winfrey, Mr McEvoy said.

Another recent survey of 500 Americans who will holiday in Australia in the next 12 months revealed that 50 per cent were directly influenced by Winfrey. 

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Herb & Chilli Festival Melbourne 2012

The Herb and Chilli Festival celebrates herbs and chillies in our day-to-day lives: flavours, benefits and uses in Australian food and wine.

Located in the Yarra Valley, visitors will have the chance to see a huge range of chilli plants and fruit, over 300 different herbs and be able to sample a range of food using different fresh herbs and chillies.
In 2012 the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival is celebrating its 20th year and is running for 20 days.

The last weekend (17th and 18th March) has a regional focus and we are privileged to be accepted as one of their participating events. The event will run from 10 am to 4 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Festival highlights and attractions will include:

-:- FREE Herb and Chilli Festival Showbag on arrival to the value of $20. Includes magazine, free plant, fertiliser sample and much more.
-:- stalls selling and sampling a broad range of chilli products; sauces, dips, dried, fresh, pickled and cooked
-:- a range of food plants including berries, fruit, herbs, tomatoes, vegetables, nuts, truffles and others
-:- talks and presentations by experts in growing, producing and using herbs for culinary, medicinal and other household purposes
-:- cooking demonstrations on how to use fresh herbs and chillies in day-to-day dishes
-:- an amazing array of tasty and unusual food and drinks including; chilli beers, local wineries, ciders, ales fresh fruit and produce, tacos and Mexican food and fresh made venison and herb sausages, calamari, fresh made halloumi, dukkhas and harissas, beef and chilli pies, locally made ice cream, frsh made fruit smoothies and much more
an essential oil still, distilling lavender oil
-:- a coffee cart with a selection of standard and herb/chilli coffees.
-:- horticultural societies talking about their special interest, including The Australian -:- -:- -:- Lavender Growers, Victorian Herb Society
-:- music and dance
-:- free activities for the kids, including face painting, pony rides and jumping castle.
-:- Red Horse doing his Apache smoke dance
and much more.

Book tickets on line – free for under 14.

From: Saturday 17th of March 2012  To  Sunday 18th of March 2012
Time: 10am to 4pm

Where: 125 Quayle Road  Wandin Victoria  Australia | Map
Telephone: 0414 242 710

Melbourne Fashion Festival Swap Meet

It is L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival time and the whole city is in a fashion frenzy!

As part of the Festival Cultural Program, we are gathering some of Melbourne’s most fashionable ladies to do some wardrobe swapping.

This event is always one of the best for the year so get along with your six items or less and find something new for the coming Autumn/Winter Season.

If this is your first swap, we encourage you to have a read of the Swapping FAQs on the website.

BMW Edge, Federation Square,
Corner Flinders St and Swanston St, Melbourne
Admission $25, book online/ tickets at the door according to availability

Be there for 6.30pm check in!

Bring 6 items you value but no longer wear to swap for those you will – quality screening at the door.

Date: Monday 12th of March 2012
Time: 6.30pm

Venue Federation Square 2 Swanston St Walk Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia | Map

Web Links Book Online Here Fashion Festival Swap www.clothingexchange.com.au Telephone: + 61 3 9655 1900

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

ASTON Clinton F1 star Mark Webber has laughed off rumours he plans to hang up his helmet at the end of this year.

Webber will hit the accelerator on his 11th season at the pinnacle of the sport next month, when F1 2012 gets underway in front of his home fans in Australia.

And while he is under pressure after being comprehensively outperformed by team-mate, Sebastian Vettel in 2011, the 35-year-old told the Australian press that he is ‘not contemplating’ retirement anytime soon.

“Not at all, (although) you know, I’ve been through enough on and off the track to know that nothing is forever,” he said.

“(According to the media) I was supposed to be replaced by Kimi (Raikkonen) four years ago!”

Despite talk of Webber planning to put the brakes on a life in the fast lane, The Stag at Mentmore co-owner is honest enough to admit 2011 was disappointing.

“I clearly got outperformed last year, there were areas where I could have done a better job,” he added.

“It was a tough start to the year I think, that makes it difficult to roll out of that mid-season and come to the end ... but, again, it’s those old lessons of operating at this level, you know you just have no choice, you’ve just got to get back on the horse, and get on with it.”

Finishing with victory in Brazil at the end of the last campaign sent Webber into the winter on a high and he says he is feeling the benefits.

“I think it’s one of the best breaks I’ve had. It was just a really good break and you know sometimes they don’t always go like that.

