The Australian Business Events Expo ABEE (2012) has provided the Australian MICE industry with greater access to potential clients, avoiding the go-between and getting down to business.

ABEE 2012 and Sydney’s Event Showcase welcomed over 300 suppliers and countless event professionals at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre (SCEC) over the past two days.

“Getting to the actual person who makes the event decisions is difficult,” according to EmbroidMe managing director Steve Mellier.

“We exhibit at the showcase because it affords us direct access to the clients we want to talk to. The showcase allows us to cut through the receptionist, saves us time and gives us the business we are after,” Mr Mellier said.

Event organisers, public relations agencies, hotel groups, exhibition centres, MICE venues, tourism bureaus and more operated dedicated booths with sales and marketing teams and managers on hand to assist wandering professionals.

Businesses including The Star, Merivale Hotel Group, Mantra Group, The Grace Hotel, Accor NSW Hotels, Wollongong Conference and Events, Captain Cook and the Dedes Group had stands at this year’s expo.

Master Class Seminars discussing the commercial viability of sustainability for events, buying conferences efficiently, event technology, speed pitching and MICE trends were available to attend over the course of the two-day trade show.

The Taste Kitchen on the expo floor has been abuzz with activity as popular chefs including, Stefano Manfredi from Bells at Killcare, Uwe Habermehl from SCEC and Stephen Seckhold from Flying Fish served up steaming dishes and plenty of entertainment.

ABEE and Sydney’s Event Showcase concludes today.

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