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 14th 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 economy.
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.
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 was presented to the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris last month and edged out China for the rights to host the 2025 WCC.