Ronita Torcato

<p>Bollywood, one of the largest centres of film production in the world, has recently taken on the flavours of  Melbourne which has Australia’s highest concentration of convention facilities located in the city centre, including the MCEC, the world’s first and only ‘Six Star Green Star’ rated convention centre. It  is also home to five of the six most significant annual sport events held in Australia – the Boxing Day Cricket Test, the Australian Football League Grand Final, the Spring Racing Carnival, featuring the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Open Tennis Championships and the Australian Formula 1TM Grand Prix. But there is more to Melbourne than just sport however, with annual festivals such as the Melbourne International Arts Festival and the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival further illustrating how when it comes to arts and culture, there is an extensive and diverse range of options available.</p>
 
<p>Apropos Bollywood (known in serious parlance as commercial cinema in the Hindi language and headquartered in Mumbai aka Bombay)
 
Melbourne has recently been used as a location for two Bollywood blockbusters, Chak De India and Salaam Namaste, featuring superstars Saif Ali Khan ( he of blue blooded Nawabi stock from his father's side ) and Preity Zinta ( the dapper Ness Wadia's ex).
 
Earlier this year, Melbourne was entered into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest ever Bollywood dance, when 2,000 people danced to the chart topping hit Munni Badnaam Hui on the banks of the Yarra River. Laugh Kookaburra laugh!</p>
 
<p>Some Mumbaikars were introduced to the magic of Melbourne at the ‘Destination Melbourne Showcase’ at a fivestar located in the biz district today ( Aug 22,2011)
 
Hosted by the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), the Showcase features nine of the city’s leading Business Events suppliers, emphasizing why Melbourne is the perfect place to combine business, pleasure and travel.</p>
 
<p>Ms Edwina San, MCVB’s Director – International Incentives, said the Showcase  revealed  a lively, ever-evolving and culturally diverse city.“We are delighted to be taking the Showcase to India for the first time,” Ms San said.</p>
 
<p>“Australia welcomed 144,200 Indian visitors for the year ending April 2011, which represents a 12.4 per cent increase on the previous year. These figures are expected to grow significantly next year when Melbourne hosts the 2012 Amway India Leadership Seminar, which will bring more than 4,000 delegates to the city,she said.</p>
 
<p>Ms San added that MCVB is leading the way in reducing its carbon footprint and promoting green initiatives.</p>
 
<p>“Not only is this Showcase run as a low carbon event, MCVB is fully committed to sustainability, whether it’s through our ‘Event Carbon Calculator’, our low carbon impact incentive travel website or our ‘Green Check List’ in the Melbourne Planner’s Guide,” she said.</p>