Up to $25,000 reasons to host your business event in Melbourne

Up to $25,000 reasons to host your business event in Melbourne

Melbourne Convention Bureau has announced a new funding initiative to provide business event organisers with a significant cash injection to cover actual costs for hosting events in Australia’s event’s capital.

The National Business Events Program will provide eligible events organisers funding up to $25,000 to support costs for hosting their event in Melbourne, including accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event costs, with 50 percent payable before the event commences to support upfront expenses

With a focus on national association conferences, exhibitions or tradeshows, workshops and seminars, as well as corporate meetings and incentive group events with a business event program, funding is determined by the event duration and number of delegates attending the event in-person travelling to Victoria from interstate.

Expressions of interest now open

Thinking of holding an event in Melbourne?

The Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB) team are your eyes and ears on the ground to help you find and book Melbourne’s hottest new venues to ensure your event is a huge success.

What are the latest hot new places to stay?

The new bold and innovative W Melbourne at Collins Arch, Melbourne’s city centre, is one of the most luxurious places to stay in Melbourne and perfect for a VIP incentive group.

Reflecting the city’s vibrancy and creativity, your colleagues will be inspired as soon as they step into this exceptional hotel. For the ultimate gala dinner, W Melbourne offers large and contemporary meeting and event spaces, setting the stage for spectacular events with world-class facilities and in-house contemporary cuisine.

The Great Room is the jewel in the crown with a 426-square-metre pillarless ballroom, an abundance of natural light and a four-by-five-metre LED wall.

Experiences you won’t want to miss out on

Grazelands

Opening later this month is Melbourne’s newest playground for foodies, Grazeland.

This new gastronomical precinct is ready to service every indulgence with over 50 food and beverage vendors complemented by three fully licensed bars.

Rotating weekly is a festival featuring live performances, roving entertainers, and an incredible atmosphere with views of the city skyline for your group to enjoy.

Located five kilometres from the city your group the precinct is easily accessible via car, boat and public transport.

Make the journey there an unforgettable experience and book a boat for your colleagues from Federation Square and enjoy the sites of the Yarra along the way.

The Lume

Have you heard? Melbourne is re-igniting its’ art scene by welcoming a new digital immersive art gallery, The Lume Melbourne, in Autumn 2021!

With a permeant home at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), the 11-metre-high digital art gallery expanding over 3,000 square metres is the perfect space to host your business event or experience to add to your incentive program.

Visitors will be transported into the world of different artists with live scale masterpieces interwoven with musical soundtracks and themed multi-sensory experiences.

Opening the inaugural experience will be the vibrant works of Vincent Van Gogh.

Find out more here.

Rising Festival RISING is a major cultural event for the Asia-Pacific region curated by a diverse team of local, national and international artists.

Replacing the Melbourne International Arts Festival and White Night Melbourne, RISING will commence on the evening of the total lunar eclipse in May 2021.

Based on connection and experience, it will re-energise and synchronise the city’s public performance, art and music scene.

Find out more here.

Australian Grand Prix The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will be hosted later this year at Albert Park over the 18 to 21 November weekend instead of 18 to 21 March date as originally planned.

Planning a memorable function?

Whether it’s a conference, business meeting, gala dinner, or city experience tour you’re looking for, MCB can help you easily connect with premium event suppliers to create a show-stopping event.

Melbourne boasts the country’s highest concentration of conference facilities, conveniently located in the heart of the city.

If you are planning a unique function, a wide selection of over 80 unique venues is on offer in Melbourne’s city centre alone.

The convention district offers more than 197,000 square metres of conference space, the pinnacle of which is the MCEC.

Did you know?

The MCEC will see a return to in-person tradeshows and exhibitions for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions.

From 20 March, capacity will increase to 10,000 patrons per event space per day, at a maximum of 75 per cent capacity.

For events over 5,000 patrons, time-based sessions apply, with a time-gap between sessions.

This means exhibitions can operate two daily sessions at a maximum of 5,000 per session subject to the latest density limits (currently one person per two square metres).

Opening September 2021, Melbourne will welcome its new conference and events centre, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park.

Located in the heart of the Melbourne & Olympic Parks’ sporting and entertainment precinct, CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park offers event planners a conference centre at the home of the Australian Open tennis grand slam.

Made up of three levels; it’s the complete one-stop-shop for any event.

Endless opportunities to create unforgettable, money can’t buy experiences for event attendees are unlocked when you book an event at CENTREPIECE at Melbourne Park. Consider hosting guests under the stars in Margaret Court Arena or for a truly unique experience, within one of the player-only spaces at Rod Laver Arena.

Be one of the first to experience Melbourne & Olympic Parks new venue, CENTREPIECE, a dynamic and flexible space or choose from multiple unique event spaces exclusively through Showtime Event Group from the stunning State Library Victoria to their incredible riverside spaces at South Wharf; let them take care of all your catering, entertainment, audiovisual equipment and styling needs.

Want to see how Melbourne Convention Bureau can help bring your next event to life? Discover MCB’s free event support or contact the team at info@melbournecb.com.au.

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