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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Stock Market devider SM Hotels says ₱3.6-billion Cebu MICE hub undeterred by calamities

SM Hotels says ₱3.6-billion Cebu MICE hub undeterred by calamities

Published Nov 27, 2025 11:01 am
Set to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, the SMX Seaside Cebu will be the largest MICE venue in the Visayas region.
Set to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, the SMX Seaside Cebu will be the largest MICE venue in the Visayas region.
SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. (SMHCC), the hospitality unit of SM Prime Holdings Inc., is on schedule to open the ₱3.6 billion SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu in the fourth quarter of 2026, despite disruptions caused by recent natural calamities.
“The recent events in Cebu caused some disruptions on site, but this did not impact our overall schedule in terms of our timeline,” SMHCC Executive Vice President Peggy Angeles said in an interview. “Construction remains on track.”
The project, which is set to become the largest convention center in the Visayas region, boasts 21,000 square meters of leasable space, Angeles noted.
Designed as the largest Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) venue in the Visayas, SMX Seaside Cebu will feature six levels with a seating capacity of over 18,000.
“What makes it even more distinctive and very attractive is its location, which is within the 26-hectare South Coast City estate. It is connected to the mall, to SM Mall and, of course, to the arena through an elevated walkway,” Angeles said.
Organizers and guests will have access to modern venues, dining, shopping, entertainment, and accommodation options (three-star or four-star hotels) all within a short walk, a factor that Angeles believes differentiates the venue from other facilities in the region.
The launch of SMX Seaside Cebu will expand SMX's total convention portfolio to over 80,000 square meters of leasable event area across 10 venues nationwide, up from its current footprint of approximately 42,000 square meters.
The network includes the planned SMXCITE in Pasay, SMX Manila, SMX Aura in Taguig, SMX Bacolod, SMX Davao, SMX Clark, SMX Olongapo, Skyhall Seaside Cebu, and Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.
“This regional expansion reaffirms our position as the largest private convention center network in the Philippines,” Angeles said. “After recent events, we hope SMX Seaside Cebu will play a meaningful role in revitalizing the province’s tourism and business landscape.”
Early demand for the venue has been strong, with pre-booked events including Philconstruct Cebu in November 2026 and Wofex Visayas in April 2027 already lining up.
SMX Seaside Cebu is structurally compliant with the latest national building codes and seismic safety requirements. The venue has comprehensive emergency and disaster preparedness protocols, including regular safety inspections, emergency evacuation drills, and staff training, in line with SM Prime standards and local government regulations.
The convention center is part of SM Prime’s 26-hectare master-planned South Coast City project in Cebu, which also includes the upcoming SM Seaside City Arena. South Coast City is envisioned as a major lifestyle and business hub in the southern Philippines.
Cebu is an attractive location, given its connectivity via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and its status as a premier tourism destination. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Cebu was one of the country’s top 10 provincial economies in 2023, both in size and share of national GDP.
The project supports SM Prime’s strategy of expanding in high-growth regional centers while contributing to Cebu’s long-term development as a premier business and lifestyle destination.

Related Tags

SM Prime Holdings Inc. SM Hotels and Conventions Corp. Peggy Angeles SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu
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