Fiji has beaten off strong opposition from a field of international competition to take out top honors at the 2012 Australia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings EXPO (AIME) where the Tourism Fiji stand has received the ‘Best Stand Over 36m²’ award.

One of only three awards presented to stand holders, the stands were judged on a list of criteria including originality and creative input by industry specialists Linda Gaunt of Meetings & Events Australia (MEA), Joyce DiMascio of Exhibition & Event Association Australasia (EEAA) and Noor Ahmad Hamid from the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA).

The Tourism Fiji stand was recognized for its bright and eye-catching structure which according to judges “beautifully captured the spirit of Fiji.”

Acknowledging the award the Acting CEO of Tourism Fiji Michael Meade said the accolade also represented strong recognition of the potential Fiji has achieved in recent years in its quest to become and further build upon its reputation as the ‘powerhouse’ of the South Pacific’s Meetings and Incentive industry.

This position, he said, would be added to within the space of two years when the new 1,500-seat convention centre to be built in Fiji as part of the new casino and integrated resort development is open at Denarau Island.

Accompanying the Fiji team at AIME this year were Air Pacific, ATS Pacific, Rosie DMC, Blue Lagoon Cruises, Captain Cook Cruises, the Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s The Fijian Resort & Spa, the Warwick Fiji Resort & Spa, Plantation Island Resort, Sonaisali Island Resort & Spa, Tadrai Island Resort, Adrenalin Fiji, the Naviti Resort Fiji, Starwood Hotels and the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa.

Now in its 20th year, AIME is recognized as the premier event in the Asia-Pacific region for the meetings and events industry, annually attracting hundreds of international exhibitors.