The Department of Tourism (DOT), Tourism Promotions Board and MICE Alliance are officially launching today, October 10, the Iloilo City Meetings, Incentive Travels, Conferences/Conventions, Exhibitions/Events (MICE) Campaign with the tagline “Meet you in Iloilo.”

The event, which will be held at the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo City, aims to position Iloilo as a MICE destination and will gather top associations and corporations in the Philippines, travel managers and event organizers to see for themselves what Iloilo has to offer.

“Positioning Iloilo City as a MICE destination will not only benefit the city but also the neighboring provinces. The official launching of MICE Campaign will boost the local economy and the tourist arrivals specifically in Iloilo City in the near future,” DOT-6 Regional Director Atty. Helen J. Catalbas said.

Highlights of the Iloilo City MICE launching include the releasing of MICE magazine and the unveiling of Iloilo MICE Campaign official logo. Senator Franklin Drilon, DOT Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, DOT Undersecretary Arturo Boncato, Jr. and DOT Assistant Secretary Maria Rica Bueno will grace the said event.

“The Iloilo City MICE Campaign will not be possible without the support from the Tourism Promotions Board, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), MICE Alliance members and other partners. The unity of tourism stakeholders in positioning Iloilo City as MICE destination is an overwhelming factor to promote inclusive growth”Catalbas said.

In sync with the promotion of Iloilo as MICE destination, the DOT-6 strongly encourages tourism enterprises to be DOT-Accredited MICE organizer or facility/venue to ensure quality services are being offered to clients and visitors.

Senator Franklin Drilon stressed during the DOT’s presentation of Iloilo MICE Tourism Marketing Plan that Iloilo is an excellent MICE destination considering that it has one of the major hubs in the country having both domestic and direct international flights to other major hubs here and abroad.

The Iloilo MICE Alliance came up with attractive incentives for convention delegates. Events with 300-999 delegates will be catered to an airport reception with cultural performers and welcome banners on the arrival date for bulk arrivals of the delegates at Iloilo International Airport, welcome leis to VIPs and speakers, special MICE accommodation and group tours land transport rates from Iloilo MICE Alliance members, special discounts for delegates from major malls and department stores, incentive discount from participating restaurants and convention discount for airfare.

Events with 1,000-1,999 delegates can avail an additional incentive of DOT information desk set-up at the venue and provision of promotional materials/brochures during the event and for the 2, 000 above delegates, an added benefit of discounted rental fee of the function rooms in any Iloilo MICE Alliance member MICE facilities.MDO/DOT-6/IMT