Graeme Barnett: The Reed team today is slightly more surreal. However, tomorrow we might answer differently, maybe. It therefore, has been our focus to put on the best show and we feel a bit proud as well as exhausted that this is our last one.

Graeme Barnett: That was a very great targeted approach which definitely reaped rewards. We received feedback from exhibitors out there stating that the quality of the event has really been great. And this time we have also increase the appointment times which are little bit longer and there was a longer gap between these appointments which meant that buyers are able to get all their appointments in timely manner. It has paid off really well.

We have had a very interesting show as well as extended show times as well. Moreover, we have also given people more time to connect and get around the show.

Graeme Barnett: One of the main challenges with this particular market segment is that every year it becomes more competitive so getting the right buyers to attend every event is really getting tough. So national convention bureaus are not saying that we are alive and suppliers that make up the stands are not satisfied, therefore and they do not wish to come back. So for the last couple of years the levels of outbound tourism business from Australia to South East Asia has dropped off and they are not thinking we are alive and so they are not thinking about investing in us.

Graeme Barnett: This year we have witnessed a decline in the APAC countries exhibiting but we do have countries like Philippines, Malaysia, Korea that are active on destination presentation. Also we are having Indian state presentations, so they are having a great show as well. While some people have benefitted quite a lot, some might not have been able to leverage as much as they had expected.

And even in the future, there will be a better representation of the Asia Pacific region in this event.

Graeme Barnett: I think sustainability has been a trending topic maybe for the last six years and it has definitely come back again as a popular topic.

You keep hearing about events being plastic free and all it needed was David Attenborough’s film about how plastics have been impacting ocean life and it has ensured sustainability comes right back into focus and any event can be plastic free. Moreover there is an urgent need for awareness in this sphere.

So I think sustainability going to become quite a widespread word in the upcoming time.

Graeme Barnett: It is a difficult question since we have already tried everything this year to make the event a grand success. I feel that the very fact that people are talking about the event makes it quite special, apart from the fact that it has been showcasing the venue Melbourne to the world.

Graeme Barnett: No, the market here is quite a local market and is not big enough. Also, there is already an event that runs in Sydney and it is not a trade show, as it is a table top event that has gone on spectacularly. AIME got its credibility, it just needs to evolve and we should take it to the next evolution and ensure strategies we have framed is in sync with the strategies that MCB (Melbourne Convention Bureau) and other convention bureaus have for this show as well.

Graeme Barnett: Hosted buyer model is directly linked to the revenue of the show. So the more revenue, more buyers and similarly more exhibitors we can be hopeful of attracting.