Melbourne hosts conferences, trade shows and head-office meetings all year. Most work trips centre on two places: the convention centre at South Wharf and the offices of the CBD.
This guide covers the practical side of a work trip: the venue, where to stay, the airport run, eating late, and how to spend a free evening. Ruby is an escort agency in Melbourne, and its escorts visit hotels in the CBD and by the river.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, or MCEC, stands on the south bank of the Yarra at South Wharf. It is two buildings joined together, with two entrances.
- The Convention Centre entrance is at 1 Convention Centre Place, between Pan Pacific Melbourne and DFO South Wharf. Plenary, the big hall, is on this side.
- The Exhibition Centre entrance is at 2 Clarendon Street. Trade shows and expos use this side.
Check which entrance your event uses before you set out. The two doors are a fair walk apart inside the building.
A little history
The Exhibition Centre opened in 1996. Locals still call it "Jeff's Shed", after Jeff Kennett, the premier of the time. The Convention Centre beside it opened in 2009, and an extension opened in 2018.
Getting there
Tram routes 12, 96 and 109 stop at stop 124A, Casino/MCEC/Clarendon Street, outside the Clarendon Street entrance. Southern Cross is the nearest train station.
South Wharf and the CBD for work
South Wharf
South Wharf runs along the river beside the convention centre. Old wharf sheds now hold bars and restaurants, with DFO South Wharf behind them. It is busy on conference days and quieter at night.
The CBD
Most head offices sit in the CBD grid, along Collins, Bourke and William streets and around Southern Cross. The city centre has a Free Tram Zone, so short tram trips between offices cost nothing.
Melbourne weather changes fast. Pack a coat and an umbrella in any season, even for a short walk between meetings.
Meetings across town
Docklands, Southbank and St Kilda Road also hold large offices. Check the address before you book a hotel, so your days start close to the work.
Where to stay on a work trip in Melbourne
Pick a base near where you will spend your days. A short walk to the venue matters more than a view by day three of a conference.
Beside the convention centre
Pan Pacific Melbourne and Novotel Melbourne South Wharf stand beside MCEC. They suit a conference where you go back and forth between sessions.
Southbank
Crown and the Southbank towers sit across the river from the city, close to the venue. A river view and a short walk to MCEC suit a long conference.
The CBD
For meetings in the city, Collins Street and Flinders Lane hold many large hotels. City-centre bookings are on the Melbourne CBD escorts page.
For a longer list, see our guide to luxury hotels in Melbourne.
Book early when a big event is on. Our Melbourne events calendar shows the weeks when hotels fill.
Getting in from Melbourne Airport
Melbourne Airport is at Tullamarine, north-west of the city. There is no train to the airport yet, so you arrive by bus, taxi or rideshare.
SkyBus
The SkyBus Melbourne City Express runs between the airport terminals and the city, from 4am to 1am, seven days a week. Buses leave every 10 minutes through the day, and every 15 minutes early and late.
Southern Cross Station, where it stops in the city, is a short tram ride from South Wharf and the CBD hotels.
Taxis and rideshare
Taxi ranks and rideshare pick-up areas are signposted at each terminal. A car straight to the hotel suits a late arrival with luggage.
The airport rail line
An airport rail line is being built in stages, starting with a new station hub at Sunshine. The airport station has no opening date yet, so plan on the bus or a car.
Eating late after a conference in Melbourne
Conference dinners finish late, and hotel kitchens often close early. Melbourne has plenty for the hungry after ten.
Chinatown
Little Bourke Street and its lanes hold many places that stay open late. Supper Inn, up a flight of stairs in Celestial Avenue, serves Cantonese food until 2.30am.
The Greek precinct
Lonsdale Street, between Swanston and Russell streets, is the old Greek quarter. Stalactites, on the corner of Russell Street, is a long-time late-night stop for souvlaki.
Closer to the venue
Southbank's riverside promenade and Crown keep restaurants and bars open into the night. A late table there spares you a trip across the river.
Hotel bars are the easy last choice. Most serve food late, and you are a lift ride from bed.
A quiet evening or a dinner date in Melbourne
Not every night of a work trip needs a team dinner. A free evening is a chance to switch off.
Some clients spend it with an escort. A dinner date gives you company at the table and someone new to talk to. A hotel visit suits a night when you would rather stay in.
For a dinner out, our page on dinner dates in Melbourne explains how the evening works. For a night in, ask reception about a hotel visit.
Fitting it around the work
Book once your conference schedule is fixed. Leave a gap after the last session, so you are not watching the clock.
Tell reception your hotel name and the start time. If a client dinner runs late, text reception early, so the time can move.
To see who is free during your stay, browse the roster and send an enquiry.
