Cebu bids for 2011 MICE Conference

CEBU, Philippines - After reaping good feedback on the promotion of Cebu as a health and wellness destination and a place for eco and sports tourism, Cebu is now going for another market, the Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions sector.

Travel experts, both from the government and private sectors, shared that Cebu is now strengthening its campaign as a MICE destination, starting off with bidding Cebu as the venue for the MICE conference in 2011.

Outgoing Department of Tourism Regional Director Dawnie Roa said during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel that a delegation, made up of the DOT members, Travel operators, front liners in the tourism industry in Cebu and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia will be leaving for Subic this February 4 to 6 where they will participate in the MICE Conference.

Roa explained that they will be bidding Cebu to be the next destination for the conference however it is for formality sake and in fact is a “done deal” already which assures that a lot of tourists and participants would be coming in the province in 2011 for the conference.

According to Roa, they had a meeting with Governor Garcia already on the matter and have decided on their presentation in Subic, which is a teaser of what the participants could expect in Cebu next year.

She said that the governor would be giving a short message and would focus on visual presentations on the destinations in Cebu like the municipalities and would also be hosting a party afterwards.

Garcia has graciously approved a P500,000 budget for the Subic conference allocated the whole presentation of Cebu said Roa while DOT will be putting aside P300,000 for the Cebu booth. Also, private sectors like the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu that will be sponsoring the souvenirs for the participants.

Jessica Avila, an expert in organizing big events such as conferences and Incentive travel events and DOT’s partner in organizing the MICE Conference in 2011, said that a lot would take place in the conference in Subic like educational programs, workshops and other topics which concerns holding conventions and exhibitions.

But the presentation of Cebu as the next MICE event destination is something to look forward to, said Avila where they would have a taste of how wonderful Cebu is really like.

Robert Lim Joseph, chairman emeritus of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies of the Philippines shared that during the Philippine International Tourism Fair in 2000 here in Cebu , they expected it to rain but then they found a way to still make it one of the best conferences ever.

He said it is “thinking out of the box” which makes the involvement in the MICE industry or any event organization in general a challenge but worthwhile stressing on the importance of the value of creativity.

DOT-7’s incoming Regional Director Rica Bueno said that Cebu is the MICE destination in the country today considering we have all the elements needed. Given the experts and pioneers in MICE that are present here and “ Cebu being a multi-faceted destination.” Jenny Franco, president of Naitas-Cebu chapter and Tourism Congress-Visayas Vice President said that that they are hoping to have more than 500 participants in the 2011 conference here in Cebu.

This is more than the 350 expected participants to arrive in Subic next month. Franco said that more finances would also be put in for the conference and would definitely be a big and grand event. . — AJ de la Torre