Melbourne will welcome 800 industrial relations professionals and academics in 2013, after winning the right to host the Asian Regional Congress of the International Industrial Relations Association.

Announcing the win, Sandra Chipchase, CEO of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau, which won the right to host the congress, said the event was expected to generate 1,800 room nights for Melbourne's hotels.

"This is the 52nd event confirmed for the new Melbourne Convention Centre and, with Victoria's growing Business Events market forming a lucrative component of the tourism industry, this congress is expected to inject $2.4 million into the Victorian state economy."

"The Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau has now reached another milestone, securing business for the Melbourne Convention Centre through to 2015, estimated to have a combined economic impact worth more than $600 million."

"This congress only occurs every three years in the Asia Pacific region, with Melbourne once again proving that its world class infrastructure and numerous attractions make it a leading destination for Business Events."

Ms Chipchase said that the congress would cover employer and employee relationships, contracts, and work standards and conditions.

"This Business Event will provide our local industrial relations specialists with the opportunity to develop and exchange knowledge with their international counterparts."

"Delegate number estimates have been boosted by the event being held in conjunction with the National Conference of the Industrial Relations Society of Australia. MCVB would like to thank the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria and Qantas Airways for their assistance in securing this congress."

"Melbourne continues to appeal to a wide range of fields and associations, with oral and maxillofacial surgery, ergonomics, hypnosis and even seafood being topics of recent wins," said Ms Chipchase.

Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Leigh Harry, said, "We look forward to welcoming this extremely important international convention to Melbourne and to the Melbourne Convention Centre in 2013."

According to Brian Lacy, President of the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria, the congress would be significant, with industrial relations always high on the government agenda.

"We are delighted that Melbourne will be hosting this event, which will be of benefit to Australian trade unions, employers and the legal profession. This congress will be the perfect forum to foster discussion and further education in the field of industrial relations," Mr Lacy said.