Global trends conference grooms RP as exhibit hub

The conference on global trends in exhibitions and conventions organized by the Philippine Association of Congress/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) in cooperation with the Dept. of Tourism/PCVC, European Chamber of Commerce, and CITEM officially opened last November15 at the Shangri-la Mactan Island Resort and Spa in Cebu.

The conference was opened by no less than Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Important issues concerning the exhibitions and conventions industry like global competitiveness, bidding for international projects and effective marketing strategies that make an event successful were the prime topics discussed. PACEOS aimed to boost the Philippines into one of the leading Asian destinations for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E) and to enjoy large chunk of the exhibitions and conventions' business like China, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore.

Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) revealed that exhibition industry contributed a large percentage to the growth of the economy based on the research they conducted.

Meanwhile, PACEOS advised the government to realize why investments should be made to develop the industry and how far our neighboring countries have gone having bigger and better convention centers.

In the Philippines, there are few world-class venues for exhibitions and conventions which include, the World Trade Convention Center, Philippine International Convention Center, and the ongoing construction of the Cebu International Convention Center.

For the Cebu conference, the association invited major players and respected individuals in the industry, including Daniel Corpuz, Executive Director of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation (PCVC), Henry J. Schumacher, Executive Vice- Pres. of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Jose Luis U. Yulo Jr., Centrex/Octanorm Head, and past President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and former Managing Director of the Philippine Center for International Trade and Exhibitions (PHILCITE), Michael Alan Hamlin, Managing Director of Teamasia, Estela Quiambao- Dela Rosa, Professor of M.I.C.E Management from the UP Asian Institute of Tourism, Dexter Deyto, Assistant V-President of SM Megatrade Hall, and Timothy Wright, General Manager of Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa.