by Lovely A. Carillo
Tourism players in Davao such as hotels, restaurants, resorts and the airlines serving the area are now preparing tour packages offering rates with discounts of up to 50 percent in a promotional blitzkrieg called “Make It Davao, Now.” The unprecedented campaign will be presented formally during the February 4-7 Philippine MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) Conference in Subic Bay, Olongapo City, Zambales, where Davao tourism’s united front will make a bid to host the MICE conference in 2012.
The “Make It Davao, Now” drive’s logo was unveiled during last Wednesday’s Club 888 Business and Tourism Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel with the leaders of the local tourism industry fielding questions from business editors and reporters. The panel included members of the ad hoc committee for the MICE conference and leaders of travel and tours operators associations, bannered by Davao City-based national officers of the newly formed Tourism Congress –Susan B. Palad, vice president for Mindanao; Gene Bangayan, treasurer; and Wanda Teo, secretary.
The industry leaders admitted that one of the challenges of Davao as a top destination in the Philippines is the bad image and perception it is getting from negative events happening in other parts of Mindanao, the most recent of which was the massacre in faraway Ampatuan, Maguindanao last year.
The problem is exacerbated by the travel advisories of foreign embassies in Manila telling their nationals not to come to Mindanao, without even qualifying that many parts of the island, most especially Davao, is a lot more peaceful than provinces and cities in Luzon and the Visayas, according to Philippine Airlines senior assistant vice president for Mindanao Domingo Duerme.
Maguindanao is more or less seven hours from Davao City by land travel, but the city’s reputation as a peaceful place has unwittingly been besmirched by the massacre of 57 people. No matter how Davao City has consistently reaped awards as having the the best police office (this year’s award is actually the 6th for the DCPO) in the country for its ability to maintain peace and order in the city, it is unfortunate that there are still people who tend to generalize and lump together all cities and towns in Mindanao simply because of the questionable peace and order in a small town in Maguindanao.
“Admittedly, we are already feeling the effects of the Maguindanao massacre’s publicity,” Palad , herself a travel and tours operator, said.
The negative effect of the massacre on Davao City’s economy was felt just weeks after the gruesome November 23 incident last year. This was confirmed last December by former Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. president Simeon Marfori, who said that as many as 200 booked rooms were cancelled in that month alone after prospective guests backed off due to security concerns.
The cancellations and the trickle down effect translated to millions of pesos lost in anticipated earnings by local businesses.
“The immediate effect alone of the cancellations translated to revenue losses by airlines and allied industries like shopping centers, restaurants and the like,” Marfori said.
But more than the financial losses, this perception has placed in a bad light Davao City’s image considering that the city’s tourism players are bidding for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Congress in 2012.
MICE 2010 will be held in Subic while Cebu City will host the Congress in 2011. The city cannot afford the negative publicity generated by the Maguindanao incident as it could mean losing out to General Santos City or Camarines Sur, both also bidding to host Mice 2012.
MICE, which is held in a different city each year, is considered a big event by those in the tourism sector. Over 600 participants from small to multinational corporations join the Congress in their bid to find the perfect destinations for their employees.
Davao’s tourism players lost no time in promoting the city as an ideal destination, along with their campaign to host Mice 2012. The sector is in fact taking a very aggressive stance in promoting the city and launched last week the audio presentation as well as the logo which they will use when they bid to host the 2012 Mice Congress come February 4 to 7 during the MICE Convention in Subic.
Davao City will be given a chance to promote its destinations during the convention through a pavilion which will be designed by award-winning florist Jing Puentespina. They envision the pavilion to be a cornucopia of flora and foliage, a natural resource which is considered one of the strongest attractions of the city.
Palad said the aim is to cushion the impact of the bad publicity caused by the massacre, not only to Davao but also to the whole of Mindanao through the “Make It Davao Now!” campaign. She said the campaign is actually aimed at promoting travel to Davao City and other parts of Mindanao.
