MANILA, Philippines - Taking the cue from their clients all over the world, 83 American and European meeting and incentive travel planners met with Philippine representatives at the recently concluded 2011 Incentives, Meetings and Events Expo (IMEX) held at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The planners, who trooped to the Philippine pavilion at IMEX during the three-day event, were acting on the requests of their own clients who wanted their meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events/exhibitions (MICE) to be held in the Philippines.
Comprising the planners were 11 companies engaged in organizing meetings, and 72 others (six groups of 12) involved in incentive travel.
They sought information on the Philippines’ top MICE destinations like Cebu, Davao, Boracay and Palawan, accessibility and availability of convention centers and meeting facilities, the peace and order situation, safety of tourists, and costs of hotel accommodations, domestic travel and optional tours.
Their inquiries were ably answered by the Philippine delegation led by MICE and business development officer-in-charge Stanie Soriano of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), Team North America head Corazon Jorda-Apo of the Department of Tourism (DOT), TPB project officer Teresita De Luna-Landan, Annset Holidays president Serafina Joven, Global Link MP Events International chief executive officer Patrick Lawrence Tan, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority deputy administrator Raul Marcelo, Philippine Airlines district sales managers Geraldine Inigo for Los Angeles and Robin Kamitomo for Las Vegas, PAL representatives Maricel Wall and Belinda Paez, Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp. president Marissa Nallana and vice president for finance Editha Collado, and group sales division manager Ma. Evelyn Francisco of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Assisting them were marketing specialist Manny Ilagan and other staffers of the DOT office in Los Angeles headed by tourism attaché Mary Anne Cuevas-Lim.
Their participation in the 2011 IMEX generated direct business opportunities for the private sector delegates.
“And business will continue in the weeks and months to come as a result of IMEX and the good word about the Philippines that will make the rounds of its 2000 hosted buyers of MICE requirements, including the who’s who in the international MICE market,” said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez.
“For example, Annset Holidays got onsite bookings during the event, while the others obtained a number of sales and business leads. Initial feedback from our private sector participants revealed a great degree of success in terms of business generated and contacts established,” Jimenez said.
“Moreover, the list of buyers gathered during IMEX will be made available to interested Philippine MICE players and destination management companies, and distributed to our tourism attachés abroad for follow-ups and networking,” Jimenez added.
Following the many years of successful IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany, the organizers decided to bring the show to Las Vegas.
Now IMEX America has emerged as the largest hosted buyer event in the United States with its 5,700 visitors and 2,000 exhibitors from 150 countries worldwide.
Next year’s IMEX America will again be held in the same venue, where the Philippines is expected to establish a stronger presence and ensure a truly high-impact participation to re-establish itself as a major player in the global MICE industry.