From city spark to coastal glow
I didn’t need any convincing to return to Melbourne for this year’s Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME). But if I had, the promise of world-class education, a buzzing trade show floor and a side trip to wine country would have sealed the deal.
A City Like No Other
AIME unfolded at the ever-impressive Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), perched along the Yarra River with 753,000+ sq. ft. of meeting space and seamlessly connected to my home base for the week, Pan Pacific Melbourne. With 396 guest rooms and suites and more than 43,000 sq. ft. of event space, the hotel is a planner’s dream: direct access to the convention center, sweeping river views and a front-row seat to South Wharf’s dining scene.
Each morning, I pulled back the curtains to watch rowers glide along the Yarra as the city stretched awake. Just outside, riverside paths led to coffee shops, public art installations and the Capital Wheel standing tall in the distance. Melbourne has a way of feeling both cosmopolitan and comfortably livable, like it’s in on a secret it’s happy to share.
But before diving into the whirlwind of AIME, I ventured about an hour south to the Mornington Peninsula, where the pace softens and the landscapes open wide.
Nearby, a World Away
Our day began at Sunnyside Events, a boutique venue tucked into the countryside with an easy elegance that makes you want to linger. Over a delectable outdoor breakfast, we experienced a “welcome to country,” the traditional acknowledgment of the Indigenous custodians of the land. It was a grounding way to begin—reminding us that meetings are about connection: to place, to people and to purpose.
From there, we made our way to Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill, a five-star boutique hotel and winery nestled among rolling vines. Over a two-course lunch paired with estate wines, conversation moved easily from business trends to bucket-list destinations. The property’s intimate scale (34 guest rooms, vineyard views and refined yet relaxed meeting spaces) makes it especially appealing for executive retreats or incentive programs that call for both polish and personality.
If Lindenderry is about savoring the moment, Pt. Leo Estate is about sparking imagination. The sprawling sculpture park is dotted with more than 60 large-scale works, each revealed along a winding path overlooking Western Port Bay. We embraced our inner artists during a sip-and-sketch session, a fun (and funny) way to spend an afternoon. It was a gentle reminder that creativity doesn’t always happen in a ballroom. Sometimes, it happens surrounded by art, with a glass of chardonnay in hand.
The grand finale? Alba Thermal Springs & Spa. If you’ve ever wished your post-conference decompression could begin before your flight home, this is your answer. The award-winning geothermal spa features a collection of open-air and indoor pools, saunas and wellness experiences designed for full-body exhale.
The Big Show
Back in Melbourne, AIME buzzed with the kind of energy that reminds you why this industry is so magnetic. Global destinations showcased their latest developments, planners compared notes on what’s next and MCEC’s sleek, light-filled spaces hummed with excitement.
Read More: AIME 2026 Shines in Australia’s Cultural Capital
What struck me most, though, was the seamless pairing of city and countryside. In Melbourne, you can gather thousands along the river in a state-of-the-art convention center. An hour later, you can be toasting among vines, sketching beside sculpture or soaking in thermal springs.
For planners seeking a destination that balances serious business with soul, Melbourne and its Mornington Peninsula playground will have attendees eager to return before they even depart (much as I was).
This article appears in the March/April 2026 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
