With facilities, skilled and responsive personnel, and a care and friendliness that can be found in the Filipino culture, the Philippines is regarded as an ideal meetings and incentives destination for…
With facilities, skilled and responsive personnel, and a care and friendliness that can be found in the Filipino culture, the Philippines is regarded as an ideal meetings and incentives destination for business travelers interested in a truly unique and rewarding experience.
For the U.S. market and its meetings and incentive visitors, the comfort levels are exceptionally high. “The fact that we are English-speaking, combined with our strong sense of hospitality and exemplary service, make the Philippines an ideal destination for meetings with excellent facilities for groups large and small,” said Joseph H. Durano, Secretary of Tourism for the Philippines.
Another reason for the country’s popularity among business travelers in the U.S., according to Durano, are the sheer number of attractions in the Philippines. “We are internationally recognized for many things,” Durano observes. “Moreover, we hold a fascination of being the product of many cultures – of influences from both the East and West.”
One of the country’s top convention venues is The Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Metro Manila Its multi-level Plenary Hall can seat up to 5,000 delegates and accommodate 5,700 persons in its Reception Hall. The largest of its 28 meeting rooms is 55,694 square feet. The original PICC opened in September of 1976 in time for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Conference. It was the first international convention center in Asia.
Megatrade Hall offers three multipurpose halls and two function rooms that can handle meetings ranging from small seminars to large conferences.
Smaller meetings in and around the business and commercial districts of Manila can be found in deluxe and first-class hotels and other establishments, as well as out of town hotels and resorts which serve as alternative meeting and convention sites.
The listing of hotels for meetings in Manila is extensive and includes: Bayview Park Hotel Manila, Makati Shangri-La Manila, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Mandarin Oriental Manila and Pan Pacific Manila.
“While Manila is probably the most popular site for meetings, many businesses prefer the laid back seclusion of a resort-type property for a company getaway,” said Durano.
One such example is the 547-room, seven-story Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa, perched over a lovely beach cove and inviting sea. Just outside the city of Cebu (the country’s oldest city, often referred to as the “Queen City of the South”), the resort is conveniently located approximately 15 minutes away from Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
The Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa features 13 meeting rooms with the largest able to handle 456 persons for banquets. Its Business Center includes translation and secretarial services, computer use and much more.
“It’s no small wonder why meeting and convention visitors savor their away-from-their-conferencing time, why spouse programs are so very popular, and why incentive travelers consider a trip to the Philippines so extraordinary,” notes Emma Ruth Yulo, director of the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York. “Historical allure, recreational sports, exceptional shopping opportunities and scenic splendor provide enough to see and do and enough variety to satisfy all with a leisure agenda that is guaranteed to lift company spirits.”
The Philippine Department of Tourism and the Philippines Convention and Visitors Corporation are available to assist meeting and incentive planners with suggestions on venues and how to best maximize time. Licensed tour guides are also available.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
