A blessed Christmas to one and all. May the gift of love, the gift of peace, and the gift of happiness be yours this joyful season.
Every country aspires to secure the biggest share of the global MICE (Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions, and Exhibitions) market, simply because it is a high-yield component of the tourism industry. Participants in MICE events are often on official company travel, which means they can afford to stay at more expensive hotels, dine in fancy restaurants, drink pricier wines, and book premium local tours.
Several decades ago, when the Philippine International Convention Center opened, our country led the Asian region in hosting MICE events. Unfortunately, our neighbors built similar venues and in greater numbers than we have, allowing them to overtake us in this field. Today, we rank only 12th in hosting these events in the Asian region.
How can we rise back to the top? The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) is the lead agency tasked with ensuring that our MICE industry regains its leadership. An attached agency of the Department of Tourism, TPB shares its expertise with event organizers and meeting planners by connecting them with valuable contacts in both the government and private sectors. It also organizes site inspection trips and technical visits to assist with planning and decision-making.
TPB offers pre- and post-event tours that provide imaginative and unique incentive experiences and itineraries tailored to clients’ goals. Additionally, it facilitates the arrival of foreign groups and VIPs in coordination with government agencies at the airport.
So, what are the top MICE destinations in our country? There are six that we can truly take pride in—not only for their world-class venues equipped with modern technology but also for showcasing the natural beauty that blesses our nation. These are our top contenders to regain leadership in the region.
Metro Manila, composed of 16 cities and one municipality, serves as the political, economic, social, cultural, and recreational hub of the country. It is a popular business event destination, thanks to its world-class hotels and facilities, the globally connected business community, and the friendliest, most dedicated teams of support professionals.
My hometown, Cebu, beckons participants of MICE events with its pristine beaches, crystalline waters, and affordable luxury resorts. A unique blend of natural beauty, historic sites, and urban living, Cebu is the seat of Christianity, where Ferdinand Magellan first planted his world-famous cross. It is also a bustling metropolis with a glittering nightlife.
A fun destination for locals and foreigners alike, Boracay is practically a mainstay on Conde Nast’s list of the world’s favorite beach destinations. Its white sand beaches, lined with lush palm trees, make it ideal not only for sun-sea-and-sky enthusiasts but also for those seeking a relaxing massage under the shade of coconut trees. From dusk to dawn, island life in Boracay transforms into one big party scene, with everyone welcome to join.
Palawan, with its 1,700 islands and islets, is the World’s Best Island, as voted by Travel and Leisure Magazine. Its captivating landscape includes lagoons and bays that conceal ancient shipwrecks. It is also a wildlife haven where giraffes, zebras, and gazelles coexist with exotic fauna such as the mouse deer, civet, and scaly anteater.
Down south is Davao, which boasts the most expansive landscape in the country, covered with exotic fruit plantations and orchid farms. The majestic Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak, towers over migrant settlers from all over the archipelago, coexisting with ethnic tribes that continue to live as they did centuries ago.
An emerging favorite is Bohol, blessed with a lush landscape of verdant hills, waterfalls, serene rivers, mangrove forests, undisturbed wildlife, and powdery white sand beaches. Visitors can marvel at nature’s glory through the famous Chocolate Hills, the cute little tarsiers, or sail on the stress-relieving Loboc River Cruise.
With all these beautiful natural attractions that our country offers alongside world-class facilities, we are undoubtedly ready to host all kinds of MICE events – from a mega-event that fits into the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena, or a large event at SMX Mall of Asia that can accommodate over 10,000 attendees, to small business meetings in any of our world-class hotels and beach resorts.
We’re ready to showcase what we have to business travelers, making them Love The Philippines!
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com
