submitted by Maddison Devoy, MCEC
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) wins the Victorian MEA Banqueting and Catering Award for the unique, tailored offering for The LUME Melbourne.
THE LUME Melbourne is Australia’s first digital art gallery, permanently housed at MCEC and encompassing 3,000 square metres with projections four stories high. Created by Grande Experiences and hosted in partnership with MCEC, THE LUME Melbourne combines state-of-the-art design, sights, sounds, tastes and aromas to immerse visitors in the art and world of the artist.
MCEC’s Culinary
It includes a dedicated café and unique event spaces in the exhibit and mezzanine. MCEC’s culinary experts design and deliver themed menus to reflect the art, times and influences of the featured art and artists. Menus are designed for the café as well as bespoke breakfast, gala and cocktail events and each dish is perfectly paired with a selection of wines, craft beers and cocktails.
In keeping with MCEC’s food philosophy, the menus showcase Victorian producers and suppliers, benefiting local supply chains and reducing our carbon footprint.
Since THE LUME opened in November 2021, more than 850,000 people have attended the exhibition; 65,000 visitors were served in Café Terrace 1888 and more than 8,000 people attended 39 events.
MCEC’s Head of Food and Beverage
MCEC’s Head of Food and Beverage, Paul Kanaan was proud to accept the award at the ceremony. “Creating menus for THE LUME Melbourne gives our team a wonderful opportunity to create an authentic, immersive experience for visitors,” he says.
“Our team demonstrates their creativity and expertise in designing menus that can be produced efficiently within the limitations of the service kitchen and also able to translate into an event format, aligning with and elevating the exhibit.”
“Congratulations to the whole team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver exceptional service to our clients every day,” he adds.
Following the win MCEC will vie against other state winners for the national award, which will be announced at the MEA annual conference, Evolve 2023 at the Gold Coast in June.
Who is MCEC
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the home of unconventional. At MCEC they do things a little differently. They bring fresh ideas and imagination to every event. They happily turn concepts on their head to make each experience momentous. They welcome events of all shapes and sizes, from meetings and conferences to exhibitions, concerts, and galas, whether in-person, virtual or hybrid. And their city is an inspiration. Melbourne is on show at MCEC in the architecture, design, food, hospitality, location, and views.
