Magpale confident in Ad Congress bid

CEBU, Philippines - Board Member Agnes Magpale is confident that Cebu will get to host the 2011 Advertising Congress in November.

Magpale was with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in Manila last Friday to present Capitol’s bid. Cebu City, meanwhile, was represented by Ann Conejero, managing director of Graphic FX Advertising and Design. The Advertising Board reportedly treated the bid of Cebu Province and Cebu City as one.

Results of the bidding will be released within the week, Magpale said.

The province is offering the Cebu International Convention Center as venue of the congress. CICC can accommodate at least 3,000 delegates as proven during the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in 2007. On the other hand, Cebu City will take care of the delegates’ accommodations since hotels are mostly located in its jurisdiction.

Other contenders are Baguio City and Camarines Sur.

Magpale, who chairs the Provincial Board committee on tourism, said Cebu has the edge over the other contenders particularly Camarines Sur in terms of accessibility and accommodation.

The event’s organizers give importance to access and infrastructure. One requirement, for example, is a plenary hall that can accommodate up to 4,000 delegates.

Earlier, Garcia said the move of Capitol to bid for the Ad Congress is not meant to compete with the city government. She said that the province will be happy to work with the city in bidding for the event. Cebu hosted the event twice in 2001 and 2005.

Both Garcia and Rama believe that hosting the event again would boost Cebu’s economy. Should Cebu get to host the event, about 2,500 to 4,000 delegates from top business firms, advertising agencies and media companies will be pouring in money to the local hotel and service industries.

Aside from this, Garcia said the fact that the event will be held here will give prestige to Cebu.

Garcia said Cebu is equipped with the needed infrastructures, convention centers, and hotel rooms. Likewise, there is so much for the delegates to experience like natural heritage, adventure sites, the sea, the mountains and the “incomparable Cebuano hospitality.”

The Ad Congress was held before in the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City with activities and parties spread out in various hotels, resorts and entertainment nightspots. — (FREEMAN)