Quick Facts

Melbourne is Australia's No.1 International Convention City. Union of International Associations, August 2007.

Infrastructure

Melbourne has Australia's highest concentration of convention facilities located in the city centre. Melbourne boasts world-class hotels and venues, most of which are centrally located with full function and meeting facilities.
Melbourne has more than 23,400 accommodation rooms located within 1 hour of the CBD with approximately 14,800 located within the City of Melbourne.
Melbourne has Australia's largest world-class meeting facilities, with the new Melbourne Convention Centre which opened in 2009. The new Six-Star, Green Star energy rated centre will boast a 5,000 seat plenary hall, 32 meeting rooms, and a banquet hall for 1,500 guests and will be within five minutes walking distance of five major convention hotels.

Melbourne has proven expertise in staging major events such as the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, which saw the city's infrastructure and event venues at full capacity. Melbourne is also home to the Australian Open Tennis, Formula One Grand Prix, Spring Racing Carnival and Australian Rules Football.
Melbourne is one of eight partners in the BestCities Global Alliance dedicated to the delivery of the world's best convention bureau practices for the meetings industry.
Melbourne is one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world with 140 nations represented, 100 religious faiths and 180 different languages, each enriching the cultural life of the city. Melbourne can comfortably accommodate the religious, dietary and language requirements of almost any delegate group.

Melbourne International Airport is open 24 hours, is curfew free and currently has 450 direct international flights per week to and from major destinations.
There is just one traffic light between the Airport and the new Convention Centre and it is freeway all the way (20kms).
Within a short distance of Melbourne are pristine beaches and rugged coastlines, scenic mountains and forests, historic towns, wineries, golf courses and Australian wildlife ideal for post-conference touring and incentive programs.

Melbourne has a comprehensive, efficient and well-integrated public transport system.
The compact city grid network and transport facilities allow easy access to all major hotels, meeting venues and local attractions.
Melbourne's Southern Cross railway station features an airport-style transport interchange able to handle over 30,000 passengers at peak hour times.
Melbourne offers a free City Circle Tourist Tram and Tourist Shuttle Bus for travelling around the city. These link with other tram, train and light rail services in and around Melbourne. The City Circle Tram takes passengers past shopping malls and arcades, major attractions, such as the Old Treasury Building, Parliament House and the Princess Theatre, as well as parks and gardens.

Melbourne is recognised internationally as a centre of excellence in medical research, with Australia's largest concentration of research institutions.
The majority of ASX-listed companies are in Melbourne and a significant number of organisations have their headquarters in the city.
The 2008 Global University City Index - which measures cities on their ability to establish strong universities - has Melbourne placed within the world's top five cities.
Melbourne has joined London and Boston as one of only three cities in the world with two universities in global top 20 biomedical rankings.

Melbourne has a hospitable, temperate climate with one of Australia's lowest rainfalls.

Melbourne is the only city in the world with three closed roof stadiums.
Melbourne is Australia's Major Events Capital - there is always something on in Melbourne!
Melbourne is famous for its many and varied shopping experiences including outdoor markets, international boutiques, and local designers in historic laneways.

In 2008, Melbourne was voted the nation's No.1 Australian destination for business travellers for the third year in a row, according to a survey undertaken by wotif.com.
Melbourne was named a UNESCO City of Literature in 2008 - only the second city in the world to receive this accolade.
Melbourne was voted Australia's No.1 city for shopping, style and romance, sporting and cultural events, nightlife, and world-class restaurants. (Roy Morgan Research, July 2006).
The Economist Intelligence Unit has named Melbourne the World's Most Liveable City three times (2002, 2004 and 2005).
Melbourne is the world's best place to hold a sports event, having been named the Ultimate Sports City 2008.