AIME Partners with Guide Dogs Victoria

AIME Partners with Guide Dogs Victoria
By Alexandra Coulton


Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME), the leading meetings and conventions event in the Asia Pacific region, has announced an innovative partnership with Australia’s most-trusted charity, Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV), to launch a pop-up sensory experience workshop.

In an industry first, Guide Dogs Victoria will run its award-winning program, Dialogue in the Dark, as part of AIME’s refreshed Knowledge Program, sponsored by the Melbourne Convention Bureau.

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Participants can expect an immersive experience designed to offer them the opportunity to kick-start AIME by challenging their own limits, overcoming boundaries, and discovering their hidden potential – all while being led through tasks in complete darkness by facilitators who are blind or have low vision.

Talk2 Media & Events Director Matt Pearce said: “The Knowledge Program is all about community, diversity, innovation and inclusivity, and we’re thrilled to partner with GDV.

“Between us, we can highlight the extraordinary ability rather than the disability within this community and how we can learn from them.”

“Inclusivity and accessibility must always remain top of mind in the meetings and events industry, across employment considerations and for those attending the event.

“By working closely with GDV, we are able to demonstrate how straightforward it is to be inclusive for the visually impaired – and not just talk about it.”

Founded by social entrepreneur Andreas Heinecke in Hamburg in 1988, Dialogue in the Dark has been experienced by more than 10 million visitors across 39 countries and employed upwards of 10,000 people with blindness or partial blindness.

Guide Dogs Victoria GM Marketing and Communications Charlie Spendlove said: “It’s extremely rewarding seeing people’s reactions after they experience Dialogue in the Dark for the first time.

“Through this encounter, they often find a new appreciation of the unique skills of people with a disability, and they challenge their own personal perceptions and values.

“To be able to run an industry-first experience at an event founded on connections and community is really special.”

Dialogue in the Dark will be held exclusively for participants at AIME 2019, running across four sessions throughout the Knowledge Program on Monday 18 February.

Running from 18 to 20 February, AIME is the first event to kick off the 2019 MICE calendar and will take place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

For more details on Dialogue in the Dark, visit dialogueinthedark.com.au, or to submit interest in attending AIME in 2019, visit aime.com.au

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