Convention Bureau appoints Espina as new exec director

The Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB) has appointed tourism player, Mila Espina as the new executive director of the organization, after its founding chairman Patrick C. Gregorio moved his home-base from Cebu to Luzon.

Although, Gregorio is still the head of the organization, he said a hands-on management team led by Espina for CVCB is needed.

Espina is now taking care of the organization to further the development of tourism and put Cebu in the international map as International convention and sports tourism hub.

"She (Espina) has been very active in the tourism sector in Cebu, I believe she is the best person to be on top of the organization in the management side, because she has the passion for the industry," Gregorio said.

According to Espina, one of her immediate focuses is to increase the number of CVCB membership, and encourage members to be more active and part of every organization's undertaking.

Espina, who has a wider background and experience in international and event management, hopes to bring in more international conventions and events to Cebu in the next few years.

CVCB was formally organized in 2002. It is the first private sector-led group in the Philippines that focuses on tourism promotion. The creation of the CVCB was prompted as part of the tourism industry's efforts to develop Cebu as a convention hub in the country.

CVCB which has over 200 members organizes events, like sports, and also active in participating in Cebu's bid to attract major domestic and international conventions.

It also aims to establish links with other tourism groups around the country, aside from its linkages in the international tourism organization groups.

In its bid to effectively tap international organizations to help market Cebu's capability in attracting tourists and international conventions, CVCB was accepted as member of the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureau (IACVB) in 2003.

The IACVB is group of destination management organizations in at least 30 countries.

"The inclusion of CVCB into the world grouping is expected to boost the tourism industry in Cebu and other neighboring provinces, as well as attract more foreign tourists to come to the island-province," said Gregorio in an earlier interview.

IACVB aims to enhance professionalism and effectiveness of destination management groups, and promotes its members to the international market.

This international destination management group represents more than 1,200 professional members of over 500 convention and visitors bureaus in 30 countries.

CVCB is set to hold the International Culinary Congress (ICCON) 2005 next month.