Cebu makes national MICE bid shortlist

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu has advanced to the shortlist for a coveted national meetings and conventions hosting bid, marking the first time the province’s cities and municipalities have united behind a single proposal as it seeks to position itself as the country’s premier destination for business events and sports tourism.

The province, along with Iloilo City and Boracay, emerged among the three finalists from the Visayas, edging out numerous competing bids from major cities in Luzon and Mindanao, according to officials of the Cebu MICE Alliance.

“We would really like to claim that we’re going to get it,” said Josef Chiongbian, head of Tourism Committee, Cebu Business Month (CBM 2026).

“It was the first time that we were able to gather all the mayors and even the support of the governor to come up with one bid,” said Chiongbian who is also the general manager of Savoy Hotel Mactan. Head of Tourism Committee, CBM 2026.

The unified approach marks a departure from previous years when individual local government units and private properties submitted separate proposals for national events and conventions.

The next phase of the selection process requires Cebu to submit a video presentation in August showcasing the province’s tourism assets, infrastructure and event capabilities.

Chiongbian said preparations are underway to produce a destination campaign highlighting the entire province rather than focusing solely on the metropolitan centers of Cebu City, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

“We’re on track,” Chiongbian said, adding that meetings have been scheduled to finalize the storyboard for the presentation before the August deadline.

The bid is expected to be decided in September, with the winning destination hosting the event the following year.

Cebu’s proposal centers on a tri-city convention model that would distribute activities across the province’s major venues, beginning with the new convention facilities at SMX in Cebu City, followed by events at the Mandani Bay tent in Mandaue and culminating at the Mactan Expo Center in Lapu-Lapu City.

Chiongbian said the province already possesses the infrastructure needed to accommodate large-scale meetings and conventions, with the upcoming Philippine MICE Conference serving as an opportunity to demonstrate its capabilities to both domestic and international buyers.

The province is also stepping up its ambitions in sports tourism. Officials disclosed that the Southeast Asian Beach Games will be staged in Cebu, with additional sporting events expected to be announced by industry leaders, including sports commissioner Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

According to Chiongbian, industry players remain confident despite softer tourism activity and global uncertainties, including tensions in the Middle East that have weighed on international travel demand.

“We never took a pause,” officials said. “Instead of slowing down, we’re organizing activities and attending summits so that we’ll be prepared for bigger things ahead.”

Private-sector stakeholders are also calling for greater government support, saying tourism promotion and event bidding require sustained funding to attract international conferences and business travelers.

“This is where the government is going to come in,” Chiongbian said. “Help us fund these projects because once we bring the business here, we also help the government through the economic activity that follows.”

Cebu’s MICE industry has increasingly been viewed as a key growth driver for the province’s tourism sector, which is seeking to diversify beyond leisure travel and capitalize on the higher spending generated by meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.— (FREEMAN)