The Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) will return to Melbourne/Narrm next year for the first time since 2015, with Australia’s largest annual tourism trade event to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from Sunday, 19 May 2024 to Thursday, 23 May 2024.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, today announced Melbourne as the next host of the event on the trade floor of ATE23 on the Gold Coast.
“After a couple of years of hybrid events it has been great this year to have ATE back to its traditional format on the Gold Coast and we can’t wait to work with Visit Victoria to deliver another amazing ATE in 2024,” Ms Harrison said.
“Melbourne has proudly hosted our premier travel trade event on eight occasions in the past and we look forward to taking ATE, and more than 2,000 delegates, back to Melbourne to drive future tourism business across Australia.
“ATE brings together tourism businesses, tourism wholesalers and retailers from around the world for four days of appointments, as well as networking events, which are more important than ever before as competition grows for the tourism dollar.”
ATE24 will be the ninth time ATE has been staged in Melbourne, which first hosted the event in 1991 and then again in 1992, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2009 and 2015. Melbourne had been due to host the 2020, but the event did not go ahead due to the global pandemic.
Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “ATE 2024 will be an important opportunity to showcase why Victoria has the most dynamic tourism industry in the country and it will drive business and job opportunities throughout our state.”
“We expect an influx of international buyers, industry experts and media at ATE 2024 which will help keep our hotels, restaurants and attractions busy and support local jobs.”
ATE provides tourism operators around the country with the opportunity to meet and do business with international buyers from around the world. ATE24 will run from 19 May 2024 to 23 May 2024, with delegates from 30 countries expected to attend.
ATE24 will be delivered by Tourism Australia in partnership with Visit Victoria.
