Philippines dangles cash subventions to entice MICE groups

The Philippines is pulling out all the stops to lure business events back to its shores; Manila Bay pictured

The Philippines’ Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) has beefed up its incentive packages and privileges, and for the first time, is offering financial assistance of up to one million pesos (US$19,700) for incentive groups and exhibitions.

In the past, cash subventions were very minimal, TPB’s chief operating officer Maria Anthonette Velasco-Allones told TTGmice. Previously, common business events incentives included technical advice, assistance on event planning, provision of brochures, and VIP tokens.

The Philippines is pulling out all the stops to lure business events back to its shores; Manila Bay pictured

With this announcement, all business events sectors will now have access to more perks.

For meetings and conventions, TPB will assist with digital promotions for the event, F&B costs, venue rental, hotel accommodation for foreign buyers, and provide a half-day city tour. Similarly, for exhibitions, F&B for VIPs, hotel accommodation for foreign buyers, and a half-day city tour are new additions.

For incentive groups, additions include giveaways for all participants, cultural entertainment, and F&B for one of the receptions.

Such perks and more were detailed in TPB’s enhanced MICE Plus Programme. Moreover, perks do not apply just to face-to-face events, but can also be applied towards virtual and hybrid local and international business events.

A campaign for business events, will be launched after the Department of Tourism, TPB and PACEOS (Philippine Association of Conference/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers) are through with revisiting the MICE Roadmap 2020-2030, Allones further revealed. Meantime, a safety protocol campaign for business events has already been initiated.

She also noted that not a single Covid-19 infection was detected at all hybrid events TPB has been supporting, starting from PHITEX 2020 in Bohol, and PHITEX 2021 in Clark, showing that it is possible to hold events safely during a pandemic.

Earlier in October, Boracay formed a MICE Alliance, and is being positioned ​as a sustainable tropical paradise for business events. Its launching pad will be the hosting of MICECON at the end of the month

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