7th Phil-Incentive slated Nov. 27-30

All is set and ready for the staging of the 7th Philippine Incentive (Phil-Incentive 2008) Marketing Conference at the Canyon Woods Tagaytay and Canyon Cove Nasugbu, Batangas on Nov. 27-30.

After the welcome dinner reception at the Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay and overnight stay at Canyon Woods Resort Club on Nov. 27, Phil-Incentive 2008 formally opens the following morning with a keynote speech by Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, shortly after the welcome remarks of conference chairman Undersecretary Eduardo Jarque Jr., with BBC World News anchor Rico Hizon acting as emcee.

Durano’s speech will kick off the morning floor talks, featuring presentations on “The Road Ahead” by regional account manager Nadira Mohsin of Euromonitor International, the latest tourism developments by regional director for Asia Shahram Saber of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), “The Road Less Traveled” by New Zealand-based Extra Mile Co. executive chairman and Asia-Pacific chapter director Eugene de Villiers of the New York-based Society of Incentive Travel Executives, and “We Dream, We Realize” by chairman and chief executive officer Efraim Genuino of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The afternoon session begins with a presentation on “Asian Brand Leadership – A New Boardroom Paradigm” by keynote speaker Martin Roll, a world-renowned brand strategist and author of Asian Brand Strategy.

Then comes “Facetime on Building Brands” with a panel of speakers composed of HSAI Raintree Philippines president Annabella Wisniewski, Sofitel Philippine Plaza sales and marketing director Rose Libongco, and CHI & Area Spa project director Lyndell Nelis of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

After a short break, Villiers and event manager Les Alford of Incentive House Australia will further discuss incentive travel and conduct an open forum with the delegates.

The foreign speakers are among the many international experts who were invited to share their skills with the local tourism industry during Phil-Incentive’s four-day run, according to conference convenor Rosvi Gaetos, deputy executive director of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The PCVC is co-organizing the conference with the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives (MITE) to institutionalize their educational, developmental and networking goals.

Sponsored by Philippine Airlines, ABS-CBN Foundation and Philippine Tourism Authority, Phil-Incentive 2008 is supported by conference partners Qatar Airways, Canyon Cove, Canyon Woods, Taal Vista Hotel, ISS Makati Skyline, Pagcor, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Shangri-La Resorts and Hotels, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, TTG Asia, Travel Café Philippines, Sonya’s Garden and the province of Aklan.

Expected to have nearly 200 delegates from the various sectors of the tourism industry, Phil-Incentive 2008 is also supported by Afro Asian Travel & Tours Inc., Trans Inter Corp., Colors Publishing Inc., Victory Liner Inc., AA Business Class Transport Corp., 3R&N Tours Corp., Annset Holidays, Blue Horizon Travel and Tours, Columbia Transport (Coltrans), Intas Management Destination, Transville, Duty Free Philippines, Enderun Colleges, Fitness First Philippines, Graphic Star (Cebu), Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, Ralphs Wines & Spirits, Samsung, Seawind Boracay Island, Trace College, and Wow Magic Sing as industry partners.