The Centre now plans to include the service as part of its regular offerings to clients. Featuring a range of ABEE exhibitors as well as videos of seminars, the virtual show is designed to appeal to people unable to attend the physical event, as well as delegates who are keen to revisit parts of the show.

Visitors to ABEE Online will simply log on and enter the show through a virtual exhibition centre lobby. Once inside, they can go to the conference room to watch the seminars or head to the exhibition hall to visit the stands and download brochures and videos from exhibitors.

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre Director of Marketing and Sales Amanda Anker said the virtual show concept went much further than simply webcasting lectures. "Our virtual events will be designed to give a real sense of an event, with delegates able to engage with exhibitors and absorb the flavour of a show," Ms Anker said.

"We see this as an event add-on which can help build event numbers. Where this concept has been used by organisers overseas, the feedback from visitors has been very positive, with more than a third saying they were more likely to visit the physical event the following year as a result of seeing the virtual show."