World's tourism bigwigs set to join MICECON 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Tourism leaders from around the world are coming over for the Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON) 2010 slated at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Feb. 4 to 7.

“Most of them will speak and discuss the current market situation and the enormous business opportunities for the global and local MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) industry,” said MICECON chairman and Tourism Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Edu Jarque Jr.

“Thus, MICECON 2010 is a must-join event for our country’s MICE players and the rest of the tourism industry since it will highlight the world’s best practices in this field and the various activities that our foreign counterparts do to take advantage of this $300-billion global market,” Jarque added.

Among the tourism and MICE leaders in this four-day event are Pacific Asia Travel Association chief executive officer Gregory Duffel, World Tourism Organization consultant and former tourism secretary Mina Gabor, Web in Travel producer and SHY Ventures editor-at-large Yeoh Siew Hoon, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) CEO Martin Sirk of the Netherlands, Malaysia-based Asian Overland Services group managing director Anthony Wong, UK-based Regent Exhibitions managing director Paul Flackett, and Travel Impact Newswire executive editor Imtiaz Muqbil.

Also in the event are Singapore’s MCI Group president Robin Lokerman, Business Events Council of Australia CEO Elizabeth Rich, Pacific Dental Federation secretary general Dr. Oliver Hennedige, ICCA Asia-Pacific regional director Noor Ahmad Hamid, Bangkok’s The Winning Edge founder and managing director Bert Van Walbeek, Asia Congress Events Co. Ltd. managing director Marcel Ewals, Wildlife Asia managing partner Catherine McNabb, Business Strategies Group Asia-Pacific managing director Mark Cochrane, Singapore’s Abacus International vice president for marketing Brent Henry, and Circos Brand Karma chief executive officer Morris Sim.

With them are Japan’s Mile Post Consultants president and managing director Fumihiro Sakakibara, China’s MICE magazine publisher David Zhong, USA’s World Incentive Nexus director Jim Skiba, Japan’s JTB Business World Tokyo Corp. Hisashi Ichikawa, Australia’s Limetree Consulting managing director Sharon Hannaford, and India’s Kuoni Travel Group vice president Aslam Siwani, among many others.

Organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC), MICECON 2010 includes an Amazing MICE Race, MICE Leaders Forum, Educational Tracks for MICE Mates, MICE market seminars, business networking, and bid presentations of future MICECON hosts.

Constituting the MICE Educational Tracks are presentations on Convention and Association Management by the PCVC, Incentive Travel by the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives (MITE), Exhibition Management by the SMX Convention Center and the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS), and Events Management by the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA).

Conference convenor and PCVC deputy executive director Rosvi Gaetos said the event would help local industry players raise their bar of expertise and capabilities in the field of meetings, incentives, conventions and events/ exhibitions and trigger the development of support infrastructure in potential MICE areas other than Manila.

MICECON 2010 is supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, Philippine Airlines, Philippine Tourism Authority, province of Cebu, City of Balanga, Victory Liner, Islands Philippines, Primer Group of Companies/(Recreational Outdoor Exchange) ROX, WOW Jeepney Tours, Clark Development Corp., Clark International Airport Corp., Coltrans, Marriott Hotel, Travellers International Hotel Group, Annset Holidays, INTAS Destinations, Yellowbird Tours, Abacus International, Smart Communications, TTG Asia, Manila North Tollways Corp., Hotel Sales and Marketing Association, Movement of Incentive Travel Executives, PACEOS, MITE, HSMA, and Travel Café Philippines.

For more information on MICECON 2010, contact the MICECON Secretariat at 525-9318 local 233 or 525-6110, e-mail at phil.MICEconference@gmail.com or visit www.dotpcvc.gov.ph.