A Service Like No Other

MCVB provides free and comprehensive support for meeting and event planners, from the initial bidding stage for the event through to delivering and driving delegate numbers.

MCVB has built a network of strong relationships with Federal, State and Local Government bodies, strategic industry partners and more than 260 MCVB members to provide an unrivalled service for conference and incentive organisers.

The expert team at MCVB can assist with:

• Coordinating and preparing convention bid documents
• Developing bid lobbying strategies
• Bid promotions, including distribution of promotional material and media assistance
• Preparing bid presentations
• Obtaining letters of support from leaders of government and industry
• Preparing preliminary budgets with a Professional Conference Organiser (PCO)
• Liaising between Local Government and industry bodies
• Locating suitable venues within Melbourne or regional Victoria that meet specified criteria
• Selecting accommodation for various meeting requirements
• Providing site inspection support
• Providing pre and post touring options in Melbourne and Victoria
• Securing keynote speakers
• Sourcing speaker gifts, entertainment and transport options
• Providing on-site information booths at events.

Delegate Boosting

MCVB works closely with its Conference Organising Partners, international PCOs, association management companies and clients to deliver maximum delegate numbers to Business Events in Melbourne.

Post bid support services include representation at industry trade shows, public relations and media support and government support and liaison.

MCVB assists in boosting delegate numbers through its City Wide Support Package (CWSP). An initiative developed with a variety of partners, including the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the City of Melbourne, Destination Melbourne and Tourism Victoria, the CWSP provides support in areas such as marketing to increase delegate numbers.

This includes sourcing and providing collateral such as Melbourne promotional materials, as well as providing MCVB's free Melbourne Business Events Marketing e-Kit.

Business Events Marketing E-Kit

MCVB has created a suite of five 'white label' online products that any international convention or Business Event coming to Melbourne and/or regional Victoria can rebrand with their own logo and content. The products are designed to build a one-on-one relationship between the destination and delegate and take them through all stages of their convention journey. These include:

• Smartphone App - User friendly application containing convention information specific to each conference, such as social events, speaker profiles and program schedules, as well as what to do and see around the City of Melbourne and regional Victoria;
• Tablet App - designed to be the interactive element at the conference or Business Event for the delegate, containing both conference and destination information;
• Personalised 'My Melbourne' online delegate boosting tool - presents delegates with a series of unique city and regional Victorian experiences to choose from which is then captured in a customised video vignette and can be shared with colleagues and accompanying persons;
• Melbourne Widget - Ready-made content about Melbourne and regional Victoria which can be easily inserted into any conference, association or event website. It is designed to entice delegates into learning more about the destination as well as pre and post touring opportunities;
• EDM - an integrated email system with a series of ready-made electronic templates designed to be a primary communications channel for promoting each of the e-tools and to assist Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) in streamlining convention communication.

The EDM, Widget and personalised 'My Melbourne' delegate boosting tool are fundamental components of the planning and pre-touring phase, while the Smartphone and Tablet Apps, which work across all platforms including Android, iPhone and iPad, are invaluable sources of information when the delegate arrives in Melbourne.

From attractions and tips on where to dine or shop, to speaker information, sessions and maps; everything the delegate and his or her accompanying person needs to know about the Business Event along with Melbourne and regional Victoria is captured in the easy to use Marketing e-Kit. Best of all - it is free!

Delivering Victoria's Best Suppliers

MCVB's network of more than 260 members ensures meeting organisers have access to leading products and services for their event with providers who understand their Business Events requirements. MCVB members are based throughout Melbourne and regional Victoria and include:

• Accommodation providers
• Audio-visual and staging suppliers
• Conference organisers
• Convention and event venues
• Entertainers
• Restaurants and caterers
• Retailers
• Touring and transport operators
• Tourist attractions.

One of the Bestcities

MCVB is committed to providing the world's best-practice customer service.

As part of this commitment, MCVB is a founding member of the BestCities Global Alliance, a network of eight international cities - Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Edinburgh, San Juan, Singapore, Vancouver and Melbourne - that is committed to a quality assured Convention Bureau service charter.

As Australia's only BestCities member, MCVB's service standards are audited and certified annually by Lloyds Register Quality Assurance. The certification process includes a stringent review of Melbourne's ability to offer a superior international meeting experience and MCVB's ability to ensure and maintain a consistent level of quality and service excellence.

As part of this process, MCVB undertakes post-bid surveys to review and assess its bids. In 2009/10, for the second year in a row, 98% of clients rated MCVB's service across a range of criteria, from professionalism to bid preparation assistance, as "excellent".

For more information, visit www.bestcities.net.