The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is turning its focus to the future to ensure the business is set up for ongoing success post-COVID-19. MCEC is a major contributor to Victoria’s economy, with more than $1 billion in economic impact last year alone, and is now starting work to transform the business as a driver in the state’s economic recovery beyond COVID-19. This includes exploring new business models, products and revenue streams across local, national and international markets.
“Like many in the event sector, we have found ourselves in the position of not being able to perform our core business at this time, and the immediate loss of revenue has proved challenging,” admits MCEC CEO Peter King.
“Our immediate focus has been the safety and well-being of our customers, people and the community, which is why we were the first convention and exhibition centre in Australia to make the call to close our doors and help fight the spread of COVID-19. Now, we are turning our attention to securing MCEC’s future, both now and post-COVID-19.”
To lead these efforts, King has appointed Helen Fairclough to the role of director of business relaunch. Formerly acting chief operations officer and prior to that director of people, culture and improvement at MCEC, Fairclough has been with the organization for close-to six years and is a board member of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Helen is uniquely placed to guide the business through a process that looks at every aspect of what we do well, what we could do better and what we have never done before, but may be able to do in the new world,” says King. “Through this process, we will be living our values of courage and curiosity, and I’ve given Helen the license to be unrestrained in what we explore as a business.”
Fairclough says she’s excited to take on the interim role and build on her experience from previous roles within the business. “My remit is to ensure we take advantage of this rare opportunity to ‘pause and reflect,’ so we can position MCEC at the forefront of the industry when we make it to the other side of the pandemic,” says Fairclough. “This will including exploring new revenue streams, new business models and new initiatives to positively disrupt the sector.”
She adds, “This is an exciting time to navigate through the change ahead. Even when MCEC is able to reopen its doors, we must accept that the world has and will continue to change. For this reason, MCEC must change too.”
While the Business Relaunch is in early stages of exploration, in the coming months MCEC will be inviting customers and partners across the industry to collaborate. “We hope to have many updates to share with you about new projects and initiatives over the coming months,” says Fairclough.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is Melbourne’s destination for big ideas and inspirational events. Hosting more than 1,200 events each year, MCEC is internationally renowned for its incredible range of spaces, innovative design and jaw-dropping food. At MCEC, they’re passionate about creating inspirational environments. They do this by delivering a personalized service and partnering with their customers to offer ideas, insights and imaginative solutions. They tailor every experience because they realize it’s the little details that make all the difference. Their venue is distinctly Melbourne and they’ve been inspired by the creative, cultural and diverse delights of the city they call home. For more info, visit www.mcec.com.au.
