MICECON 2023 heralds tourism growth

In hosting the biggest gathering of MICE professionals in the country, the City of Davao has proven that it has all what it takes to be a business events hotspot in Mindanao.

Attended by 640-plus local and international delegates, the Philippine MICE Conference (MICECON) 2023, held at SMX Convention Center Davao from March 1 to 3, was organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) in tandem with the Davao Organizing Committee composed of private and public sector representatives.

The Filipino brand of service permeated MICECON 2023, from the warm welcome at the airport and entertainment numbers to fam tours and departure. As TPB chief operating ofcer Marga Nograles explained: “We believe that by providing exceptional service, and going above and beyond for all our visitors, we can provide tourism experiences that exceed expectations.”

The conference proper was packed with timely topics with huge doses of fun, creativity and innovations.

With the theme MICE Converge: Blaze New Trails, speakers and panelists tackled wide-ranging topics, among them leveraging technology in planning events; character and skills necessary for the new breed of leaders; thinking globally and acting locally in the circular economy of events; and new normal disruptors on the supplier side of business events.

These serious topics were injected with serious fun including a workshop on easy glam make up fx for industry divas and another on power dressing using Philippine textiles and weaves.

To encourage audience participation, sub-themes in celebration of Nature, Diversity, and Travel and Technology were introduced daily and repeated in the venue decor, daily dress code, entertainment and intermissions.

The CSR component is a nod to sustainability and ecotourism. Delegates visited the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos, Davao City, to raise awareness and funds in the preservation and conservation of the critically-endangered species.

MICECON 2023 also held the Philippine MICE Youth Challenge, which aims to train the future leaders of the industry and give them the chance to compete in the Asia MICE Youth Challenge of the AFECA (Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations).

Another innovation was the MICECON Marketplace consisted of 66 exhibitors. Davao is an underrated destination but the exhibition faunted the new tourism hardware and varied culture, heritage and culinary oferings not just of the City but also of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur.

MICECON 2023 also showcases Davao’s bleisure oferings with tours of the city, indigenous tribes, islands to highland adventure travel opportunities and key resort and beach destinations.

These include the Kadayawan adventure feting delegates to the native dwellings and livelihoods of the 11 tribes of Davao; a trip to the Poblacion Market noted for its diverse shopping, dining and lifestyle oferings; full island experience at the Pearl Farm in Samal Island; boat ride to the Lubi Plantation Resort Island; and chocolate and cheese tasting experience at worldrenowned Malagos Farmhouse Cheeses.

As Philippine vice president Sara Duterte said in the farewell dinner, MICECON 2023 is an opportunity for Davao City, “considered one of the safest cities in the world,” to showcase one of the tourism gateways in Mindanao by “ofering

Photo shows (standing fourth from left) Maria Margarita

Montemayor Nograles, Chief Operating Offcer of the TPB, alongside Atty. Jay Melchor B. Quitain, Jr., Vice Mayor of Davao City. Surrounding them are members of the Kathara Dance Collective, representing the 11 tribes of Davao.

It’s Clark for MICECON 2024. Clark Development Corporation President Agnes Devanadera expresses her commitment as she receives from DOT Sec. Christina Garcia Frasco the award for winning the bid in hosting the next MICECON.

Behind the success of MICECON 2023 are teams led mostly by women.

Taken during the Farewell Night (seated from left) DOT Sec. Christina Frasco, Vice President Sara Duterte, TPB COO Margarita Nograles, DOT Region 11 Director, (standing from left) Tanya RabatTan, DILG Usec. Margarita Gutierrez, CDC President Agnes Devanadera and Puwersa ng Baying Atleta Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles visitors a complete tourism experience through the convergence of culture, nature and adventure”.

Coming as it was after two years of pandemic, tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said “MICECON 2023 serves as a venue for us to reinvigorate and revitalize the tourism industry, and Davao has become a model for others to follow and a springboard from which we can launch even more exciting MICECONs in the future”.

Clark Freeport Zone, which won the bid to host MICECON 2024, is sure to take Davao’s lead. Said Agnes Devanadera, president and CEO of Clark Development Corp., said: “Just as Davao has shown us the way to transform MICECON into an impetus of sustainable development, Clark shall follow suit and bring forth inclusive growth not just for Clark but for Region 3”.