Manila

Creating history by having Asia’s first full fledged convention centre, Manila, the capital of Philippines, has emerged as the forerunner of the MICE industry in Southeast Asia. Philippines witnessed over 24 lakh visitors just from January to June 2014 and Manila, home to some major cultural and historical landmarks has its share of World Heritage Sites. A growing hub for business travellers, Manila boasts of world-class MICE facilities, amenities, efficient services at affordable cost, making it an ideal MICE destination.

As one of the fastest growing cities, Manila is in close proximity to the financial centre of Philippines, the city of Makati, thus making it an ideal location for all business travellers. It is also the main shopping hub of Philippines, one of the most attractive city for American travellers by the Global Shopping Index in the Asia Pacific region. Some of the shopping destinations include Greenhills in Makati, Newport Mall in Pasay, Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, and Bonifacio High Street at Bonifacio Global City.

The Philippine International Convention Centre (PICC) was unveiled in 1976 and has the capacity to hold 4000 people with a massive banquet hall, over a dozen meeting rooms and a press centre. It offers facilities for meetings, conventions, exhibitions and special events like a Plenary Hall that can seat more than 3,500 people along with a Reception Hall, exhibit areas and other meeting rooms.

The country’s newest and largest privately-run exhibition and convention center, the SMX Convention Centre, is a world-class venue for international exhibitions, large-scale local trade events, major medical and other industry conventions and corporate functions. It is also an integral part of the Mall of Asia Complex, a business and leisure park that integrates business with recreation, shopping and entertainment.

The World Trade Centre Metro Manila (WTCMM) was inaugurated on November 1996. The first of two exhibition halls cover a total floor space of 8,300 sq m.

From sight seeing at heritage districts like Rizal Park and Intramuros to nightlife kick starters like Opus Lounge or Republiq, Manila has lots to offer. The region is growing as a hub for MICE events. It hosted PHITEX and Philindex in September, 2014. The easy air accessibility from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila only adds to the advantage of the city. All hotels in Metro Manila are within an hour and a half drive from NAIA.

It is also home to various casinos and is becoming a major gaming destination in the region. A gaming and entertainment complex called Entertainment City, home to four integrated casino resorts, attracts tourists and rival other major gaming destinations in Asia such as Macau and Singapore. Also ‘A City of Dream Manila’ project, like the ‘City of Dreams Macau’, is in the pipeline.

A number of hotels and casinos can be found around Metro Manila. Philippines’ first hotel, the Manila Hotel, established in 1912 is also here. Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila Hotel Convention offers facilities which include the pillar-less Grand Plaza Ballroom, Harbour Garden and Sunset Pavilion for hosting varied events and meeting options for up to 2000 guests. Function rooms utilise the latest equipment and technology including wireless connectivity. Hyatt Regency and Casino Manila, Peninsula Manila, Makati Shangri-La, Manila Hotel and Westin Phillipine Plaza also offer comprehensive arrangements for MICE events.

Places of interest

Intramuros, a spacious borough of wide streets, plazas and colonial houses, is an old walled city which was the centrepiece of Spanish Manila.