Tens of thousands of visitors from 200 countries will descend upon Melbourne in 2023 for the world-famous Rotary International Convention.

Rod Laver Arena joins the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as the host venues of the most valuable conference ever won for Victoria, estimated to deliver $88 million of economic benefit to the State.

Melbourne & Olympic Parks CEO, Brian Morris said the convention was a coup for the city and highlighted the versatility of Rod Laver Arena and the broader precinct.

“We were delighted to team up with the Victorian Government and the MCEC to win this event on behalf of the people of Victoria,” Mr Morris said.

“Not only will this convention bring significant economic benefit to the state, it will also highlight the world-class nature of our venues and encourage even more international business events to choose Melbourne as their next destination.

“The calibre of this event should not be underestimated, and now joins the exciting mix of year-round events hosted at Rod Laver Arena each year including the Australian Open, P!NK, UFC and Elton John; it’s a great privilege to welcome such a broad cross section of the local and international community.

“We are very much looking forward to welcoming the Rotary International Convention to Melbourne & Olympic Parks in 2023,” he said.

The Melbourne Convention Bureau led the successful bid to attract the convention, despite strong competition from other prominent international destinations.