THE city of Bacolod in Western Visayas will welcome a fourth SMX convention centre by 4Q2014, bringing SMX Convention Specialist Corp’s total inventory of meeting space to 41,480m2, the largest offered by a Philippine supplier.
Dexter Deyto, vice president and general manager for SMX Convention Specialist Corp, told TTGmice e-Weekly that SMX Bacolod was looking at soft opening in the first week of October.
“It was a choice of either opening in Bacolod or Iloilo, but since Iloilo already has a convention centre in the works, it might be too crowded,” Deyto remarked.
“Bacolod needs one (too) and we have a lot of local support from the mayor’s office, the city council…they’re in fact helping us with the promotions already,” he added.
SMX Bacolod will have a gross floor area of 8,218m2, contained within the new 133,894m2 expansion wing of SM Bacolod.
According to design plans, the pre-function lobby will have 1,726m2 of available space, while function room areas cover 3,544m2. Five meeting rooms are available, ranging from 74-207m2. Pricing will be on a par with SMX Davao.
The facility has initial bookings for local regional events and will be marketed for social functions, business events and school activities.
Provisions for a yet-unnamed brand hotel in the new wing have also been made. “There’s always a hotel co-location…for now, the plan is to stick with the Park Inn by Radisson brand,” Deyto said.
A new website for SMX’s four convention facilities will also be launched in 3Q2014.