“Obviously, on the back of 2010 when I didn’t win the championship that was a different sort of winter getting your head around that, and then the previous winters before that I was having surgery on the leg.

“So this was a real first nice winter, saying, like, let’s pull it all together and come back refreshed, you just feel refreshed, that’s the most important thing,” he concluded.

Although feeling rejuvenated and fresh-faced ahead of the curtain raiser in Melbourne on March 18, Webber admits he slightly is less enthused by the look of his new RB8 car.

With new rules introduced this season, the F1 cars have taken on a distinctly different look with stepped noses proving all the rage.

But Webber thinks the noses are plain ugly.

“F1 cars should look beautiful.

“The stepped nose is not very desirable in my opinion but that’s how it is and that’s okay.

“Aerodynamically the concept is a bit different for sure.

“But I feel comfortable in the car and it goes, so we’ll see,” he added,

You can keep up to date with Mark Webber on Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com and follow

Aylesbury Vale F1 Star Webber Laughs Off Retirement Rumours

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

The 20th anniversary Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) will take place next week and is expected to be bigger than ever, with a huge turnout by exhibitors and strong support from existing and new sponsors, allowing for exciting initiatives both on and off the show floor.

Joined again by big name, major sponsors such as the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), Crown, Qantas, Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and Saxton Speakers Bureau, as well as new sponsors including Corporate Traveller, Air New Zealand, ShowGizmo and three new industry associations, AIME has been able to draw on their support to introduce new additions such as the Association Lounge, a new look Education Program and an additional dining area on the show floor.

Sally de Swart, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) Director for AIME, said she is looking forward to seeing the response to the show’s range of new initiatives.

“The show floor is going to be really buzzing and I am particularly looking forward to our new networking opportunities such as the Exhibitor Networking Drinks on the Tuesday afternoon. This gives exhibitors the chance to run promotions and competitions as well as host casual drinks on their stands and mix with buyers and visitors in a more relaxed atmosphere,” Ms de Swart said.

“We’ve also enhanced the culinary offering at the show this year as the Globe Restaurant and Bar sponsored by South African Tourism, is offering table service and bookings for the first time, which is ideal for lunch meetings."

“We want to offer something for everyone and the formal dining option at Globe will be complemented with the Singapore Tourism Board’s SingaporeXpress, a dining area, which is offering a quick and tasty, hawker-style menu for attendees short on time.”

New sponsor ShowGizmo is offering a free mobile phone app to AIME visitors and exhibitors which provides up-to-date information on everything taking place at the show, by allowing them to plan their time, access AIME’s program, exchange information and collect brochures, make connections, receive real time alerts and news, before, during and after the event, all in the palm of their hand. Attendees will also now be able to charge their mobile phones at the show’s new Chargebar, located in the Relaxation Zone and close to the Globe Restaurant.

New partnerships established with associations have led to the introduction of the Association Lounge, where attendees can meet with members of AIME’s new association partners: The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); the Professional Conference Organisers Association Inc (PCO); and International Special Events Society (ISES). The new look Education Program has also been developed in conjunction with these partners, as well as International Convention and Congress Association (ICCA) and Meetings and Events Australia (MEA), ensuring the content addresses real issues faced by the industry.

This year AIME has also introduced the new, online travel booking tool that allows AIME attendees to compare preferable flight and accommodation prices for their trip to AIME and book all through the one site thanks to new sponsor Ozzacom Plus.

A “Keeping it Green” campaign has also been introduced in an effort to make AIME a sustainable, low carbon event by encouraging exhibitors to donate their surplus merchandise and gifts, such as bags and pens, to charities. AIME will provide Green Deposit Depots at the show for these donations and then will distribute these on behalf of exhibitors.

AIME, which is owned by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau and run by RTE, will take place on the 21 and 22 February 2012 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).

For more information about visiting AIME 2012, visit www.aime.com.au

To attend as a visitor, pre-register for free online by Monday 20 February by 5pm or pay $22 at the door.
Follow AIME on Twitter @AIMEMelbourne #AIME2012

AIME’s 20th Anniversary Bigger Than Ever - Melbourne Conferences

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Victoria's health department is said to be pushing for a total smoking ban in outdoor areas throughout the state.

The calls have reportedly been made in a report to Health Minister David Davies.

Several metropolitan councils have already introduced bans at playgrounds and sports centres.

The plan has drawn opposition from business owners and smokers alike, who say it is still legal to light up and every person should have a choice.

The move follows Queensland's state-wide smoking ban in outdoor areas, in July 2006.

