In this week's MEA Express, MEA Chairman Michael Firman ponders the rise of the work-life balance and seeks to answer the question all employers are asking, 'how can they promote a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing employee productivity ..read more

"It is now estimated that 310,000 staff have been lost from the travel, tourism, accommodation, hospitality and events sectors since March 2020 meaning workforce shortages are being felt more acutely against the backdrop of pent-up demand ..read more

In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA CEO Peter McDonald recaps what you may have missed at Evolve 2022 last week, "It’s a wrap. Three attempts later Evolve 2021-cum-2022 has now come and gone. We had more than 300 souls participate in the event, predominantly in person but there was more than a token virtual audience too. I’m a bit stoked about that. We didn’t know what to expect with the uncertainty of the market leaving us unsure about how able the sector is to meet not just registration fees but also the travel and accommodation on-costs. Clearly for many the appetite for community outweighed th ..read more

What is it that gives cause to an individual doing something because another did it, or determined that they must? The reality is that this isn’t a behaviour unique to humans either. It seems that within most social creatures, be they man or beast, there’s an innate motivation to either lead or otherwise to follow ..read more

Jo Halios-Lewis is a freelance Events Consultant with a background in corporate and higher education events, and she is MEA's newest Diploma of Event Management (SIT50316) graduate. MEA caught up with Jo to ask her what she found valuable about the program, what's she's most looking forward to now that she's done, and any advice she has for those interested in starting their Diploma journey ..read more

Geelong and The Bellarine is overflowing with incredible event spaces, accommodation and once in a lifetime experiences. So, if you are currently in the process of deciding where to host your next conference or incentive experience, look no further than Geelong and The Bellarine ..read more

Meet the creators and innovators making Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) Melbourne’s Home of the Unconventional. Follow MCEC’s Digital Event Manager Mark Higgins as he takes us behind the scenes of MCEC’s industry-leading virtual and hybrid event production ..read more

Despite an enthusiastic return to in-person events, demand for virtual and hybrid continues to soar, thanks in part to a marked improvement in the quality of products and services now on offer ..read more

With the events industry returning to the ‘ ’ it is more important than ever that you focus on professional development and continual learning. Technology and best practices have and will continue to evolve, and for this reason it is critical for both new and experienced event professionals to continue developing their skills and perfecting their knowledge. In this week's #MEAExpress, MEA Board Member Vicky Troptsidis dives into the reasons why now is the perfect time to reinvigorate and develop our workforce in order to yield results.  ..read more

"Under the uniting theme of Building confidence through best practice we’ve assembled a cast of speakers from both within and external to the industry who have some great stories to tell and insights to share. One of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women (as named by the AFR) – Holly Ransom – will lead the event as MC AND deliver a keynote on empowering both yourself and your team. We’ve also engaged a former Royal Australian Navy Commodore; a descendant of slaves who grew to become a mum of 9 (not a typo!) and state Telstra Business Woman of the Year Award winner; and, an intensive care ..read more