Clark to host biggest tourism convention

MANILA, Philippines - Clark Development Corp. (CDC) is looking forward to hosting the country’s biggest tourism convention on June 4-7 at the Fontana Convention Center & Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Park.

CDC president Arthur P. Tugade said they hope Clark can duplicate the success in Davao when the international conference on meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events/exhibitions (MICE) was held last year.

The MICE Conference (MICECON) in Davao hosted by former Mayor Sarah Duterte has been considered one of the highly successful MICECON events.

MICECON is an industry platform for learning and business opportunities, learning from experts on new trends, approaches, methods and insights as well as inspiration and energy to reach and fulfill new heights for the Philippine MICE and tourism industry.

CDC has come a long way in providing the country an opportunity for a viable trade and investment link to Asia and the rest of the world through the Freeport where productive economic activities are thriving.

The story of Clark, from a US-run military facility into a freeport zone, can be reflected in pouring of billions of dollars in investments a reason why MICECON organizers saw the potential of Clark as its next site.

Tugade also said when in Clark, all places can be reached in seven to 10 minutes, making the  freeport an ideal place for conventions, conferences, exhibitions, among others.

The Department of Tourism is expecting about 600 practitioners, professionals, business leaders and media to participate in this year’s event.

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) will be the lead agency for the event.

With the theme MICE in 4D (defining passions, developing minds, defying limits, designing the future), the event will be hosted by Fontana Hot Spring Leisure Park, Widus Resort, Holiday Inn Clark and MontevistaVillas -Mimosa Golf & Country Club.  

The MICECON 2014 program will focus on plenary discussions and lectures about industry-specific topics on meetings, incentive travel, and exhibitions marketing as well as leadership, innovation, business and technology, association management, food, creativity, communication, personal/organizational development and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration and its effect on the region’s economy.