Victoria Prepared to Ban Outdoor Smoking

Melbourne, We Love It, But it's Too Dear and Too Packed

MELBURNIANS love their city, but are sick of pretentious restaurants and bars, soaring parking fees and crowded streets, secret council research has revealed.

Internal council reports obtained by the Herald Sun under Freedom of Information give for the first time a frank assessment of the city by its residents.

While locals are proud of the city’s bustling laneways and busy events calendar, many will avoid the city because it’s too expensive, too busy and too pretentious.

More than 90 per cent of people questioned in the City of Melbourne’s 2010 City Perceptions Study said they didn’t care if they socialised around “beautiful people”, and 95 per cent said they weren’t fans of upmarket venues.

Almost two-thirds said it made them proud to be a Melburnian when the city picked up awards.

But the city’s dire parking was enough reason not to visit for 43 per cent.

Others said the city was too crowded or too much hassle, they didn’t feel safe, activities were too expensive, and the city was dirty, noisy and polluted.

There were four core weaknesses that stopped people visiting the city. They included:

TIME taken up by transport, poor public transport and feeling they must get dressed up to go into the city.

HIGH prices of parking, food, drink and entry prices.

TRAFFIC for drivers and pedestrians, causing stress and frustration.

SUBURBS offering better parking and facilities around shopping centres.

The report noted Melbourne had four personalities during the week, of which just two were appealing.

On Saturdays and Sundays, Melbourne was relaxed and family friendly. In the evenings, it was sophisticated and atmospheric.

But on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, it became rushed and serious, and on Saturday night, Melbourne was “immature, drunken, and tacky”, the report said.

Former premier Jeff Kennett said Melburnians were right to feel proud of their city, but they faced an increasing number of barriers trying to visit it.

“The city is … an absolute magnet in terms of the diversity of its offerings,” he said.

“It’s very special, but as the population grows and our demand upon our infrastructure grows at a similar rate, it’s becoming an increasingly expensive option.”

Plan to Turn Melbourne into a Mega-City

MELBOURNE lord mayor Robert Doyle has embraced a plan to turn Melbourne into a mega-city, with skyscrapers stretching from the MCG to the West Gate Bridge and north to the University of Melbourne.

Mr Doyle described the “Grand CBD” plan by Planning Minister Matthew Guy as bold, visionary and inspirational.

Under the proposal, Melbourne would be transformed into a “Manhattan-style metropolis”, five times its present size, with the city’s tallest buildings built in the present commercial precinct of Fishermans Bend or north of the Docklands.

A new capital city zone would abolish height restrictions.

Mr Guy told the Herald Sun: “I think it could lead to the centre of Melbourne becoming one of the truly great high-density population areas for western cities anywhere in the world.

“It doesn’t mean that anything can go anywhere, but it does mean we are looking to expand high-rise, high-density in a central core of the city.

“It will make Melbourne an absolute icon in terms of western cities.”

Mr Doyle told ABC’s Jon Faine: “I think it’s very bold and I think it’s very visionary.”

He said heritage protections would apply in a capital city zone to protect historic buildings in Australia’s most European city.

“The rules have to be drawn pretty carefully, but a high-level coherent vision for the future of the city I think is inspirational. It’s a really bold move.”

Marvellous Melbourne Rises in Visitor Appeal

Victoria – or more specifically Melbourne – has become a magnet for overseas visitors, accounting for almost half the entire growth in visitors to Australia over the past decade.

Bureau of Statistics figures show that the number of foreign visitors who say they spent most of their time in Victoria shot up by 60 per cent in the past decade, soaring from roughly 750,000 in 2001 to 1.2 million in 2011.

Victoria’s boom emerged even though total visitor numbers to Australia levelled off, growing by just over 1 million, or 20 per cent, over the decade.

The two main tourist states, New South Wales and Queensland, saw visitors grow by just 290,000 between them.

The high dollar has dented Australia’s tourist industry. In 2011, while total visitor numbers shrank only marginally, to 5.96 million, those coming for holidays as tourists slumped by 4 per cent to 2.59 million.

The number of tourists has fallen by almost 400,000 a year since the dollar started to climb towards record levels. A decade ago, after the Sydney Olympics, Australia was hoping to have 5 million tourists a year by now; the numbers have shrunk to barely half that.

The tourist drought has been most intense in Sydney and on Queensland’s beaches. Total overseas visitors (including students and short-term workers) have slumped by 9 per cent in Queensland since 2005, grown just 3 per cent in NSW, yet shot up almost 30 per cent in Victoria.

Victoria has a far bigger share of visitors coming here to study, to visit friends and relatives, or for business or jobs. These classes of visitors to Australia have stabilised or kept growing as tourist arrivals have shrunk.

