17 big hotels in Cebu preparing for MICECON guests

MANILA, Philippines - At least 17 big hotels in Cebu province are now briskly preparing for the influx of foreign and local participants in the forthcoming Philippine Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events Conference (MICECON) 2011.

MICECON’s foreign guests will arrive from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Australia and the United States, while local industry participants will come from various parts of the country.

They will converge at the Cebu International Convention Center on Aug. 11 to start the two-day conference after a full day of relaxation and entertainment that includes a visit to the dancing inmates of Cebu and a welcome cocktail reception hosted by Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The guests will stay at the Marco Polo Plaza, Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa, Cebu Parklane International Hotel, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort, Movenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa, Be Resort Mactan, Waterfront Airport Hotel & Casino, Alpa City Suites, Cebu Grand Hotel, Crimson Resort & Spa Mactan, Marriott Hotel, Sarrosa International Hotel & Residential Suites, and Mango Park Hotel.

The MICECON participants will have two days of seminar and workshop on attracting MICE organizers and visitors from a fast evolving world market.

The conference kicks off with welcome remarks by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and opening message by Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim.

Foreign and local speakers will later discuss Asia Pacific Tourism Trends, Meetings Technology in Troubled Times: How to Do More with Less, the Zebra Marketing Principle, Turning Blueprints into Greenprints, The Invisible Leader, and a presentation on One Cebu by Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale.

The conference will also feature panel discussions on Stepping Forward Without Footprints, New Media Marketing, and Bidding for Events, and breakout educational tracks on convention and association management, incentive travel, exhibitions management, and marketing and promotions,

The fourth and final day on Aug. 13 will be a full day of pre-scheduled business-to-business sessions between foreign and local buyers and Philippine sellers of MICE travel products and services.

This event, dubbed MICE Mart, is expected to generate huge sales for the local MICE industry since the buyers are also MICE professionals in their own countries who can bring international events and groups to the Philippines, according to Lim.

The Tourism Promotions Board has also invited buyers from all over the country who can bring local events to Cebu and take the lead in bidding for the holding of certain international events in the Philippines.

The MICECON secretariat is still accepting applicants for local hosted buyers. Associations and corporations that regularly hold meetings, conferences, conventions, exhibitions, events, sales rally, seminars, and trainings or provide incentive travel to their employees are invited to participate in MICECON 2011 as hosted buyers.

All local buyers are entitled to complimentary conference registration, inclusive of kit and badge, complimentary accommodations in MICECON’S partner business and luxury hotels in Cebu, complimentary shuttle service in Cebu (hotel to conference and event venues), all meals during the conference, and inclusion of company name in the MICECON 2011 directory.

Those interested to participate as buyers can contact the MICECON 2011 secretariat or the DOT regional offices at 525-6110, 525-6635 or 525-9318, fax 521-6165, e-mail at micecon2011regn@yahoo.com or cit.unit@gmail.com or visit www.micecon.net. MICECON 2011 is supported by the province of Cebu, the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, the Hotel Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu, the Meetings, Incentive Travel, Events/Exhibitions Philippines Inc., Philippine Airlines, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Cebu City government, Primer Group of Companies, Centrex Corp., Ensogo-Philippines, American Express, the provincial government of Bohol, TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd., Café Laguna, and Island Souvenirs, among many others.