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National business events program


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Victoria’s National Business Events Program is designed to give a helping hand to domestic business event organisers in holding their events in Victoria.

With a focus on domestic conferences, trade exhibitions or association meetings, as well as corporate meetings and incentive group events with a business event program, funding is available to offset actual costs for hosting their events in Victoria.

Cash grants offered can be put towards accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event cost such as marketing and promotion.

There are two funding streams available – for events to be held in regional Victoria (Regional Victoria Guidelines) and for events held in Melbourne (Melbourne Guidelines).

*Applications are now open.

Grants are available for a limited time with applications closing 3 March 2023. Apply now by clicking the button below.

Apply Now Regional Victoria Events
Apply Now Melbourne Events

Funding Support Available

For events to be held in REGIONAL VICTORIA

The regional arm of the program is delivered by Business Events Victoria, and will provide funding to event organisers for hosting new business events held in regional Victoria.

The program provides eligible event organisers funding up to $40,000 to support actual costs for hosting their event in regional Victoria, including accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event costs.

  • Grants up to $40,000 ($80.00 per delegate for up to 500 delegates) for a business event held in regional Victoria.

Eligibility and Mandatory Criteria – Regional Victorian Business Events

All submissions to the National Business Event Program – Regional Victoria will be assessed against mandatory criteria. Before submitting your applications, please ensure you have reviewed and addressed your events eligibility.

The business event must:

  • Be attended by at least 25 in-person delegates, virtual participants cannot be included.
  • Have a minimum two-day business event program (with a least one-night stay and at least 1.5 days meeting/program component, with travel times outside the 1.5 days).
  • Be a business to business (B2B) regional, state or national event. Corporate incentive events must include a gala/awards dinner and/or business events program.
  • The event must generate a minimum of 20 room nights, or at least 40 per cent of total delegates requiring the use of local accommodation, whichever is the greater.
  • Event dates must occur after 31 July 2023 and before 31 December 2024.
  • The event must take place at a regional Victorian business event venue or venues** and has not yet been contracted. If funding is granted to your event, the venue must be secured via deposit payment and funding contract completed by 30 June 2023.
  • Events that are receiving financial support from BEV or MCB will not be eligible.

** (Refer to National Business Event Program – Regional Victoria Guidelines for  list of eligible Local Government Areas)

For further details please refer to the National Business Events Program Guidelines – Regional Victoria

Apply Now Regional Victoria Events

For events to be held in MELBOURNE

Supported by the Melbourne Convention Bureau, the Melbourne events stream of the program provides eligible event organisers funding up to $80,000 to support actual costs for hosting their event in Melbourne, including accommodation, venue hire, transport and other event costs.

  • Grants of up to $80,000 ($80.00 per delegate for up to 1,000 delegates) are available to event organisers that commit to holding a business event in Melbourne

Eligibility and Mandatory Criteria – Melbourne Business Events

All submissions to the National Business Event Program – Melbourne will be assessed against mandatory criteria. Before submitting your applications, please ensure you have reviewed and addressed your events eligibility.

The business event must:

  • Be attended by at least 150 in-person delegates, virtual participants cannot be included.
  • Have a minimum two-day business event program (with one-night stay).
  • Have a minimum of 30% of delegates who reside outside of Victoria.
  • Be a business to business (B2B) national event.
  • Event dates must occur after 31 July 2023 and before 31 December 2024.
  • Venue has yet to been contracted. If funding is granted to your event, the venue must be secured via deposit payment and funding contract completed by 30 June 2023.
  • Events that are receiving financial support from MCB or the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will not be eligible.

For further details please refer to the  National Business Event Program Guidelines – Melbourne.

Application Deadlines

*Applications are now open.

 Grants are available for a limited time with applications closing 3 March 2023. Apply now by clicking the button below.

Apply Now Melbourne Events

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