The Best Melbourne Conference Venues

As an international business centre, Melbourne is often host to exhibitions, expos, conferences and corporate events. The choice of conference centres in Melbourne is extensive and ranges from small boutique hotels with function rooms right through to huge purpose built exhibition centres. Each of these venues has a different combination of facilities and services, different capacities and different price points. Choosing the right Melbourne conference venue will depend on the size and style of the event.

Large Melbourne Conference Centres

The award winning Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is the first '6 star green star' environmentally rated convention centre in the world and is a leader in innovation and sustainability. The huge purpose built convention centre boasts 52 meeting rooms, a grand banquet room, a 466 seat auditorium and 30,000 square metres of exhibition space. The world class food and wine have won awards and the technology is state of the art. Although, the MCEC is capable of hosting the largest of exhibitions or events, they also cater for small to medium meetings and conferences in their flexible meeting rooms. Located just 5 minutes from the Melbourne CBD and overlooking picturesque Albert Park Lake, the Sebel Albert Park Melbourne is a Melbourne hotel offering an excellent Melbourne conference venue and a large flexible event space. The Sebel also has the added advantage of on-site accommodation in its 242 stylish and contemporary guest rooms. The Grand Ballroom has a capacity of 1400 cocktail style or 900 for a banquet, while rooms such as the Lake Rooms are suited for small meetings boardroom style, for 10 or less. The Sebel provides specialist event planners to help planning and organisation run smoothly for corporate events.

Small to Medium Melbourne Conference Venues

The list of hotels offering conference and function rooms in Melbourne is endless, although the standard can vary dramatically. The Langham Hotel in Melbourne CBD is one of the best luxury hotels offering conference and meeting facilities in Melbourne. The hotel itself is 5 star and boasts outstanding accommodation in a central location. The conference centre houses 16 flexible meeting rooms suitable for as few as 6 or less delegates or up to a maximum of 400 guests reception style. The Langham was awarded the annual MICE hotel award (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) at the HM Magazine Hotel & Accommodation Excellence Awards 2011. The outstanding facilities and excellent service will ensure a corporate event to remember. The Como Melbourne Hotel is another centrally located Melbourne hotel offering excellent Melbourne conference centre facilities. The Como is a sophisticated 5 star boutique style hotel and its meeting rooms reflect this style. Located in the trendy South Yarra region, the Como specialises in contemporary functions and has the audio visual and technology to reflect this. The hotel has 107 contemporary guest rooms, an indoor/outdoor heated pool with retractable roof, gymnasium, sauna and spa. Little extras such as a complimentary daily newspaper, signature Como rubber duck and dry cleaning and laundry services make the conference experience an enjoyable one.

There are numerous other excellent conference centres in Melbourne, although the four mentioned above are tried and tested and excel in all areas from services and facilities to accommodation and location. A tour of the hotel and facilities is always the best way to determine the suitability of a venue for your needs.