Surveys by Tourism Victoria show that Melbourne is the biggest attraction: 80 per cent of foreign visitors to the state never spend a night outside the capital. Fewer than one in 10 even visited the Great Ocean Road, the main attraction in regional Victoria.

The biggest growth has been in visitors from China, who are about to overtake New Zealanders as the biggest source of tourists to Victoria. Tourism Victoria estimates that in the year to September, the state was visited by 259,000 Kiwis, 252,400 Chinese, 203,600 Britons and 122,300 Americans.

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Nitro Circus Live Cap City 2012

The all new touring sensation Nitro Circus Live, having just performed its biggest ever show to a sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is set to embark on its ambitious 40 city tour of Europe, the USA and Australia in 2012.

The great news for Australian fans is that the all new show which set 15 world firsts in Vegas, will kick start its world tour in Australia, in May next year.

The 5 capital cities of Australia will see the most star-studded action sports line-up ever to come to our shores. Apart from the hugely popular Nitro Crew, the tour will feature 20 times X Games medallist Bob Burnquist, BMX great Chad Kagy, Switzerland’s Red Bull X Fighters Champion Mat Rebeaud on his first trip to Australia, plus world number one FMX rider Nate Adams, and 35 of the world’s best “Big Air” action sports stars on some crazy new Nitro contraptions, all launched off the 50 foot high Nitro Gigant-A-Ramp.

The tour will follow the release of the new Nitro Circus Live TV series on MTV in October and the 3D Motion Picture, due for global release next March.

Stay tuned to nitrocircuslive.com for more info.

Don't miss the greatest live action sports show ever produced.

TOUR DATES*:

Fri 25 & Sat 26 May - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

Tickets available from Ticketek

Nitro Circus Live Cap City 2012

Lady Gaga to Tour Australia this June-July

Lady Gaga is promising Australian fans fireworks when she returns for six shows as part of her Born This Way world tour.

The pop megastar will play arena dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in June and July with the singer hinting at adding dates.

'The Haus of Gaga and I have worked for months conceiving a spectacular stage,' Gaga said in a statement.

'The Born This Way Ball is an electro-metal pop-opera; the tale of the beginning, the genesis of the kingdom of Fame.

'How we were birthed and how we will die celebrating.'

The eccentric singer has been teasing fans on Twitter and Facebook with sketches of her stage design and posted a picture of the first official tour poster.

Coloured in a black and white palette with purple and green highlights, it shows the star's alien alter ego appearing in the cloudy night sky over a castle.

Renowned for her quirky art, Gaga brought her lavish stage show to Sydney last July for her one-off Monster Hall performance.

Promising fans she would be back, Australians will be among the first to see the world tour after dates in Asia and New Zealand.

Tickets go on sale on February 17 at livenation.com.au with advance tickets available to Visa card holders from 9am Monday morning.

Lady Gaga plays the following dates:

June 13 - Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre

June 20 - Sydney, Allphones Arena

June 21 - Sydney, Allphones Arena

June 27 - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena

June 28 - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena

July 7 - Perth, Burswood Dome

Lady Gaga to Tour Australia this June-July

Evanescence to Make a Long Overdue Return to Australia.

Evanescence are finally set to make a long overdue return to Australia.

Evanescence, renowned for their classically influenced haunting, hammering hard rock sound, beautifully lead by Amy Lee's wrenching vocals ranging from delicate to dramatic, primal to passionate. Piano-led broodings swell at pace upon intricate, hammering guitars, creating stunning hard-driving tunes.

Their unique sound has lead to combined album sales nearing 25 million worldwide. Australian sales alone exceed 600,000.

Global success arrived for Evanescence with the delivery of their 2003 debut album 'Fallen', featuring the epic #1 single 'Bring Me To Life' and universal hit 'My Immortal'. The album earned the band two prestigious Grammy Awards and cultivated international acclaim.

'The Open Door' was the second instalment from Evanescence. Housing massive hit singles 'Call Me When You're Sober' and 'Lithium', the hugely successful album hitting #1 on the ARIA album chart.

In 2010 Evanescence returned to the studio, resulting in the October 2011 release of their eponymous, long awaited third studio album (through Wind Up/EMI). Spearheaded by the single 'What You Want', the album hit #1 in the US Billboard charts and debuted at the top of charts around the world.

"This record is so geared for live shows," Lee said. "We were thinking about playing live the whole time we were writing it."
"I can't describe how great it feels to have their [the fans] support. I love so much meeting them before and after the show. If feels like they're growing with us," Lee continued. "We're so happy to be back."

