Hong Kong's newest venue AsiaWorld-Expo will participate in AsiaPacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME) 2004 for the first time, to be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, Australia from 17-18 February 2004.

AsiaWorld-Expo will be featured in the Hong Kong Pavilion (STAND NO. 2001). During the 2-day event, senior representative of AsiaWorld-Expo will be in the pavilion to introduce the new world-class exhibition and event venue, AsiaWorld-Expo , to key industry players and decision makers around the world.

Celebrating its 12th year anniversary, AIME 2004 has earned a reputation of being Asia Pacific's largest business travel, incentives and meetings event. It is expected that AIME 2004 will attract more than 400 international buyers, 2,200 trade visitors and 700 exhibitors according to its organiser, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AsiaWorld-Expo , Allen Ha said, "It will be AsiaWorld-Expo 's first appearance at AIME and it will be an excellent opportunity to showcase AsiaWorld-Expo to the trade industry."

Scheduled to open in late 2005, AsiaWorld-Expo is easily accessible from Asian and international destinations via the award-winning airport, Hong Kong International Airport. The cross-boundary ferry terminal will also link the venue with key cities in China's Pearl River Delta and Macau.

Upon completion, AsiaWorld-Expo will provide more than 70,000 square metres of rentable space, including an arena-style, multi-purpose hall (10,880 sq m) which can accommodate 13,500 delegates. Equipped with the highest acoustic qualities and seatriser systems, this hall is ideal for hosting major international conventions and special events. A variety of meeting rooms for breakout sessions, VIP rooms, changing rooms, organiser's offices will also be available. Additionally, AsiaWorld-Expo 's will feature 66,000 square meters of ground level, column-free exhibition hall space.

If your delegates want to take a short break from the conference or exhibition, there is a selection of brand new attractions nearby for them to choose from, including Hong Kong Disneyland, nine-hole golf course, mega shopping and entertainment complex, Tung Chung Cable Car and more. Delegates may even want to bring their families with them and extend their stay.

AsiaWorld-Expo is a private public partnership involving funding from the Hong Kong SAR Government and private companies Dragages et Travaux Publics (HK) Ltd and Yu Ming Investments Ltd, with the Airport Authority Hong Kong contributing the land. The construction cost of the first phase development is estimated to be about HK$2.35 billion and the venue will open in December 2005.