MICECON 2010 forges historic tie-up among top tourism groups

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has brought together the country’s top tourism industry associations in a historic tie-up for the staging of the first Philippine conference on meetings, incentives, conventions and events (MICE) slated at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center on Feb. 4 to 7.

“Such a historic tie-up speaks well of the magnitude and strategic significance of this international MICE Conference (MICECON) to our tourism industry as a whole and the potentially enormous impact of the $300-billion global MICE market on the country’s economy,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano.

Conference chairman and DOT Undersecretary for Planning and Promotions Eduardo Jarque Jr. describes MICECON 2010 as a revolutionary move to unite the major actors and players in the Philippine tourism industry to prop up the country’s MICE sector.

The tie-up, according to conference convenor Rosvi Gaetos, is among the Movement of Incentive Travel Executives (MITE), the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers (PACEOS) and the DOT and the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corp. (PCVC), with the support of the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), National Association of Independent Travel Agencies Inc. (NAITAS), and many other industry groups.

“Thus, MICECON 2010 combines the long-running Philippine Incentive Marketing Conference organized by the DOT-PCVC and MITE with the Philippine Asia MICE Forum spearheaded by PACEOS,” Gaetos said.

PACEOS chairman Marissa Nallana said MICECON 2010 would practically bring together the large memberships of these national industry associations and their respective international affiliates and business networks, probably making the conference this year’s biggest.

Similarly, MITE and HSMA president Rose Libongco said the conference would enable the industry to look at incentive travel from a wider perspective that should now include many other activities required by the very dynamic global corporate and institutional markets.

On the other hand, NAITAS chairman Angel Ramos Bognot said MICECON 2010 would give the local-based hotel firms new insights into the global market psyche and specific needs, thus enabling them to adapt their marketing and product development efforts accordingly.

“These (market insights) are especially important to Subic, which we are grooming to become a new MICE destination,” said conference co-chairman Armand Arreza, administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

MICECON 2010 includes an Amazing M.I.C.E Race, MICE Leaders Forum, Educational Tracks for MICE Mates, Market Seminars, Business Networking, MICECON 2011 bid presentations, and the first Philippine MICE Marketplace that runs from Feb. 5 to 6.

With PACEOS as lead organizer, the MICE Marketplace is MICECON’S exhibit component showcasing the leading MICE destinations, travel trade suppliers and producers, new meeting and event technologies, latest MICE trends and developments, innovative incentive programs and other tourism products and services.

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

More information on the MICECON 2010 can be obtained from the MICECON Secretariat; call 525-9318 local 233 or 525-6110 or visit www.dotpcvc.gov.ph.