Melbourne to host 2025 UFI Asia Pacific Conference

The MCEC will host back-to-back major events in February with UFI following AIME next year.

UFI will follow AIME next year

The 2025 UFI Asia Pacific Conference has been secured by the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), with the support of the Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB).

UFI is the global association of the exhibition industry representing 50,000 professionals and more than 850 organisations in 87 countries and regions.

The 2025 conference will be held in Melbourne on February 13-14, 2025, immediately following the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) which runs from February 10-12.

MCEC CEO, Natalie O’Brien, said the venue is thrilled to be the principal partner for the UFI event.

“[It] will now be a momentous week for the business events industry in the Asia Pacific region,” Ms O’Brien said.

“Coordinating these events to be held in the same week and in the same location is an incredible outcome achieved through outstanding collaboration and partnership.”

UFI CEO, Kai Hattendorf, said bundling the activities within a week will create an international industry hotspot.

“UFI’s Asia-Pacific Conference is our central annual event for the exhibition and business events industry from across Asia Pacific, and it attracts participants from the rest of the world as well,” he said.

“We are thrilled to be bringing this flagship event to Australia for the first time, and look forward to connecting the Australian expo professionals with their international peers in the thriving city of Melbourne.”

AIME Event Director, Silke Calder, said she is committed to strengthening connections with global colleagues.

“AIME is where the world meets in Asia Pacific, and now AIME 2025 attendees will have an added incentive for extending their stay next year when Melbourne plays host to the 2025 UFI AP Conference,” Ms Calder said.

“We are, and with the UFI AP Conference taking place straight after AIME, we couldn’t be more thrilled to give our Asia Pacific community another opportunity to explore our vibrant city and mingle with the business events community.”

AIME 2024 was the biggest in a decade with more than 33 countries represented at the event.