Why Melbourne?

Melbourne – Liveable, Safe, Healthy & Multicultural City

• World’s Most Liveable City – Recently voted the best city in the world to live for the second year in a row according to the global liveability survey from the London based Economist Intelligence Unit. ƒ ​
• Safe City – Accredited as an international ‘Safe City’ by the World Health Organisation, Melbourne offers visitors a safe environment to holiday and to do business in. ƒ
• Healthy City – You can safely drink Melbourne tap water, as it has one of the purest supplies in the world. ƒ
• Cosmopolitan and Multicultural City – Melbourne is one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world; Victorians come from over 200 countries, speak over 180 languages and dialects and follow over 110 religious faiths, each enriching the cultural life of the city.

Melbourne – Perfect Walking City

Melbourne is the perfect walking city, with the city centre set out in an easily navigable grid and with the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre located within easy walking distance to hotels, restaurants, cafes, shopping and attractions. It is supported by an integrated, easy to use public transport system, serviced by a network of trams, trains and buses.

For delegates who want to use public transport, there are many easy and accessible options, including:

• Free City Circle Tourist Tram
• Free Tourist Shuttle Bus (wheelchair accessible)
• Metropolitan Trams and Trains (wheelchair accessible)
• Bus services (over 50 per cent are wheelchair accessible)
• RACV Melbourne Bike Share Scheme for short trips across the city

Public Transport for the 2017 Congress

Negotiations are underway to provide each delegate with free tramway public transport. Melbourne has the largest tramway network in any city and it covers Melbourne and suburbs including access to the beaches, galleries, theatres, sporting venues and of course hotels.

RACV Melbourne Bike Share Scheme

Melbourne has introduced a Bike Share Scheme, allowing users to hire one of 600 bikes at the 50 docking stations around the city centre. Prices start from as little as AUD$2.50 a day or AUD$8 per week, plus usage fees. The first 30 minutes of every trip is free of charge, followed by a tiered pricing structure. Please note that wearing bicycle helmets is compulsory in Melbourne.

Melbourne’s Smartphone Apps

Melbourne is a city that is always on the cutting edge of technology and when it comes to mobile apps that help you navigate your way around the city, Melbourne has a wide range of options to suit your business, transport, tourism, cultural and entertainment needs.

Melbourne – Political and Economic Stabilityƒ

• Low Risk of Political Instability – Australia is ranked third in the world for political stability (IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2010).
• Constitutional Democracy Based on a Federal Division of Powers – This has provided for a very stable government in Australia.
• Uninterrupted Economic Growth – Australia is a CRT-1 country with very low levels of economic, political and financial system risk. The Australian economy has experienced 17 years of uninterrupted economic expansion. In fact, Australia was the only Western economy to achieve growth during the recent Global Financial Crisis. ƒ
• Enviable Business Environment – According to the World Bank, Australia’s business environment is in the top ten in the world in terms of ease of doing business.

Melbourne – the Intelligent Choice for Conferences

• No.1 City in Australia for Conferences and Congresses – Recently ranked as the number one city in Australia for conferences and congresses in the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) ‘Country and City Ranking Report 2011’, Melbourne is recognised internationally as the nation’s premier destination for business events. ƒ
• World-class Universities – Melbourne has an enviable reputation as a leading education destination. Victoria’s nine world-class universities, eight of them with campuses in Melbourne’s city centre, along with technical and further education (TAFE) colleges and private colleges, are complemented by major research institutes. ƒ
• ​Business Friendly City – Melbourne has an open, stable and growing economy and was named one of the best new cities to business in the world by Fortune magazine.