by Penny Angeles-Tan | Oct 24, 2019 | Events
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, which is the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), is aiming to boost tourism in the country. To achieve this, it will host the
Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and the
MICE Buyers Invitational (MICECONnect) from October 20 to 27. These events are designed to promote the Philippines as a premier tourist destination for both leisure travel and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibits/Events).
Now in its 18th year, PHITEX is recognized as the largest travel trade event in the country, featuring nearly 200 sellers and 200 buyers. The main highlight of the event is a one-and-a-half-day business-to-business (B2B) session that facilitates discussions between foreign buyers and local sellers. This session aims to promote tourism-related conversations among participants and create new business opportunities.
Participants also attended the PHITEX educational seminar, where industry leaders discussed new trends in tourism marketing and strategies for both mature and emerging markets. The discussions were centered around the theme “Philippine Tourism: Trailblazing Responsible Travel and Inclusive Growth.”
Insights were shared by Thomas Graham, Co-Founder of Make A Difference (MAD) Travel; Carlos Mori Rodriguez, Chief Innovation Officer of EON The Stakeholder Relations Group; and Nelly Nuezca Dillera, CESO III, Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy. They concluded the seminar on how the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is developing capabilities for halal development and certification.
PHITEX is an annual event designed to support stakeholders in the travel trade industry. Rather than operating as individual sellers, we provide a platform for them to connect with hundreds of buyers from around the world in one venue, saving them valuable time and money.
The event also ensures that buyers are well-informed and prepared by offering a comprehensive overview of various destinations and packages that they can sell to consumers, whether as individual tours or bundled options.
COO, TPB
MICECONnect 2019 aims to promote the Philippine MICE industry by gathering suppliers to showcase the country as a premier destination for international events and conferences.
Happening alongside PHITEX, MICECONnect 2019 continues a two-year program designed as a comprehensive educational seminar for local MICE stakeholders. The aim is to help them learn about new and effective global trends, approaches, and methods. This year’s focus is on creating business networking opportunities to further develop the country’s MICE industry.
MICECONnect 2019 will also feature B2B sessions for both Philippine and international MICE buyers, as well as inspections of hotels and MICE venues. Additionally, delegates attending MICECONnect will have the opportunity to participate in post-event tours, showcasing some of the country’s premier MICE destinations, including Iloilo City, Bacolod, Davao, Boracay, Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Manila, and Batangas.
Both PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019 play a crucial role in enabling the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) to support and raise awareness of sustainable community-based tourism. In addition to showcasing the Philippines’ unique offerings, TPB is dedicated to protecting natural resources and ensuring that tourism benefits both directly and indirectly impacted communities. This commitment aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing TPB’s dedication to sustainable tourism and its contribution to the Department of Tourism’s objectives.
To know more about PHITEX and MICECONnect 2019, visit the following websites:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 4, 2019 | Events
MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events) Conference, the largest gathering of local and international MICE industry experts and practitioners, was successfully mounted this year in Bacolod. Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), MICECON 2018 featured educational talks from world-class experts.
TPB uses MICECON to strengthen the country’s reputation as the preferred MICE destination in Asia. The four-day conference was spearheaded by (center) TPB chief operating officer Marie Venus Tan and Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Others in photo are (L-R) Bacolod City councilor Em Ang, DOT regional director Helen Catalbas, Bacolod City administrator John Orola, DOT assistant secretary Robert Alabado III and DOT Policy Formulation and International Cooperation division chief Alex Macatuno.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 13, 2018 | Events
Global industry experts of varying backgrounds and expertise are flying to the country for MICECON 2018, to be held in the ‘Sugar Bowl of the Philippines’, Bacolod City, on 27-29 November 2018, at the SMX Convention Center.
Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the MICE Conference or MICECON is the biggest industry gathering of its kind and is a highly anticipated educational event for travel and tourism practitioners.
For MICECON 2018, the TPB has gathered an impressive roster of local and international speakers, namely:
- Susan Sarfati, founding CEO of The Center for Association Leadership and Executive Vice President of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE);
- Liz Jackson, vice president of Association Management Group and president of Associated Luxury Hotels;
- Peng Ee, of the Global Commerce Business unit of TTG Asia Media; and
- Jerry Sibal, founder of Jerry Sibal Design and a world-renowned event designer and florist.
Susan Sarfati
Susan Sarfati
Apart from being named one of the 25 most influential people in the meetings industry by Meeting News, Sarfati’s achievements include Non-profit Times Executive of the Year, the Spirit of Hospitality Award, as well as over 2 decades of experience in creating high-performance individuals, teams and organizations.
Liz Jackson
Jackson has been involved in the association community of Washington, DC for 30 years, taking on executive career roles and as a member of several professional association boards of directors. Some of the awards she has received include Meeting Professionals International Member of the Year, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives’ Board Member Award, and American Society of Association Executives Fellow selection for leadership
Peng Ee
Peng Ee
Peng Ee has extensive experience in exhibitions and events, and was recently appointed to transform the Global Business Unit of TTG Asia Media, organizer of the IT&CMA, the leading international MICE event centered in the Asia Pacific, as well as the TTG’s MICE show in China, which saw the largest Philippine contingent in its history.
Jerry Sibal
Jerry Sibal
For more than 25 years, Sibal has built a name for himself as a leading event designer and floral artist, creating magical settings for both private parties and corporate events.
Last May, he produced the first-ever Philippine Tourism Expo, in partnership with the DOT and TBP, a four-day event held at the Vanderbilt Hall, New York Grand Central Terminal.
MICE is a major contributor to the growth of Philippine tourism, and MICECON 2018 aims to establish the Philippines’ standing as the preferred destination for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions as outlined in the MICE Roadmap 2030, which targets to increase revenues derived from the MICE industry to some P25 billion by growing annual MICE arrivals to 3 percent, and increasing the total usable space for exhibitions to over 170,895 square meters.
Aside from the learnings derived from the engaging talks, the MICECON 2018 program also includes networking opportunities during themed social functions. It likewise aims to showcase what Bacolod City has to offer as a MICE venue, while further upgrading its capabilities in targeting and handling the MICE market.
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