“Think Melbourne 2001" - the first IMTA International Trade Show south of the equator.

Space has been reserved at the Melbourne Convention Centre, as well at nearby hotels. Preliminary schedules for workshops and conference sessions have been reviewed and Trade Show exhibit space has been given the "go ahead." Here is preplanning that will ensure the success of Melbourne 2001 as well as a memorable stay in Australia.

Look up more information on Melbourne's Tourism website: www.melbourne.org It's an excellent point to add other travel destinations to your trip.

September is a splendid time to be in Melbourne. As Australia's second largest city, it is a city that offers diversity, history, tradition, quality and choice. Visitors are impressed with the beautiful buildings, wide avenues with Victorian architecture, and sheer fanaticism of the people when it comes to cricket and Australian Rules Football.

Founded in 1835, Melbourne is a city of diverse ethnic backgrounds. It has, for example, the third largest urban Greek population in the world after Athens and Thessaloniki. The profound influence of its varied ethnic population can be traced from the gold rushes of the 1850s, which made the fledgling settlement a boom town. With about 2.9 million people, Melbourne continues to be a commercial and manufacturing centre of the country with many large corporations based here. Built on a grand scale, the city boasts of extensive parks and gardens - indeed, parks account for about one-fifth of the city's acreage. It is a fitting capital for a province that calls itself "the Garden State."

Famous too, for maintaining a fleet of historic public transit vehicles, the green Melbourne trams are a sight and experience to be remembered. The city is also home to Carlton United Breweries, which make Foster's Lager. It's a city with a special style of its own.

Melbourne is an integral part of the Asia Pacific region, being eight hours flying time from Singapore, 10 hours from Tokyo and 14 hours from Los Angeles. Flying time is approximately 22 hours from London or Amsterdam.

The Convention Centre

Superbly located along the Yarra River, within the Central Business District, the Melbourne Convention Centre is a convenient, flexible and well suited site for the 2001 Conference and Trade Show. Convenient because it is in the heart of the business district, next to hotel headquarters and approximately 30 minutes from the International airport on public transportation. The Centre was recently awarded the "Best Congress Centre of the Year" 2000 International award from the Association des Palais de Congres.

Workshops

Each year workshops are designed to address map trade concerns with practical application. New workshops are added each year. Here are some repeat favourites:

eCommerce on the Internet

Market Research Report

Future Shock

Map Forum

Selling New Technology

Satellite Imagery

Geography Awareness

Preliminary Schedule

Wednesday, 12 September

City Tour

Golf Tournament

Exhibitor Setup

Welcome Reception, Convention Centre

Thursday, 13 September

Opening of Trade Show

Keynote Speakers: Tony & Marleen Wheeler, Founders & Publishers, Lonely Planet Publications

Workshops

Reception, Level 5, Exhibition Centre

Friday, 14 September

Trade Show

Workshops

Reception, New Melbourne Aquarium

Saturday, 15 September

Trade Show

Workshops

Annual Banquet, River Room, Crown Hotel

Registration

... Printable Registration & Exhibit Forms, Hotel Rates, and Other Information Will Be Added to this Page as it Becomes Available ...

For more information:

International Map Trade Association

PO Box 1789

Kankakee, IL 60901 USA

815/939-4627; FAX: 815/933-8320

E-mail: imta@maptrade.org

IMTA of Asia Pacific:

Noleen Zander, Executive Director

147 Unley Rd., PO Box 1112

Unley, SA 5061 AUSTRALIA

61 8 8357 1777; FAX: 61 8 8357 3001

E-mail: imtaaspac@ozemail.com.au