World’s top tourism experts coming over for MICECON

MANILA, Philippines - Twelve of the world’s top tourism honchos and experts in related disciplines will lead the foreign delegates to the forthcoming international conference on meetings, incentive travel, conventions and exhibitions/events (MICE) in Davao City.

They will act as conference speakers to share their expertise in MICE and help the tourism industry take advantage of this ever-growing sector worldwide.

The 12 MICE speakers, according to the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), will come from Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.

TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III said the speakers were invited to guide the country’s MICE organizers and suppliers in aligning their business operations with global market trends and industry practices.

“The speakers are geared at unloading a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our local industry players as they do business with their foreign clients during the MICECON 2013,” Enerio said.

The topics to be discussed include “Imagining the Future of Travel” by New Zealand’s Victoria University School of Management Prof. Ian Yeoman, the “Future of Meetings in Asia Pacific” by International Congress and Convention Association Asia-Pacific chapter chairman Martin Winter, “Keeping Associations Health, Wealthy and Wise” by Australian Society of Association Executives president Tony Steven, and “Content is King” and “MICE Technovations: Tomorrow’s Hottest Technologies Today” by MCI Australia managing director Ray Shaw.

Also interesting are the topics on “Rise of Asian Brands” by Brand Consultants Pte. Ltd. chief executive officer Jörg Dietzel, “Brand Strategy on a Tight Budget” by Publicis-Manila chairperson and CEO Ma. Teresa Villanueva, the “Tourism and Business Value of Meetings” by Seoul Tourism Organization vice president Maureen O’Crowley, “Let’s Kill Murphy!  Bullet-proofing Meetings from Disasters and Other Event Terrorists” by GainingEdge chief executive officer Gary Grimmer, and the “War for Talent – The Secret to Attracting, Motivating and Retaining the Best” by ACI HR Solutions founder and CEO Andrew Chan.

Other equally important topics are “Incentive Travel and Motivational Event: What’s In, What’s Hot” by Incentive Research Foundation chief research officer Rodger Stotz, the “Mark of a Leader” by The Mark of a Leader master storyteller Don Allison, “Why Meetings Matter” by New Zealand’s Conventions and Incentives CEO Alan Troter, and “Tips, Tricks and Techniques for an Extraordinary Event Experience” by Sequoia Productions founder and president Cheryl Ceccheto who oversees the Emmy’s and Oscars’ Governors Ball.

“This conference component of MICECON 2013 is expected to attract participants not only from Davao City and Mindanao, but also from various parts of the country and the rest of the world,” said Stanie Soriano, officer-in-charge of the TPB MICE and Business Development Unit.

The MICECON 2013 will be held on March 6 to 9 in the newly opened SMX Convention Center in Lanang, Davao City, the country’s southern melting pot that stands to have its biggest international event since hosting the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2006.

MICECON 2013 is organized by the TPB, with the full support of the Davao City government led by Mayor Sara Duterte, Davao Tourism Association (DATA) headed by Gene Bangayan, Davao Region Tourism Council, Association of Davao Event Organizers and Suppliers, Small Hotels Association of Davao, Davao Travel Agencies Association, Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Meetings, Incentive Travel, Events/Exhibitions (MITE) Philippines Inc., and Philippine Airlines.

For more information on MICECON 2013, contact the Philippine M.I.C.E. Conference Organizing Committee at 525-6110 or 525-6635, fax at 521-6165, e-mail at miceregn2013@yahoo.com or cit.unit@gmail.com, to Facebook at MICECON 2013 Davao or visit www.micecon.net.