Australia’s inaugural Business Events Week has been boosted by the inclusion of the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition (Avalon Airshow) to its program of events.
Business Events Week, to be held in Melbourne from 25 Feb. 25 to March 1, is designed to showcase the value of business events to both Victoria and Australia and coincides with the Avalon Airshow, which features international conferences, seminars and symposia for the aviation and aerospace industries in addition to public events.
Officials for the Melbourne Convention & Visitor’s Bureau say the Avalon Airshow is a perfect example of what the week-long Business Events Week program is trying to achieve.
“Business Events Week is not just for the business-events industry. It’s about highlighting the benefits of hosting business events to decision-makers in industries ranging from science and medicine to engineering and education,” said Karen Bolinger, CEO, Melbourne Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Business events provide the opportunity to exchange ideas, access new technology and establish valuable business and professional networks.”
The pairing of the two events helps demonstrate how public and business interests often times merge or complement each other.
“The Avalon Airshow is one of the Asia-Pacific’s most prestigious aviation, aerospace 
and defense events and is a prime example of how to showcase the latest in innovation and technology to both a trade and public audience in order to achieve business objectives,” said Bolinger. “We are delighted that such a key player of this industry will be joining us to support the inaugural Business Events Week.”
The Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defense Exposition is comprised of a tradeshow from Feb. 26 to March 1 and a public airshow from March 1-3. Australia’s National Institute of Economic and Industry Research estimates the economic value of the Avalon Airshow to the Victorian economy to be $120 million and the direct economic impact to the Geelong region to be $20 million.
