Mactan Expo Center is poised to become a significant catalyst for local tourism, MICE sectors
An exciting, groundbreaking initiative takes shape amid the breathtaking vistas and stunning coastlines of the historic yet progressive Mactan Island.
Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graced the capsule-laying ceremony for the Mactan Expo Center, a P1.5-billion, 10,000-sqm state-of-the-art convention center poised to elevate Cebu’s profile on the global stage.
Significant catalyst
This modern iconic marvel is not only touted to become the newest crown jewel of Mactan Newtown, Megaworld Corp.’s township in Lapu-Lapu City, but is also seen to become a significant catalyst to the Philippines’ tourism as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sectors. This will no doubt cement Cebu’s stature as a dynamic, forward-thinking destination for business and leisure travelers alike.“Today, we will witness the laying of another cornerstone in this township as the Alliance Global Group Inc. is set to build a world-class convention center that will be a source of pride not just for Cebu but for the entire country. Currently, there has yet to be a standalone convention center in the province and this P1.5-billion Mactan Expo Center is truly a first-of-its-kind development here in Cebu,” Mr. Marcos said in his speech during the ceremony held on April 27.
Mr. Marcos was joined by Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin Andrew L. Tan, Megaworld chief operating officer Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, and other local officials at the actual construction site of the convention facility, which is just a short walk from the historic Lapu-Lapu Shrine.
Fittingly enough, this capsule-laying ceremony coincided with the 503rd commemoration of the victory of Datu Lapu Lapu in Mactan. In a way, this convention center honors the legacy of Lapu Lapu, who fought valiantly against Spanish forces five centuries ago. Just as this Philippine hero once sought to safeguard the well-being of his community, the Mactan Expo Center is meanwhile seen to ensure economic prosperity of the region.
Pioneering developer
The Mactan Expo Center—launched in time for the upcoming 35th anniversary of Megaworld, the country’s pioneer of live-work-play townships—will have convention halls and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art audio and visual systems, and video conferencing technology. It will also have sustainable features as well. Its minimalist facade meanwhile will be complemented by interiors that are inspired by Cebu’s local culture, festivals, arts, flavors, nature scenes, and icons.
“The Mactan Expo Center will be the first-of-its-kind in Mactan Island and will be designed to world-class standards. This expo center will be capable to host not just the upcoming regional summit, but many more summits for decades to come. This will permanently change the landscape of Lapu-Lapu City (which) is the perfect place to build such a massive facility given that it is near the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and home to all the best hotels and resorts in Cebu,” Tan said in his speech.
According to Tan, the Mactan Newtown township alone already has two world-class hotels—Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown and Belmont Hotel Mactan—which can offer more than 1,000 room keys combined. This will be further expanded as Megaworld is looking to double its hotel room keys in the coming years, “as we look to leverage the continued growth of Cebu’s tourism and hospitality industry,” he added.
From business to leisure At the same time, the township will accord to guests of the summits and conferences to be held at the Mactan Expo Center the luxury of having a spectacular beachfront you can easily walk to coming from this facility.
With easy access to international airports, world-class hotels, and an array of leisure activities, guests can seamlessly transition from business to leisure, enabling them to maximize their time on the island, creating unforgettable memories along the way.But perhaps the most compelling aspect of the Mactan Expo Center is its potential to catalyze economic growth and development in the region. It will enable the province to tap the huge potential of the growing MICE sector. And by attracting a diverse range of events, exhibitions, and conferences, it generates quality jobs for the people and creates opportunities for local businesses to showcase their products and services to a global audience.
With the Mactan Expo Center, the future of Cebu’s MICE and tourism sectors has never looked this brighter.
