Megaworld lays out P1.5-B for Mactan Expo in Cebu

Megaworld Corp. is making a deeper push into the country’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector with the opening of its first stand-alone convention center, Mactan Expo.

The project is located at Megaworld’s 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, the Andrew Tan-led property giant said the P1.5-billion facility is part of their efforts to expand tourism-related developments within its townships nationwide.

Mactan Expo will serve as one of the venues for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit hosted by the Philippines.

This will start with the Asean Travel Exchange, a key event under the Asean Tourism Forum 2026, Jan. 28 to Jan. 30.

Designed to accommodate large-scale conventions and exhibitions, Mactan Expo features a pillarless main hall and supporting spaces intended to allow flexible event configurations.

The company said the development was envisioned to meet global standards while highlighting Cebuano culture through its design elements.

Megaworld said the expansion into the MICE sector will be closely integrated with its hotel and leisure portfolio through Megaworld Hotels & Resorts. This would enable the group to offer combined convention, accommodation and food and beverage services within its townships.

To lead the new business segment, Megaworld has appointed veteran MICE executive Louella Caridad, former chief operating officer of World Trade Center Metro Manila. She will oversee the development, management and operations of its convention and exhibition facilities.

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Megaworld president and CEO Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso said the company sees the MICE business as a key component of nation-building and tourism growth.

The CEO added that the group plans to expand this segment to other key growth areas across the country over the next five to ten years.

“After Cebu, we will explore other key growth areas to expand this business as we aim to attract more international conventions and events, just like the Asean Summit, which will become a landmark hosting for Megaworld’s first-ever convention center,” Alfonso said.

The company currently operates 14 hotel properties nationwide with around 6,500 room keys.