Located in the southern part of the Philippines and the center for development in Mindanao, Davao City is hosting this year’s MICECON once again after 10 years. The conference is deemed an effective way to restart and boost economic and tourism activities, not only in the Davao region but also in the rest of the Philippines and the world.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) through the Tourism Promotions Board Philippines (TPB) and the City Government of Davao spearhead the M.I.C.E Conference (MICECON), the largest gathering of Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) professionals in the country to be held on March 1 to 3 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier.
“Davao’s hosting of the MICECON will provide a tremendous boost to the city’s tourism industry and a huge step towards its own vision of making Davao a preferred MICE destination not only in the Philippines but in Asia”, said TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles.
With the theme, “MICEConverge: Blaze New Trails,” the three-day conference will serve as a gateway to provide more business opportunities and strengthen ties with domestic and international stakeholders. It is a hybrid event expected to bring in 500 in-person delegates and up to 2,000 online participants from here and abroad.
Highlights of the event include the MICE Youth Challenge, Power Dressing and Glam Makeup Sessions and Workshops where Davao’s finest tourism and product services will be on full display with the sub-themes, “Celebrating Nature”, “Celebrating Diversity” and “Celebrating Travel and Technology.”
First MICE Youth Challenge in Davao
The first and much awaited Philippine MICE Youth Challenge will take place on March 1 during MICECON 2023. It is a national contest for students who are enrolled or have recently completed the MICE Management or Business Events Class in a Philippine-based university. This activity gives contestants the opportunity to conceptualize and present an event business plan that will be reviewed by a select panel of MICE experts to deepen their knowledge about industry practices.
This initiative aims to foster a culture of creativity and excellence among the participants and serve as a learning platform to better equip them to become MICE professionals. It was conceptualized by the Philippine MICE powerhouses who are members of the Philippine Association of Convention/Exhibition Organizers and Suppliers, Inc. (PACEOS) and the Philippine MICE Academy.
The participants of this challenge will be judged by esteemed representatives from the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association (HSMA), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The winners of the challenge will win up to PhP 15,000 plus tokens and the chance to compete at the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) Asia MICE Youth Challenge.