Vic: Melbourne hotels, restaurants and shops set for boom 2000

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-1999
Vic: Melbourne hotels, restaurants and shops set for boom 2000

MELBOURNE, Dec 21 AAP - Melbourne is next year set to become the second most popular
city in the world after Sydney for international meetings, conventions and exhibitions,
a marketing bureau forecast today.

The Melbourne Convention and Marketing Bureau (MCMB) predicted 2000 would be a boom
year for the city's hotels, restaurants and shops.

The MCMB said the meetings, conventions and exhibitions sector would contribute nearly
$113 million to the state's economy in 2000, up from just over $54 million this year.

MCMB chief executive officer Gary Grimmer said this equated to 289,400 room nights
worth of business, representing an 86 per cent rise on last year.

"While the (Sydney) Olympics has generated an enormous interest in Australia, Melbourne
has the advantage of some major city infrastructure projects coming on stream over the
next few years," Mr Grimmer said.

AAP st/jnb

KEYWORD: CONVENTIONS VIC

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