Voiceover: When it comes to lifestyle, Melbourne is simply unmatched. Set on a river with extensive parkland, the city has great public spaces and a host of world class venues. Food, sport, culture and shopping are what make the city tick. Melbourne is the sporting capital of Australia hosting the nation's four largest sporting events: the AFL grand final, the Australian Tennis Open, the Formula One Grand Prix and the Spring Racing Carnival.
Peter Jones: Melbourne has without doubt the best facilities and infrastructure of any city in the world. Let's look at our major sporting stadiums: where else can you go and get three major stadia within ten minutes of each other that are all accessible by public transport and if necessary you can walk there on foot.
Voiceover: Melbourne is also the nation's cultural heart with diverse ethnic precincts, a thriving live theatre scene, impressive galleries and museums and great food.
Events, festivals and community celebrations take place every week in Melbourne. In 2007, over 329 000 international visitors attended major events in Melbourne and Victoria.
Peter Jones: Melbourne is without doubt the event capital of Australia if not the world. The world looks at Melbourne because of its reputation, its track record and its heritage in staging major events. No other city in the world stages as many major events as Melbourne does on a regular basis and has done so successfully for a long period of time.
Voiceover: Melbourne's events industry is supported by world class infrastructure, all of which is within five kilometres of the city centre and easily accessible by foot, car or public transport. This includes Melbourne Cricket Ground, which holds 98 000 people; Melbourne Park with two retractable roof stadiums and 23 tennis courts; Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the largest single span exhibition space in the southern hemisphere.
Peter Jones: Melbourne recently was awarded the ultimate sports city award which is an award judged by the peers on an international basis. It basically means Melbourne is the best city to stage a major event anywhere in the world.
Voiceover: Business events including exhibitions meetings and conferences contribute $1.2 billion to Melbourne's local economy and attract 5.4 million delegates each year. The city's expertise in event management is exported throughout the world.
Peter Jones: One only has to look at recently the Beijing Olympics and the London Olympics coming up in 2012 where there are more than a dozen Melbourne companies that are actually out there offering their services and experience to the world.