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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider The Stock Market devider Megaworld plots 10-year MICE expansion to ride tourism rebound

Megaworld plots 10-year MICE expansion to ride tourism rebound

Published Jan 21, 2026 11:31 am
The Mactan Expo is Megaworld’s first standalone convention center and has close access to the beach, and will host some of this year’s biggest ASEAN events.
The Mactan Expo is Megaworld’s first standalone convention center and has close access to the beach, and will host some of this year’s biggest ASEAN events.
Top township developer Megaworld Corp. is embarking on a multi-year expansion of its meetings and exhibitions business across its nationwide township portfolio as it looks to capitalize on rebound in regional tourism.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Jan. 21, the Andrew Tan-led property giant said the company plans to roll out more convention facilities in key tourism hubs over the next five to 10 years.
The strategy follows the completion of the ₱1.5 billion Mactan Expo in Cebu, the company’s first standalone convention center.
The push into the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector marked a diversification for Megaworld, which has historically focused on residential and office developments.
Gutierrez-Alfonso said the move is part of a broader effort to provide world-class infrastructure that supports the country’s tourism goals.
“One of Megaworld’s opening salvos in nation-building was the expansion of our hotels, and now we are entering the MICE business with the main goal of providing essential developments,” Gutierrez-Alfonso said.
She noted that after the Cebu launch, the company will explore other high-growth areas to attract more international events.
To spearhead the new division, Megaworld has appointed Louella Caridad, the former chief operating officer of World Trade Center, to oversee the development and management of its exhibition facilities.
Caridad, a veteran with two decades of experience in real estate and trade center operations, will coordinate with Megaworld Hotels & Resorts to offer integrated event packages that bundle venue space with the group’s existing 6,500 hotel rooms.
The ₱1.5 billion Mactan Expo is situated within the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown in Lapu-Lapu City. The facility is set for a high-profile debut as it prepares to host the ASEAN Travel Exchange from Jan. 28 to 30, a major component of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026.
The venue features a pillarless main hall designed for large-scale exhibitions and includes specialized amenities such as Muslim-friendly prayer rooms and a dedicated VIP lounge.
The design is intended to reflect Cebuano culture while meeting international standards for technical requirements and guest flow.
Megaworld currently operates 14 hotel properties. By integrating convention centers into its existing townships, the developer aims to create a "live-work-play-attend" ecosystem that captures a larger share of the high-spending business travel market.

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Megaworld Corporation Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso Louella Caridad
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