It had been doing this since 2002, even before it launched its world-class convention center that can easily compete with Manila and Cebu in its facilities.
The MICE market is the new focus of Puerto Princesa City since the opening of the Legend Palawan Convention Center, said Patrick Favoreal, vice-president of Legend Hotels International Corp (LHI).
The Legend Palawan is the first thematic convention center in Palawan and can be divided into three major halls for a total of 1,250 people in theater type setting.
"There are lots of inherent qualities in Puerto Princesa that made LHI decide on constructing a convention center there. The city has a rich heritage and offers diverse activities and experiences for visitors; it makes for a fantastic business and leisure destination and there is a strong government focus on tourism development and we are here to support that," Favoreal said.
Studies indicate that Palawan is able to attract 40 percent domestic leisure travelers and 30 percent European and Asian tourists and Fil-Ams. Another 30 percent are travelers who go to Puerto Princesa specifically for business.
Easily, the company has been investing a substantial portion of its operating income in promoting Palawan as a destination, calling its solo effort as PaX or the Legend Palawan Experience. PaX is the in-house tour services of Legend with itineraries like the underground river adventure; island hopping cruise and a city tour with shopping and culinary stops.
"We give more options and allow guests to choose more varied activities; see more places, visit different islands. There are special interest areas and evening activities so they can spend each day differently. Our hotel gives more flexibility to one’s schedule and budget," Favoreal said.
PaX has tour packages like the Honda Bay Island cruise– a day of sun, sea and sand across several islands; the underground river adventure in the 8.2 km long river under Mount St. Paul; city tour of Puerto Princesa’s landmarks and attractions; a leisurely cruise aboard M/V Legend of the Sea across the waters of Puerto Princesa’s outlying islands.
Geographically speaking, Palawan is the largest province in the Philippines with 1.489 million hectares, bounded by Mindoro Island on the north, Borneo on the South; China Sea on the west and Sulu Sea on the East. The province has 1,780 islands and islets with the main island measuring 425 kilometers long and 40 kilometers wide.
The province has a unique natural diversity with mouse deer, scaly anteater (only found in the province); it has the best diving and fishing resources which during a season can yield dugong (sea cow) sightings. It has been reported that Palawan was declared a nature sanctuary of the world. It also houses two UNESCO World Heritage sites namely the Mount St. Paul Underground River and Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, the largest marine habitat in the Philippines.
"When we promote the province as a tourist destination, we will also benefit from the potential MICE market that such tourists can attract in the future," said Cecille Gomez, manager for room guests.
It can be used for conferences, trade fairs, weddings, social functions, fashion shows, theater productions and concerts, Gomez said.
But even at the early stages of its operations, The Legend Palawan already had seven meeting rooms named after key municipalities of the province. On the ground floor is Aborlan good for 30 persons; Busuanga, 70; Coron, 30 and Dumaran, 30 persons, which when combined can accommodate as many as 120 guests in banquet-style setting. On the second floor is El Nido for 110 persons; Fort Isabelle, 70 and Guri, 100 persons.
The hotel has a pleasant and gracious, unobtrusive efficiency, excellence in performance underscores all activities including all events preparations. Creative and innovative touches emerge in anticipation of client demands, whether for thematic parties, high impact forums and seminars and simple fun events, Gomez added.
The Legend Palawan is located at the heart of Puerto Princesa, making it an ideal jump-off for various adventures not just within the city but other towns in the main island and the rest of Palawan.
It has 100 fully airconditioned rooms (broken down into one executive suite, three junior suites, 18 deluxe rooms; 21 premium rooms; 51 standard rooms and six team rooms with 6 double deck beds for 12 persons per room); tours and transfer services; the Tanglaw Coffeeshop (which serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner aside light snacks and a la carte); swimming pool; 24-hour room service; hot and cold water; laundry service; cable TV; function rooms with AV equipment and amenities; business center with Internet access and IDD/NDD telephone systems.
The hotel has a lanai, a covered courtyard adjoining the swimming pool, which can be another ideal venue for receptions, banquets and official functions.
The Legend Palawan– a Filipino-styled inner city resort within the proximity of Puerto Princesa commercial center, business district and several tourist destinations – is part of Legend Hotels International Corp., a 100 percent Filipino-owned and managed hotel group that includes the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City; the Mabuhay Manor in Pasay City and the Kabayan Hotels in Pasay City and Cubao, Quezon City.