The beauty of the MICE market, according to Mary Ann Montemayor of Konkordans Inc., is that “it is a corporate-driven market buffered from the crisis.” Montemayor said that while the MICE Congress generates only a small delegation, this event is primarily attended by an upscale market which is ideal for Davao’s tourism. And since only about 500 to 600 people attend the event, she added, Davao can easily accommodate them in terms of hotels and convention venue.
Davao Tourism Association president Gene Bangayan said, “It is a $300 billion market and we want to tap that.”
Requisites for hosts
A city hosting the MICE has everything to gain, not only financially but reputation-wise as well. Substantially important in a city’s quest to host the MICE is the commitment of the local officials as well as the readiness of the destination to take on the challenge.
Realizing the importance of the tourism drive, the city government is supporting the effort starting with bankrolling the Davao delegation to the Subic MICE conference, Councilor Susabel Reta said.
While the endorsement of the local executive is important when bidding to host the MICE, it is also important that the bidder submit a short write-up about the historical, cultural and tourism background of the destination. The existence of a well-equipped convention center as well as hotels and other accommodations is also crucial.
If it wants to outbid the other cities that are also eyeing the hosting of the 2012 MICE, all the Davao City tourism sector has to do is to make sure that their write-up is creative and original, and that they have complied with the bid requirements and they are well-equipped to host the event in terms of facilities and planning.
Davao City may have to watch out for some green criteria when bidding for the MICE since the bidding for the MICE 2011 will consider the environmental policies of the proposed host city. In short, there is a possibility that the future host of the MICE will be determined by its ability to offer the Green Initiative.
Some of those involved in the “Make It Davao, Now” promo blitz are the Small Hotels Association of Davao (SHAD), Hotel Sales Marketing Association (HSMA), Davao Tourism Association (DATA), Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA), Davao Association of Tour Operators (DATO), Davao Cooperative Center for Visitors and Conventions (DCCVC), Guide Davao, National Association for Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) and Davao Airline Operators.
Also present to answer the questions of the media were Art Boncato of Marco Polo Davao, Gatchi Gatchalian of Gatchi and Gatchi, Arnold King of DTAA, Sybil Angala of HSMA, Charlie Castane of Guide Davao, Gary Cadungog of DATO, aldo Pia Montanao of PAR Travel and Tours.
The “Make It Davao, Now” drive’s logo was unveiled during last Wednesday’s Club 888 Business and Tourism Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel with the leaders of the local tourism industry fielding questions from business editors and reporters. The panel included members of the ad hoc committee for the MICE conference and leaders of travel and tours operators associations, bannered by Davao City-based national officers of the newly formed Tourism Congress –Susan B. Palad, vice president for Mindanao; Gene Bangayan, treasurer; and Wanda Teo, secretary.
The industry leaders admitted that one of the challenges of Davao as a top destination in the Philippines is the bad image and perception it is getting from negative events happening in other parts of Mindanao, the most recent of which was the massacre in faraway Ampatuan, Maguindanao last year.
The problem is exacerbated by the travel advisories of foreign embassies in Manila telling their nationals not to come to Mindanao, without even qualifying that many parts of the island, most especially Davao, is a lot more peaceful than provinces and cities in Luzon and the Visayas, according to Philippine Airlines senior assistant vice president for Mindanao Domingo Duerme.
Maguindanao is more or less seven hours from Davao City by land travel, but the city’s reputation as a peaceful place has unwittingly been besmirched by the massacre of 57 people. No matter how Davao City has consistently reaped awards as having the the best police office (this year’s award is actually the 6th for the DCPO) in the country for its ability to maintain peace and order in the city, it is unfortunate that there are still people who tend to generalize and lump together all cities and towns in Mindanao simply because of the questionable peace and order in a small town in Maguindanao.
“Admittedly, we are already feeling the effects of the Maguindanao massacre’s publicity,” Palad , herself a travel and tours operator, said.
The negative effect of the massacre on Davao City’s economy was felt just weeks after the gruesome November 23 incident last year. This was confirmed last December by former Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. president Simeon Marfori, who said that as many as 200 booked rooms were cancelled in that month alone after prospective guests backed off due to security concerns.
