Global hotel chain preps Cebu as next MICE destination

MANILA, Philippines -  The recent MICECON 2011 held in Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu witnessed the Queen City of the South’s potential as South East Asia’s brewing destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE). Having hosted the 2010 ASEAN Education Ministers Meet among many other international conferences, Cebu proves its expertise in handling such events. Cebuanos’ innate hospitality and fluency in the English language, attractive labor costs and natural wonders also contribute to Cebu’s successful foray into the MICE industry, which is expected to flourish and give local tourism a much-needed boost.

MICE buyers tired of the usual destinations are now on the lookout for cities that can cater their needs and give them world-class experiences. In his talk entitled “The Asia Pacific Meeting Trends” at MICECON 2011, Noor Ahmad Hamid, Asia Pacific Regional Director of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), advised the Philippine MICE industry to pattern its development after booming, well-known MICE destinations such as Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taipei, South Korea and China.

“The Philippines lacks in securing meetings with the capacity of 2,000 delegates and more, and the preferred meeting venues here are the venues inside hotels,” he said, sharing the statistics gathered by the ICCA. Due to tourism-related growth, however, such as the entry of international hotel brands like Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, the challenges posed by Hamid can now be resolved.

The newest five-star hotel to rise in the City of Cebu is Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, owned by SM Hotels and Conventions Inc. and managed by the international Carlson Group. Almost a year old in Cebu’s hotel industry, it has attracted business and leisure travelers from all over the world with its state-of-the-art facilities and trademark Yes I Can! service philosophy. It was even ranked the leading business hotel in Cebu City and number two in the entire Cebu by the travelers of Trip.Advisor–.com, the world’s largest travel site gathering user-generated content.

Successfully hosting MICECON 2011 with their “Hi-Tech Connect” luncheon event, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu impressed some 400 delegates from across the globe. The hotel’s majestic lobby alone gave the guests an idea of the world-class experience and top-notch facilities that awaited them.

“We have the facility and space to provide a venue for the MICE needs of business travelers,” said Grant Gaskin, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu general manager. “With airlines offering direct flights from different countries to Cebu, more people have found a way to go to the city. But if they don’t find a place that can accommodate them, they will probably choose to hold their MICE activities in Manila. As such, Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu continues to innovate its services and offers to answer the ever-changing demands of Cebu as a MICE destination.”