Welcome to Melbourne

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to the Melbourne Planner's Guide 2011/12.

As Minister for Tourism and Major Events, as well as Innovation, Services and Small Business, I have no doubt that upon reading this guide your imagination will be captured by all that our exuberant city has to offer.

The 2010 Brand Health survey undertaken by Roy Morgan Research has highlighted that Melbourne is rated by Australians as the leading destination for major international sporting and cultural events; interesting cafés, bars and nightlife; theatre; quality food experiences and world-class restaurants; shopping; and regional experiences one and a half hours from the city.

From award-winning vineyards, world-celebrated golf courses or sumptuous day spas, few places can offer the diversity of Melbourne and regional Victoria. Stroll through the intriguing laneways which meander through the city, enjoy one of over 3,000 cafés, restaurants and bars or take a trip down the Great Ocean Road and you will see why Australians and the rest of the world fall in love with Melbourne and Victoria when they visit.

The city's state-of-the-art infrastructure, accessibility and advances in science, medicine and technology, have seen Melbourne recognised globally as one of the world's leading business destinations, with recent events secured including the International Council of Nurses 25th Quadrennial Congress 2013, the World Diabetes Congress 2013 and the 23rd World Cancer Congress 2014.

Melbourne has Australia's highest concentration of convention facilities located in the Central Business District (CBD), including the award-winning Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Now in its third year of operation, the Centre is the world's first Six Star environmentally rated convention centre. MCEC offers a 5,500+ seat plenary hall, has 52 meeting rooms, a grand banquet room, a magnificent entry level foyer for up to 8,400 guests and 30,000 square metres of pillar-less exhibition space.

Melbourne Airport is located approximately 20 kilometres north of the CBD. Operating approximately 585 international flights and 3,200 domestic flights per week, the international and domestic terminals are located within one precinct, offering the best minimum connection time in Australia. What's more, Melbourne Airport is open 24 hours a day and is curfew free. Once you are in Melbourne, the city's compact grid network and integrated transport services allow easy access to all major hotels, meeting venues and local attractions, with many venues able to be reached on foot.

Melbourne is undoubtedly Australia's events capital boasting five major sporting events each year, including the Australian Football League Grand Final, the Spring Racing Carnival featuring 'The Race that Stops a Nation™' the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open Tennis Championships, the Boxing Day Cricket Test and the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix. The city also comes alive with a vast array of annual festivals and shows such as the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show and Melbourne International Arts Festival.

Regardless of the size of your conference or event, Melbourne can cater to your needs. The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB) has the expertise and skills to help you deliver a successful event. In the last four years alone, the MCVB has been responsible for securing Melbourne's largest business events in more than 20 years. The MCVB is your one-stop-shop when it comes to planning your next Business Event and its dedicated team will be on hand to assist you every step of the way.

I hope you find the Melbourne Planner's Guide 2011/12 a useful resource in planning your next Business Event and I look forward to welcoming you to Melbourne in the near future.

Louise Asher MP
Minister for Tourism and Major Events