Philippines to implement a MICE Ambassadors Programme
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The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines is putting together a MICE Ambassadors Programme, tapping Filipino association executives as frontrunners when it comes to securing and bidding for international events.
TPB has indicated it will provide special support through the planning to bidding stages, as well as the actual running of the event. Arnold T Gonzales, TPB’s acting head MICE department, said this was part of the government’s efforts to revitalise business events.
Gonzales further disclosed – at the 9th Summit of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) – that bid assistance would vary depending on the magnitude of the bid. Moreover, there is already an existing MICE Plus programme which planners will be able to tap onto for technical and financial assistance.
PCAAE founder and CEO Octavio Peralta pointed out that since the early days of the association, it already had its own TAP-In (TPB Ambassadors Program to Attract International Events to the Philippines) in place.
“In essence, TAP-In is encouraging our members with international affiliation to promote the country as a destination for MICE events,” Peralta noted.
He added that TPB should provide “all-out support to the MICE industry” by being a “total partner”, and not just “a provider of service”.
This means that associations should be able to receive assistance from the bidding process right through the conducting of the event, significant financing help, as well as in-kind support prior, during, and after the event.
Peralta suggested that support could include information on travel, health and safety, destination and venue options, travel visa facilitation, courtesy lanes at the airport, delegate and sponsor generation, as well as post-tourism options.