Melbourne to host signature World Chambers Congress in 2025

January 20, 2023

In a nod to Victoria’s stature in the international economic marketplace, Melbourne has secured the rights to host one of the world’s biggest business events, the 14^th World Chambers Congress (WCC) 2025.

More than 1000 of the world’s leading business chamber leaders, trade delegations and local business leaders will come together to discuss solutions for global issues impacting business, create new business opportunities and exchange and develop community best practice when they convene at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in September 2025.

The successful bid led by the Melbourne Convention Bureau in partnership with the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with support from the Victorian Government and Tourism Australia’s Business Events Bid Fund Program, will see the Congress unite business chambers from across the globe filling more than 2,250 hotel room nights and injecting an estimated $3.9 million into the local economy. 

Describing the Congress as ‘the Olympic Games of business’, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra said winning the rights to stage it in Melbourne is a major coup for Victoria.

“It will bring the eyes of the business world to Victoria and open up significant investment opportunities for the State. We will deliver a world class event and showcase the best of Melbourne and Victoria to the world.”

In hosting the biennial 2025 Congress, Victoria’s business achievements will be given a global audience. The benefits from international meetings such as WCC are unparalleled in that it presents a rare and valuable dynamic forum facilitating the exchange of real-world ideas and best practices on both chamber and business activities. Importantly it will help facilitate and identify potential for international business opportunities for Victoria, whilst also creating and strengthening international connections.

It will ensure Melbourne remains part of the conversation globally around hosting corporate conferences and is expected to bring more international business to Victoria, with a direct significant benefit for our accommodation, hospitality and tourism sectors. It will also elevate Victoria’s status in the international economic marketplace

Tourism Australia Executive General Manager Commercial and Business Events Robin Mack said the Business Events Bid Fund Program is helping to deliver a future pipeline of business events to Australia.

“Securing the bid to host World Chambers Congress for 2025 is exciting news for Melbourne, Victoria and Australia as the world returns to hosting large scale face-to-face business events,” Mr Mack said.

“The latest win demonstrates that the support offered through the Bid Fund Program helps to attract future large-scale international association meetings and incentives to Australia as we rebuild this important part of our visitor economy.”

Melbourne’s unique 2025 WCC program will have an Environmental, Social and Governance theme (ESG) that will empower, inspire and educate international and domestic chambers to lead business into the future. 

Melbourne’s bid which was presented to the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris November 2022, edged out China for the rights to host the 2025 WCC.

MCB Chief Executive Officer Julia Swanson, who was part of the delegation presenting in Paris explained Melbourne’s reputation as a city of great minds, world leading innovation in a range of sectors and its world class infrastructure has led the city to become an appealing city to host international business events, and without doubt, Australia’s premier business events destination.

“Renowned for our collaborative network of industries, partners and suppliers working together, our Team Melbourne approach will ensure the 2025 World Chambers Congress in Melbourne is a great success.

“A big thank you to our partners who helped us secure the winning bid: Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos, Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO Julia Swanson and Tourism Australia for their support throughout the bidding process.”