Bacolod city: This highly urbanized city convened the Bacolod Meetings and Conventions Promotions Board (BMCPB) in a bid to strengthen its position as one of the country's major meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destinations. Mayor Greg Gasataya, who chairs the board, and Councilor Jason Villarosa, as the vice chairman, led the inaugural meeting that brought together key leaders, stakeholders, and industry partners from both the public and private sectors at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod on March 23.
According to Philippines News Agency, chief tourism operations officer Ma. Teresa Manalili stated that positioning Bacolod as a premier MICE destination requires strong collaboration, emphasizing the vital role of the private sector in driving growth. She announced the creation of the Bacolod MICE Alliance, approved by the board through a resolution, aimed at empowering stakeholders to work collectively and move forward with a unified direction.
The BMCPB also endorsed the development of a Bacolod MICE Bid Book to boost the city's competitiveness in attracting national and international events. Among those who attended the meeting were Department of Trade and Industry-Negros Occidental chief trade-industry development specialist Engiemar Tupas, alongside representatives from various sectors such as food, travel and tours, convention facilities, hotels and restaurants, transportation, and souvenirs and leisure.
Manalili emphasized the importance of this initiative as a crucial time for Bacolod's tourism industry, highlighting the necessity for both public and private sectors to unite with a shared vision. Earlier this month, Gasataya issued an executive order to convene the BMCPB, ensuring sustained policy direction, enhanced coordination, and the delivery of high-quality services in accommodating MICE events, aiming to strengthen the city's competitiveness in the industry.
Mayor Gasataya has tasked the promotions body with developing incentives to encourage the entry of MICE, programs to develop globally-ready MICE professionals, and baseline data for MICE programs. Additional responsibilities include mechanisms to encourage inbound tourism and trade missions, production of promotion collaterals, and granting incentives and assistance for organizers.
In 2025, tourist arrivals in Bacolod grew by 4.8 percent, generating PHP6.55 billion in tourism receipts, according to data from the City Tourism Development Office. Attendees of MICE events soared by 77 percent to 279,200, with peak arrivals recorded in October, November, and December, largely driven by the annual MassKara Festival held every October.
