CEBU, Philippines — Megaworld Corporation announced its another roll of investments in Cebu with the construction of the P1.5 billion Mactan Expo Center inside the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
In a press briefing yesterday, July 18, 2023, held at Radisson Blu Cebu, Graham M. Coates, First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, revealed that the construction of the Mactan Expo Center will commence this year 2023, and set to be completed by 2025.
The 2,500-seating capacity Mactan Expo Center will further boost Cebu's MICE tourism industry, explained Coates expressing confidence of Cebu’s potential to attract MICE ( meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) events post pandemic.
The ground level will feature a convention hall that can accommodate up to 2,500 people for theatre-type set-up, and 1,600 people for banquet style set-up. The convention hall can also be divided into three smaller halls that can accommodate around 700 to 900 persons per hall for theatre-style, and 500 to 600 persons per hall for banquet-style lavout.
Currently, the township has a total of 1,100 room accommodations provided by two hotel properties—the Belmont Hotel Mactan and the Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown.
The construction works is seen to employ at least 1,500 workers. This newest project also is looking at hiring another 500 workforce once the stand-alone Mactan Expo Center will be operational.
The main convention hall will have its own expansive foyer and pre-function areas. The ground level will also have two drop-off areas, service kitchen area, cafes, and an event showroom, where expo center clients can check sample event set-ups and arrangements.
At the mezzanine level, the expo center will have two meeting rooms for smaller and intimate events. Each meeting room can accommodate up to 100 persons for banquet-style layout and around 150 persons for theatre-style layout. Both meeting rooms may be combined into a single venue.
The mezzanine level will also have its own pre-function area, as well as an outdoor balcony and Storage rooms.
With its minimalist design that illuminates at night, the Mactan Expo Center's façade will be complemented by interiors inspired by Cebu's local culture, festivals, arts, flavors, nature scenes, and icons. Design elements will be mostly sourced locally.
“We hope to build another iconic landmark not just for Mactan but for the entire province of Cebu.. This convention center will be a unique standalone structure that will help boost the province's booming MICE industry," said Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld.
The Mactan Expo Center will have two passenger elevators, two escalators, and a service avator. It will also have its own 100 percent back-up power, and will have WiFi access in most areas.
The convention halls and meeting rooms will be equipped with fixed video screens, as well as state-of-the-art audio and visual systems and video conferencing technology
Moreover, the Mactan Expo Center will be compliant to the requirements of the Philippine Green Building Council (PGBC) as it integrates several sustainability features into the structure, such as the use of low emissivity façade glass, low flow water fixtures, and having its own rainwater recycling facility as well as a sewage treatment plant and materials recovery facility.
“Our hotel properties within The Mactan Newtown will be ready to handle the accommodation requirements of the Mactan Expo Center. And one thing everyone should look forward to at the Mactan Expo Center is the fact that it will just be a few steps away to the beach," added Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts. — (FREEMAN)