As industries regain confidence in business travel, the Philippines’ MICE sector is aiming to rebuild and surpass its pre-pandemic successes, backed by government programs to lure event organisers and business travellers.
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) (the Department of Tourism’s marketing and promotions arm) has ramped up its MICE Plus Program, a set of incentive packages and privileges offered to boost MICE tourism by encouraging foreign planners and organisers to hold events in the Philippines.
The Philippines boasts stunning beaches, lively festivals, and friendly people across its 7,641 islands, and at the crossroads of international trade and commerce in the Asia Pacific, MICE offerings abound in the country – not only in the capital Manila, but in growing metropolises across its three major islands of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
“Our MICE industry was growing at a rapid pace pre-pandemic. Now that business travel is firmly back on the agenda, we want to attract businesses back, and be the top choice for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions destination in Southeast Asia,” said the Philippine Department of Tourism’s officer-in-charge, Eleanor Palima.
DOT has helped secure many large-scale events including recently hosting the 21st WTTC Global Summit at the Marriott Hotel Manila.
The hotel’s Grand Ballroom accommodated more than a thousand delegates from various sectors of the travel industry. DOT is also working with local stakeholders in the industry across the Philippines to develop competitive MICE products to help encourage event organisers and business travellers.
“We are confident that we are more than ready to host world-class business conventions and can’t wait for our Aussie and Kiwi MICE industry colleagues and their guests to return,” Palima added.
Manila has key convention centres including the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and SMX Convention Center in Pasay, both of which can hold as many as 5,000 attendees. Cebu, meanwhile, has more than 30 convention centres, and its Waterfront Cebu City Casino Hotel has a capacity of 3,500.
Davao, the convention city of the south, has 25 convention venues including SMX Davao Convention Center, which has hosted ASEAN meets and holds 5,000 delegates.
Featured image: Event setup at sunset, Shangri-la Boracay