TOUR DATES*:

Fri 23 Mar - Royal Theatre, Canberra
Sat 24 Mar - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Mon 26 Mar - Brisbane Convention Centre
Wed 28 Mar - Newcastle Entertainment Centre
*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

Evanescence to Make a Long Overdue Return to Australia.

Cirque du Soleil - 2012 Shows Australia

Cirque du Soleil returns to Australia with a spectacular new production for the whole family, presented under the blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top).

OVO is a headlong rush into a colourful Eco-system teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non-stop riot of energy and movement. The insects' home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives.

It's love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye - and the feeling is mutual.

The cast of OVO is comprised of 54 performing artists from 16 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of OVO is the stunning flying trapeze act, in which six flyers soar 40 feet in the air, making this the biggest act of its kind to ever be presented under a big top by Cirque du Soleil. It combines many circus disciplines, including banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair. The finale features 20 artists running, jumping and leaping up a 24-foot vertical wall.

OVO is overflowing with contrasts. The hidden, secret world at our feet is revealed as tender and torrid, noisy and quiet, peaceful and chaotic. And as the sun rises on a bright new day, the vibrant cycle of insect life begins anew.
br> OVO is written and directed by Deborah Colker.

TOUR DATES & CITIES

Brisbane - Opens July 14, 2012
Sydney - Opens September 13, 2012
Adelaide - Opens December 6, 2012
Melbourne - Opens January 17, 2013
Perth - Opens April 14, 2013

"Overhead and on-the-ground, OVO is a whimsical infestation. It captivates as a vibrant, magical spectacle."
Chicago Now

"Cirque du Soleil turns bug's world upside-down in spectacular OVO."
Chicago Sun-Times

"Cirque du Soleil 'OVO' delivers the unbelievable. "
Cincinnati Enquirer

“Cirque hatches visual stunner."
Houston Chronicle

“OVO is an astonishing showcase of superhuman feats of strength, balance and contortion."
Houston Press

Cirque du Soleil - 2012 Shows Australia

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys Shows Australia at Melbourne, Sydney and Perth +

With the continued and insatiable fan demand, the unstoppable phenomenon that is NKOTBSB will officially bring their show down under! In May, New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys will come to Australia for five shows only, stopping in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney and Perth.

"If our fans want us down under, we'll go down under," said New Kids' Donnie Wahlberg. "Our international fans have been flying to see us stateside for years, so now we are bringing the show to them. Get ready Australia, we are coming to you!"

The Australian leg will bring the historic NKOTBSB tour for a limited four show run, giving fans across the globe chances to catch their favorite groups on one stage.

NKOTBSB first shocked and delighted fans when they took the stage together for a medley at the sold out NKOTB Radio City Music Hall show. The two groups wowed audiences again in their first joint televised performance at the American Music Awards almost a year ago in November 2010 and have toured consistently through 2011 since coming together.

With over 200 million albums sold between both bands, and smash hit after smash hit, these two pop sensations have dominated the music scene for over three decades. Aiming to please, these guys are giving concert goers and diehard fans everywhere the ultimate "night out" experience.

TOUR DATES*:
Fri 18 & Sat 19 May - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne
Mon 21 May - Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Wed 23 May - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sat 26 May - Allphones Arena, Sydney
Tue 29 May - Burswood Dome, Perth
*Ticketek is selling for the above venues only.

New Kids on the Block & Backstreet Boys Shows Australia

New Business Events to Attract Around 7000 Delegates to Victoria

Melbourne has won a further eight major congresses, one national and seven international business events, that are set to attract around 7000 delegates to Victoria over the next five years.

The congresses are:

• International Conference on Care and Housing for the Ageing (IAHSA) 2013
• IEEE International Conference on Power Electronics (ICPE) – ECCE ASIA 2013
• Inaugural Broadband World Congress 2013
• The MHS 2013 (The Mental Health Services Conference)
• International Symposium on Information Theory and its Applications – ISITA 2014
• International Congress on Noise Control Engineering (INTERNOISE) 201
• Congress of the Asia-Pacific Federation of Coloproctology 2015
• AFMC International Medicinal Chemistry Symposium (AIMECS) 2017.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said the wins followed the recent announcement that Melbourne will host the prestigious International AIDS Conference in 2014, the largest medical conference ever to be held in Australia.

"I congratulate the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau for securing these business events for Victoria and for all their hard work throughout 2011," Ms Asher said.

(Source: Tourism Victoria Industry News #93)

New Business Events to Attract Around 7000 Delegates to Victoria