The cancellations and the trickle down effect translated to millions of pesos lost in anticipated earnings by local businesses.
“The immediate effect alone of the cancellations translated to revenue losses by airlines and allied industries like shopping centers, restaurants and the like,” Marfori said.
But more than the financial losses, this perception has placed in a bad light Davao City’s image considering that the city’s tourism players are bidding for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) Congress in 2012.
MICE 2010 will be held in Subic while Cebu City will host the Congress in 2011. The city cannot afford the negative publicity generated by the Maguindanao incident as it could mean losing out to General Santos City or Camarines Sur, both also bidding to host Mice 2012.
MICE, which is held in a different city each year, is considered a big event by those in the tourism sector. Over 600 participants from small to multinational corporations join the Congress in their bid to find the perfect destinations for their employees.
Davao’s tourism players lost no time in promoting the city as an ideal destination, along with their campaign to host Mice 2012. The sector is in fact taking a very aggressive stance in promoting the city and launched last week the audio presentation as well as the logo which they will use when they bid to host the 2012 Mice Congress come February 4 to 7 during the MICE Convention in Subic.
Davao City will be given a chance to promote its destinations during the convention through a pavilion which will be designed by award-winning florist Jing Puentespina. They envision the pavilion to be a cornucopia of flora and foliage, a natural resource which is considered one of the strongest attractions of the city.
Palad said the aim is to cushion the impact of the bad publicity caused by the massacre, not only to Davao but also to the whole of Mindanao through the “Make It Davao Now!” campaign. She said the campaign is actually aimed at promoting travel to Davao City and other parts of Mindanao.
The beauty of the MICE market, according to Mary Ann Montemayor of Konkordans Inc., is that “it is a corporate-driven market buffered from the crisis.” Montemayor said that while the MICE Congress generates only a small delegation, this event is primarily attended by an upscale market which is ideal for Davao’s tourism. And since only about 500 to 600 people attend the event, she added, Davao can easily accommodate them in terms of hotels and convention venue.
Davao Tourism Association president Gene Bangayan said, “It is a $300 billion market and we want to tap that.”
Requisites for hosts
A city hosting the MICE has everything to gain, not only financially but reputation-wise as well. Substantially important in a city’s quest to host the MICE is the commitment of the local officials as well as the readiness of the destination to take on the challenge.
Realizing the importance of the tourism drive, the city government is supporting the effort starting with bankrolling the Davao delegation to the Subic MICE conference, Councilor Susabel Reta said.
While the endorsement of the local executive is important when bidding to host the MICE, it is also important that the bidder submit a short write-up about the historical, cultural and tourism background of the destination. The existence of a well-equipped convention center as well as hotels and other accommodations is also crucial.
If it wants to outbid the other cities that are also eyeing the hosting of the 2012 MICE, all the Davao City tourism sector has to do is to make sure that their write-up is creative and original, and that they have complied with the bid requirements and they are well-equipped to host the event in terms of facilities and planning.
Davao City may have to watch out for some green criteria when bidding for the MICE since the bidding for the MICE 2011 will consider the environmental policies of the proposed host city. In short, there is a possibility that the future host of the MICE will be determined by its ability to offer the Green Initiative.
Some of those involved in the “Make It Davao, Now” promo blitz are the Small Hotels Association of Davao (SHAD), Hotel Sales Marketing Association (HSMA), Davao Tourism Association (DATA), Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA), Davao Association of Tour Operators (DATO), Davao Cooperative Center for Visitors and Conventions (DCCVC), Guide Davao, National Association for Independent Travel Agencies (Naitas) and Davao Airline Operators.
Also present to answer the questions of the media were Art Boncato of Marco Polo Davao, Gatchi Gatchalian of Gatchi and Gatchi, Arnold King of DTAA, Sybil Angala of HSMA, Charlie Castane of Guide Davao, Gary Cadungog of DATO, aldo Pia Montanao of PAR Travel and Tours.
