By 2030, the Philippine MICE industry targets to earn a place in “Top 10 MICE destination” with revenue of PhP 24.8 billion and achieve an ICCA rank of ten and above among countries in Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
These goals are declared in the industry’s recently launched roadmap and are backed up by the Department of Tourism, Board of Investments, and the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS). Seen as one of the key growth drivers in tourism, MICE has been a strategic focus area in the Philippine National Tourism Development Plan.
Recent data show that MICE revenues in the Philippines total to PhP 4.6 billion. Moreover, ICCA reports that the country is ranked 14th of the 36 countries in the region as of 2016. Given these baseline figures, the 12-year roadmap was strategically laid out to prioritize the expansion of MICE economic opportunities and the strengthening of the country’s global competitiveness. At large, the plan requires multi-sectoral effort.
The spearheading role of the private sector
Enabling policies and institutional support from allied industries such as telecommunications, real estate, hospitality, finance, and transportation among others are essential to catalyzing the expansion of MICE in the country. Hamlin emphasized that the private sector, which are the industry key players, must take the lead in communicating that MICE is a strong economic driver in the Philippines.
The call to be globally competitive
In 1982, the Philippines ranked first in Asia in convention destination listings. This is largely due to the country’s strategic location, unique tourist attractions, world-class entertainment, and talented event planners. Through the years, neighboring countries have become increasingly competitive, outpacing the country’s growth. This poses a need for local MICE businesses to keep up with international standards.
Hamlin is an industry pundit with extensive experience in organizing events for local and international organizations. Aside from being the Chairman of PACEOS, she is also the Founder and President of TeamAsia, a 26-year old events agency that expanded into the field of integrated marketing communications. She is a resource speaker for the Philippine M.I.C.E. Academy and has also previously served the Department of Tourism as appointed director for the MICE sector of the Tourism Promotions Board.
Recently, TeamAsia successfully executed several notable events and conventions, such as the ASEAN Creative Cities Forum and Exhibition, Philippines-Australia ASEAN Forum on Women’s Economic Empowerment, Arangkada Philippines Forum, the 9th International IT-BPM Summit, Ad Summit Pilipinas 2018, 28th IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference, and East Asian Insurance Congress 2018.
As a company committed to nation-building, TeamAsia organizes large gatherings that serve as a platform for industry decision-makers to discuss relevant issues and steer unified action towards organizational and national development. By contracting suppliers for the transport, food, accommodation, venue, security, telecommunications, manufacturing and other components of its events, TeamAsia also drives economic activity. Collaterally, by organizing regional and international events, TeamAsia helps boost business tourism and its consequential tourist spending. Moreover, their events facilitate knowledge sharing, cultural exchange, and technology transfer.
Hamlin shared how TeamAsia develops and sources cutting edge technology such as mobile applications, chat bots, Audience Response System (ARS), online and onsite registration with RFID scanners, Augmented Reality invites, 3D projection mapping, hologram, 360 venue wall projection, 360 photo booth, kinect games, and the like to make events more sustainable, interactive, convenient, and memorable for both local and international participants.
By bringing in international clients, events management agencies such as TeamAsia drive the Philippines’ global competitiveness while promoting the country as a preferred MICE destination.
The following nominees (listed alphabetically) were nominated for World’s Leading MICE Destination 2019:
Abu Dhabi
Barcelona
Berlin
Hong Kong
Las Vegas
Paris
Shanghai
