Foreign MICE gurus to share trade secrets in Phl confab

MANILA, Philippines - Experts in meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events/exhibitions (MICE) are coming over from the United States, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Canada to share their trade secrets with members of the local industry and give an update on global market trends and all related developments.

They will be brought in by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) for the M.I.C.E. Conference (M.I.C.E.CON) 2014, which is designed to help turn the Philippines into a global MICE destination and regional hub.

Coming over as guest speakers in M.I.C.E.CON 2014, according to TPB chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III, are Peter Gray of Motivating People, Australia; Megan Singleton of Travel Blogger At Large, New Zealand; Theresa Breining of Breining Group Llc; Shawna Suckow of Senior Planners Industry Network; Brad Weaber of New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau; Tracy Stuckrath of Thrive! Meetings and Events; Susan Sarfati of High Performance Strategies Llc; and Liz Jackson of Jackson Consulting Inc., among others.

They will present and discuss the evolution and revolution in the meetings industry, what’s in and what’s hot in incentive travel and motivational events, winning business in trade shows, reinventing a city for MICE, neuro-linguistics programming, digital marketing, media strategies in crisis situation, search for a leader in difficult times, meeting planners and suppliers pet peeves, the business prospects and implications of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015 and what’s in store for Philippine tourism; and creating a positive mindset in the workplace, among others, Enerio said.

The M.I.C.E.CON 2014 practically marks the rise of business tourism in the Philippines, which is expected to surge further from only 15 percent of total foreign visitor arrivals in 2010.

Enerio attributed this development to the mushrooming and expansion of modern MICE facilities across the country catering to corporate and business needs, all in the wake of the ongoing unification of regional economies, particularly the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

He said the M.I.C.E.CON 2014 would also bring about business opportunities for the local industry players through the M.I.C.E. Mart, a one-day business exchange between foreign buyers and local sellers/suppliers.

“At least 40 select buyers from Australia, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, US and Malaysia and another 10 local corporate buyers are participating in the M.I.C.E. Mart,” Enerio said. 

Slated at the Fontana Convention Center in Clark on June 4 to 7, M.I.C.E.CON 2014 will practically cover all the sectors and facets of the M.I.C.E. market — from marketing to business and technology, association management, communication, organizational development, and many others.

Previously held in Subic, Cebu and Davao, the annual M.I.C.E.CON is designed to help develop the local industry, largely composed of corporate and individual practitioners and suppliers, airline firms, hotels, resorts, convention centers, destination management companies, incentive and event planners, professional congress/exhibit organizers, MICE venues, local government units, and the media, among others.

This year’s event carries the theme “M.I.C.E. in 4D — Driving Passions, Developing Minds, Defying Limits, Designing the Future.”

The official participating hotels in the M.I.C.E.CON 2014 include the Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Parks, Widus Hotel and Casino, Holiday Inn Clark, and Montevista Villas-Mimosa Golf & Country Club. 

For inquiries on registration, contact the M.I.C.E.CON Secretariat (c/o TPB, M.I.C.E. and Business Development Unit) at +632 525-6635 or 525-9318 to 27 loc. 256; fax at +632 521-6165; or e-mail at connie_antolin@tpb.gov.ph, miceregn2014@yahoo.com or tpb.specialevents@yahoo.com.