INTERNATIONAL Sites, Cities, and Services Melbourne
Intelligent choice for conferences
Cultural capital Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, with 3,000 restaurants, cafes, and bars, and more retail space than any other city in the country.
You don’t need a high IQ to understand why Melbourne is the perfect place to host a meet- ing. All you need is to look at the facts. The city offers a world-class convention center, top international airport, 13 major research institutes, and a rich and unique culture that you can only find down under. In the next few years, Melbourne will host
some of the world’s most prestigious busi- ness events, including the World Diabetes Congress in 2013, and the International AIDS Conference and the World Congress of Cardi- ology in 2014. Rated “the world’s most livable city” in 2011 by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Livability Survey, Melbourne has something to offer every industry and individual attendee. From its breathtaking historic and modern architecture to its vast selection of cuisine, the city can accommo- date all appetites.
research and development in the medical, science, business, and financial industries, Melbourne is an ideal locale for all confer- ences. With 263 biotechnology companies, 13 major medical research institutes, 400 higher education facilities, and 1,000 financial-ser- vices firms, it’s a great place to get down to business. But don’t be fooled: Melbourne has plenty to offer in the pleasure department as well. As Australia’s cultural capital, attendees will discover 3,000 restaurants, cafes, and bars, and more retail space than any other city in Australia. Melbourne hosts internation- ally acclaimed events such as the Formula One Australian Grand Prix, the Spring Racing Carnival, and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Within walking distance of the city center are state-of-the-art sporting, entertainment,
and conference venues, including the Mel- bourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the largest meeting facility in the Southern Hemisphere. And with more than 26,000 hotel rooms, Melbourne offers top-class accommodations, including the 658-room Crown Metropol and the 167-room Mel- bourne Marriott Hotel. Explore outside city lines and find spec-
tacular coastline scenery, Australian wildlife sanctuaries, boutique wineries, relaxing day spas, alpine skiing, and world-class golf courses. No matter where you go in Mel- bourne, you’ll get an equal, effortless mix of industry and natural beauty, entertainment and education, business and pleasure.