AIME Puts Focus on Education

The Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event is adding an education component to its show in Melbourne, Australia. (Peshkov/Adobe Stock)

When buyers arrive in Melbourne, Australia, for the Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) on Feb. 18, they will be able to do more than explore prospective destinations and venues on the trade-show floor. They also will immerse themselves in the Knowledge Program, a full day of pre-exhibition education dedicated to the issues and trends that are reshaping the face-to-face industry for Asia-Pacific meeting professionals and their audiences. PCMA, the official strategic partner for education at AIME, has been developing the sessions and curating the speakers to align with plans from Talk2 Media, the event’s new show-management company.

“They’re looking at revamping the program,” said Michelle Crowley, vice president of global growth and business transformation at PCMA, “and they have a bold vision for the future.”

Crowley said the program will feature a range of TED-style presentations that cover topics such as cross-culture negotiation strategies, the importance of diversity in innovation, and the future of technology. In addition to learning from the experts about the future, participants will be able to play a role in designing solutions for the next generation of meetings and events in a mini-hackathon. Four small teams will compete in the challenge.

The event is an opportunity to expand PCMA’s reach in the APAC region after a successful PCMA Annual Conference in Bangkok in November. “We have a growing audience, and we want to provide education access throughout the entire region,” Crowley said. “This presents a way to keep the calendar full of new insights all year long.”

To learn more about the education sessions and to see who’s exhibiting, visit aime.com.au.