Rebound in Cebu meetings market

THE lack of negative news about the Philippines has led to a rebound in interest in Cebu as a MICE destination.Shangri-La Mactan reported achieving a 15-percent increase in MICE business so far into 2007. Last year wasn’t as good as 2005 owing to the renovation of the hotel’s Ocean Wing, which has 180 rooms consisting mainly of executive rooms.Albert Lafuente, director of sales, said Shangri-La Mactan is ready to host more MICE clients, given that it has completed the construction of the fully air-conditioned The Marquee, which can accommodate about 1,000 people dinner-style, at a cost of US$1.3 million. This will add to the indoor meeting facilities that include the Mactan and Rosal ballrooms and seven convertible meeting rooms that are ideal for seminars and conferences. All of the conference and function rooms feature state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and broadband internet access.Lafuente said the opening of Hilton Hotel next to Shangri-La Mactan and the construction of an Imperial Hotel, a Korean hotel brand, will bode well for Cebu as a MICE destination. The city used to be popular among long-haul clients, but these days, its main markets are Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Sans negative publicity, Lafuente believes Cebu could lure the long-haul market slowly.Cebu has a lot to offer as a MICE destination. There are a number of international hotels to choose from; apart from the two international five-star brands mentioned, there is also the newly renovated Marco Polo Hotel in the city proper.With the Shangri-La’s expansive 13-hectare grounds, meetings are taken a notch higher with the option to take activities outdoors. A 350-metre private beach cove is the perfect setting for team workshops, incorporating exciting water sports and games such as raft-building, snorkeling and kayak competitions. Golf enthusiasts may try their luck at the sixhole pitch and putt, whilst tennis fans can play a game on the resort’s plexi-pave tennis court.At the tip of the beachfront, where a bridge connects the adjacent Cowrie Cove restaurant, stands the glass-enclosed Ocean Pavilion, which can seat up to 80 people; its high ceiling and clear glass is perfect for wedding ceremonies, intimate social gatherings, cocktail receptions or small-scale meetings.