Not just one but two “huge” convention centers will rise in Iloilo City, according to Department of Tourism (DOT-6) Director Helen J. Catalbas.
Catalbas said the construction of additional convention centers would give a big boost to the city’s bid to become the country’s premier MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination.
During the launch of the “Meet you in Iloilo” MICE campaign recently, Mayor Jerry Treñas said a 4,000-seat SMX Convention Center will be constructed in Mandurriao district.
“I am very happy that SM will open a bigger convention center to accommodate more guests,” he said.
In a report by BusinessMirror, Agnes Pacis, vice president for Sales and Marketing for the SMX Convention Center, said the facility “will have over 4,300 square meters of leasable space.”
In terms of the design, Pacid said it has yet to be finalized.
The construction of the facility is set to start next year and is expected to be done by the second quarter of 2021. It will be funded by the SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC),
Aside from SMHCC, there’s also another company that signified to construct a convention center in the city, Catalbas revealed.
“It’s also a huge convention center,” she said.
Catalbas refused to give the name of the company and provide further details of the project.
The city currently has one convention center. Situated inside Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park (IBP), the Iloilo Convention Center (ICC) has a seating capacity of 3,700.IMT
PHOTO CREDITS: Randy Javier Fadrigo
