Philippines Adds Meeting, Incentive Venues

<FONT SIZE="+3"><B>Philippines Adds Meeting, Incentive Venues</B>

By Maria Lenhart

<I>Manila</I> - Still basking in the spotlight cast by hosting President Clinton and other world leaders at the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, the Philippines is making an all-out effort to boost its standing in the international meetings and incentive market.

For the Philippines, which launched its aggressive "Convention City Manila" marketing campaign last year and is now making tourism infrastructure improvements all over the country, APEC provided a much-anticipated chance to showcase itself as a venue. The summit drew over 5,000 people, half of them from the international media, and involved 19 meetings in Manila as well as in outlying areas such as Subic, Cebu and Davao.

"Now that we are trying to rebuild our image in the world meetings market, APEC came at a very opportune time," said Rosvi Geatos, deputy director of the Philippine Convention and Visitors Corporation.

To draw more international business to Manila, the PCVC's campaign is encouraging locally based associations to bid for and host more regional and international events-and to create new ones. The PCVC is working with associations to offer discounted convention packages and other incentives for attendees.

Thanks to a sprucing-up effort launched in anticipation of APEC, Manila and its environs are in a better position to host more international conventions. Manila's 20-year-old Philippine International Convention Center recently completed renovations. The center, which can accommodate groups of up to 4,000, features a new high-tech conferencing system that includes simultaneous translation in eight languages, electronic voting capabilities, a business center and a closed-circuit television system.

Also readied for APEC was Subic Bay Freeport, a former U.S. Navy base outside Manila (See story, Page 34) which is now an industrial and tourism complex available for conferences. Subic offers two resort hotels, a nature reserve, an airport and extensive sports and recreational facilities. Upgrades included the construction of 21 luxury villas to house the heads of state attending APEC, the addition of a 27-hole championship golf course and a renovation of the former officer's club, which served as a conference venue during the summit.

Another new meetings venue is Clark Field, a former U.S. military base outside Manila. A lodge for military personnel was converted to the 303-room Holiday Inn Resort Clarkfield, which offers meeting space for up to 750. Also new at the former base is the Mimosa Golf & Country Club, which includes an 18-hole golf course.

New activity also is taking place in the resort islands of the Philippines, which are growing in popularity as venues for corporate meeting and incentive programs. Increased demand from this market is prompting an expansion of the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort in Cebu, a 45-minute flight from Manila, which will add a new wing of 188 rooms next year, bringing its total to 550.