Business events sponsorship

Applications are now closed

The business event sponsorship program helps conference organisers and city businesses ensure delegates experience all that the city has to offer. The program also helps facilitate business networking opportunities in the city.

Open to: businesses and organisations delivering business events or conferences.

Sponsorships for: business events or conferences held in the City of Melbourne municipality that promote Melbourne as a destination.

Sponsorship value: up to $10,000

• Key dates
• About the sponsorship
• Key objectives
• Assessment criteria
• Assessment process
• Terms and conditions
• How to apply

Key dates

About the sponsorship

Sponsorships are offered twice each year and range in value from $2,000 to $10,000. Subject to agreement, successful applicants may use the following services at their event:

• welcome letters from the Lord Mayor
• maps and brochures, including multilingual information
• Lord Mayor or councillor speech
• orientations conducted by our trained volunteers.  

See previous business event sponsorship recipients.

Key objectives

The business event sponsorship program provides support to organisations delivering business events in line with the City of Melbourne’s objectives. The business event must:

• attract more visitors to the city
• encourage delegates and their partners to explore Melbourne
• provide an economic benefit to businesses within the municipality
• raise Melbourne’s reputation as a ‘knowledge city’
• enhance Melbourne’s reputation as a ‘knowledge city’ through leadership in a particular discipline or industry function
• promote Melbourne as a destination
• lift the status, awareness or profile of Melbourne through media exposure
• enhance business or community development create opportunities for education and information exchange between Melbournians and delegates
• build long term relationships by providing Melbourne business and community leaders with the opportunity to meet visiting industry leaders
• promote council’s role in key industry sectors.

The City of Melbourne has identified the following industry sectors as priorities:

• advanced manufacturing (automotive, aerospace)
• biotechnology (pharmaceutical, human therapeutics)
• creative industry (film and TV, computer games, fashion)
• education
• environment management
• financial services
• hospitality
• information, technology and communications
• retail, trade and export.

Assessment criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:

• The event must be a business event (conference, convention, exhibition or meeting). 
• A business event sponsorship application form must be submitted.
• The business event and main accommodation must be held within the boundaries of the City of Melbourne (please refer to boundary map).
• The application must be from a legal entity or auspiced by a legal entity.
• The entity must have no outstanding debt to the City of Melbourne.
• The entity must have completed the acquittal process correctly for any previous City of Melbourne sponsorships.
• The proposal must have followed the application process guidelines precisely and met the required timelines.

The business event sponsorship program will not support:

• individuals
• political organisations and events run by them
• programs that denigrate, exclude or offend parts of the community
• interstate or overseas travel
• charities which pursue sectarian or political policies, political organisations
• religious organisations (charities run by religious groups are eligible)
• international aid appeals
• equipment or administrative funding
• employment of staff or professional fees for staff
• foundations that are themselves grant making bodies.

How to apply

Applications are now closed.