Hosted buyers attending the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) have experienced Melbourne’s newest event space, The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne.

Stacked with eco-credentials, local history and an unmistaken twist of industrial chic, attendees got acquainted with The Timber Yard at a cocktail party on Sunday evening, presented by Showtime Event Group.

In keeping with the ‘Uncover Melbourne’ theme, guests were wowed as they were immersed deep in Port Melbourne’s industrial precinct at the new business events venue and new partner of Melbourne Convention Bureau.

Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) chief executive Karen Bolinger said: “We couldn’t be happier with the result of our cocktail party. The undisclosed location for the event and unassuming venue façade certainly added to the evening intrigue.”

“This urban sanctuary built from reclaimed timber, old steel and spotted with lush greenery was designed to bring the flavour and personality of the country into the city, and I believe it is set to become a landmark Melbourne venue of unprecedented size and event flexibility.”

As the first official social event on the AIME 2019 calendar, the cocktail party provided hosted buyers with the opportunity to catch up with old and new friends, make new business connections and settle into a week of uncovering Melbourne’s appeal as a leading business events destination, and one with serious sustainability credentials.

In welcoming the 300 plus guests, Bolinger detailed the bureau’s commitment to working collaboratively with all partners and the business events industry on supporting initiatives that strengthen the city’s eco-credentials.

“Melbourne has been ranked the number one sustainable city in the Asia-Pacific region for business events in the Global Destination Sustainability Index for the second consecutive year,” she said.

“MCB actively contributes to and promotes the city’s sustainability credentials to the business events industry in Australia and globally, and we are proud to partner with The Timber Yard.

“It is venues such as this – built on the philosophy of recycling, up cycling and bringing people together for amazing business events – that hopefully contributes to Melbourne retaining the number one title for a third year to come.”

Guests were also welcomed by City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, who acknowledged the success of MCB in capturing the pulse of the city through its Uncover Melbourne program.

“Melbourne offers a wide range of immersive experiences which delegates are looking for,” she said.

“The MCB has an incredible knack in showcasing our city, which contributes to ensuring Melbourne remains one of the world’s leading business events destinations.”

Sally Capp and Karen Bolinger

Representing Melbourne to an international audience, Showtime Event Group were welcomed back for the second year running as the as the exclusive caterer for this event, with furniture, styling and event production executed by Harry the Hirer, and entertainment provided by Solution Entertainment.

“Melbourne is renowned as the events capital of Australia and MCB plays an important role in demonstrating this to the business events sector,” Bolinger said.

“Connecting our long-time partners with our newest provided a great opportunity to showcase their ability and Melbourne’s business events flair.

“It’s important for MCB to unearth new and exciting venues and connect them with other event innovators.”

Showtime Event Group general manager Brad Dabbs said the event is important for the company to showcase what it can do for the business events market, a sector that it invests heavily in.

“When MCB asked us to partner on the hosted buyer cocktail party for the second year running, we were pretty excited to put forward The Timber Yard,” he said.

“We are all about delivering exciting new concepts in unique Melbourne locations.

The event was part of MCB’s Uncover Melbourne pre-trade program for AIME hosted buyers and media.

Designed to showcase Melbourne’s world-class business events capability, Uncover Melbourne offers international and national hosted buyers the opportunity to get under the cover of Melbourne’s most compelling business events attributes.