New Melbourne guide makes mixing business with leisure even easier

Melbourne is globally renowned for its rich dining and cultural delights, with the likes of the National Gallery of Victoria and high-energy Japanese flair of Yakimono restaurant regularly encouraging business travellers to stay, play and indulge after the meetings are over.

A newly-released digital guide makes it easy to discover the city’s best sights, with a curated selection of high quality hotels, bars, restaurants, function venues and more featured within.

Developed by Melbourne Conference Bureau (MCB), the interactive, web-based guide – available for download at this link – was created to showcase the breadth of experiences in the city, with a handy itinerary builder helping you plan a perfect side-trip, right down to directions and timing.

Much like a digital book, users click through a series of features to get you excited about the city, with an embedded map on page six allowing you to delve deeper into each experience.

The guide from Melbourne Convention Bureau is designed to help travellers rethink their next visit.

Divided into seven categories such as Eat, Play, Conference and Caffeinate, the guide goes far beyond the boardroom to cover attractions like the bustling Queen Victoria Market, and live performances at the Princess and Regent Theatres.

Executive Traveller enjoyed a preview on the ground in Melbourne, with the desktop and mobile versions both delivering an intuitive experience, with easy-to-use search, minute-accurate  directions, and an eclectic mix of featured locations around the city centre.

From a base at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, we found a spot for a quick coffee on the way to the tram, ventured to the Hellenic Museum – a hidden gem filled with hundreds of ancient Greek antiquities, plus torches from all of the modern Olympic Games – before stopping by Chef Scott Pickett’s amazing Chancery Lane for a long lunch.

Left to right: Chancery Lane, the Hellenic Museum, and the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.

MCB Chief Executive Julia Swanson describes it as the “must have” planning tool, one encouraging planners, delegates and corporate travellers to rethink their next visit to Melbourne.

“From the inspirational articles and interviews with industry experts and packaged up accessible information, readers can learn about what’s new in our thriving city,” explains Swanson.

“The key to an extraordinary event is more than just getting the right venue and accommodation, it’s the connection between the event, the host city, and its exciting offerings.” 

Supported by Tourism Australia through the Business Events Advance Program, the tool also gives you the ability to create, name and save multiple itineraries, as well share custom conference and event participation tours to delegates.

As Melbourne evolves, so too will the guide, with a second edition delving into the city’s neighbourhoods, such as trendy Fitzroy and Collingwood, rolling out later this year.

The writer travelled as a guest of Melbourne Convention Bureau.